Irregular migration, refugee issues require global solutions: Turkish parliament head

By Anadolu Agency Staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish parliament speaker on Friday said that irregular migration and refugee issues require global solutions.

A few countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey that presently hosts over 5 million refugees bear the burden of the Syrian crisis, Mustafa Sentop said at the first session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference held in Istanbul.

Sentop underlined that the Muslim world has been facing divisions, armed conflicts, starvation and poverty.

However, he, emphasized that values and factors bringing Muslims together are many times greater than the issues that cause divisions.

Referring to the Palestinian issue, Sentop reiterated that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders is of critical importance for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Speaking about the latest developments in Afghanistan, the Turkish parliament speaker said that continued support from the international community is essential until peace and stability are fully restored in the country.

“It shouldn’t be forgotten that instability in Afghanistan benefits no one. Ensuring stability must be a priority to combat terrorism, extremist movements and irregular migration,” he added.

Sentop, on the sidelines of the summit, also held meetings with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, and Yemen.