Baku: Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev attended the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the organization's headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The session, held on August 27, centered on the election of a new OIC Secretary-General and discussions on issues related to Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif. According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the meeting commenced with the unanimous decision to elect Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, as the new OIC Secretary-General. He was the sole candidate for the position. Azerbaijani Deputy FM Yalchin Rafiyev congratulated Ahmed on his appointment and assured him of Azerbaijan's full support during his tenure. Rafiyev also extended gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, for his effective efforts during his term. Rafiyev highlighted the potential of the OIC as a significant international instit ution and the tasks it faces. He noted that Azerbaijan will host the OIC Summit in 2027 and assume the organization's chairmanship. The Deputy Foreign Minister expressed Azerbaijan's commitment to collaborating closely with the incoming Secretary-General to advance the organization's interests and enhance cooperation among OIC member states. On the topic of Palestine, Rafiyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's steadfast position emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law. He underscored the assistance that Azerbaijan provides to the Palestinian people, especially in education and healthcare sectors. Rafiyev also mentioned that the official visit of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa to Azerbaijan in July had bolstered economic cooperation between the two countries.