Malaysia To Leverage International Platforms For West Asia Conflict Resolution - Mohamad

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will continue to leverage various international platforms, including the United Nations (UN), the UN Security Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), BRICS and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), towards achieving a comprehensive resolution to the conflict in West Asia.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia was among the first countries to express support for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States (US) and Iran signed last Wednesday, and would continue to monitor subsequent negotiations to help ensure stability in the region.

The Rembau Member of Parliament said Malaysia would also continue to provide moral support and play an active role in international efforts to ease tensions in the region, which have triggered a global supply crisis following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Alhamdulillah, the US and Iran have finally agreed to sign an MoU, which provides a 60-day period for both countries to negotiate and ratify the matters agreed upon under the agreement.

“The MoU contains 14 provisions, including efforts to rebuild Iran’s damaged infrastructure (worth USD300 billion), the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, including from Lebanon,” he said in reply to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) during Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat here today.

He said Malaysia is also pursuing indirect approaches, including extending support to countries involved in the conflict and holding discussions with the President-elect of the UN General Assembly on efforts to strengthen international support for resolving the conflict in the region.

“I personally contacted my counterpart from Pakistan, which hosted the US-Iran talks, as well as my counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, to express our moral support and reaffirm that we will continue to support measures aimed at bringing an early end to the conflict in West Asia,” he said.

However, he said the Zionist regime does not want the peace efforts to succeed and continues to threaten stability in the region.

As such, Mohamad said international pressure on Israel must be sustained to compel it to halt its military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and other territories.

Replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), he said one of the main challenges in exerting pressure on Israel is the United States’ use of its veto power in the UN Security Council.

“They have used their veto power 31 times to protect their ally, the Zionist regime of Israel,” he said.

-- BERNAMA