TEHRAN – Ambassadors from the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the United Nations office in Geneva held a special session on Friday to remember Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and their entourage who were martyred in a helicopter crash on Sunday in northwestern Iran.

Ambassadors and permanent representatives of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sierra Leon, Niger, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Palestine, Algeria, Maldives, the Republic of Guyana, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh offered condolences and sympathized with the Iranian leadership and people over the tragic incident.

 Ali Bahraini, Iran’s ambassador to the Geneva-based UN bodies, highlighted the views of President Raisi and his foreign minister about the importance of unity in the Islamic world.

Bahraini also said the Islamic world will never forget President Raisi’s strong defense of the Quran in the UN General Assembly in the face of the Western-backed insults against the holy book. 

The ambassador also pointed to relentless efforts by Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian to restore the rights of the Palestinian people and liberate the holy Quds, calling him one of the Mujahideen who campaigned in the struggle to liberate Palestine.

 In the end, he expressed hope that the people of Iran, the Islamic world, and in general humankind would use the legacy of these martyrs to realize peace and justice across the globe. 

Following is the statement of Ambassador Bahraini: 
    
My sincere gratitude to my brother, Ambassador Bilal, for convening this memorial event. I take the opportunity to appreciate the words of sympathy and solidarity expressed by distinguished colleagues in this trying time for the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Late President Raisi, late Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian and their accompanies dedicated their life to serve Iranian nation and demised when returning from inauguration ceremony of infrastructures on Iran’s border with the Republic of Azerbaijan.
    
They selflessly gave of their blessed lives to serve Islam and Iran. Pursuant to the principal foreign policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, both the late Iranian president and the Foreign Minister endeavored to enhance the unity of the Islamic world. As the late President Raisi mentioned in the last United Nations General Assembly, I quote, “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the priority of the region is Islamic unity and collective development.” End of quote. 
    
The Islamic community will not forget Raisi’s fierce defense of the Quran against the insolence displayed by some West-backed malefactors. During the 78th session of United Nations General Assembly, he raised the Al-Mushaf Al-Sharif above his head and spoke out in defense of Holy Quran.
    
When it came to Palestine, they spared no diplomatic efforts to restore all rights of the resilient and oppressed people of Palestine. The late Minister, Amir-Abdollahian, deserves to be described as a crusader for the freedom of Palestine. His dedication to the Palestinian cause, always reminded me of this verse from Quran:
    

Just two weeks before his demise, during the last OIC summit in Banjul, Amir Abdollahian reoffered his proposal featuring a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, the exchange of prisoners, obligating the Israeli regime to withdraw all military forces from Gaza, enforcing an arms embargo on the apartheid regime of Israel, and supporting the legally binding provisional order of the ICJ.
   
In his tireless shuttle diplomacy advocating for Palestine, Amir Abdollahian visited Geneva three times in since al-Aqsa storm to consult with key officials from international organizations, including the United Nations Secretary-General and his Deputy for Humanitarian Affairs, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and numerous Ministers of Foreign Affairs in defense of Palestine cause.
   
He endeavored with strong determination to enhance relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic states, in accordance with the principal policies of Iran and took significant and notable steps in this regard. Dr. Amir Abdollahian held fruitful and effective meetings with the foreign ministers of many brotherly countries last year in Geneva. 
The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue earnestly on this blessed path of strengthening Islamic unity and fostering good neighborliness. It will spare no effort to achieve the interests of the Islamic nation by drawing on the teachings of Islam and promoting unity and harmony at the international level.
   
In conclusion, I feel obliged to express my heartfelt gratitude to all esteemed ambassadors and representatives of the Islamic countries for their presence in offering condolences and expressing sympathy on the loss of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian. We hope that their legacy of justice, peace, and well-being will continue to benefit his nation, the Islamic community, and humanity.
   
I thank you.