H.E. the PUIC Secretary General, Mr. Mouhamed Khouraichi Niass, delivered a speech welcoming the Turkish President at the PUIC Conference, and the attendance of heads of and members of delegations, as well as the honorable guests. He addressed in his speech the hopes, ambitions and challenges of the Islamic Ummah, and acting via a PUIC mechanism to address all causes and issues of concern to the Islamic Nation.

H.E. Mr. Sayouba Ouedraogo, representative of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso and Member of Parliament who addressed the Palestinian cause and other current Islamic issues. He expressed thanks to H.E. the Speaker of the Islamic Parliament of Iran for convening the 4th Extraordinary Meeting of the PUIC Standing Palestine Committee in Tehran.

H.E. Prof. Mustapha Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey took the floor, and affirmed that Muslims should protect their common interests, and called on Muslims to solve their problems themselves. He stated that the PUIC should be a venue for consultation, cooperation and coordination among Member Parliaments. His Excellency addressed the status of Muslim in non- PUIC countries, and said that we ought to follow up their conditions in all fields. He stressed the necessity of the formation of a committee for this purpose.

Then H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked to the attendees covering a number of important pivots.

His Excellency reviewed the assistance his country extended to all states affected by Covid-19 pandemic.

He affirmed that the cause of Palestine is on top of the agenda of the states of PUIC Member parliaments. He hailed the heroism of the Palestinian people in combating the Israeli policies. He stated that Turkey supports the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Al- Quds as its Capital, and urged the Palestinians to double their efforts in order to recover their legitimate rights.

Then he addressed the issue of Afghanistan, and said that the PUIC members should act in order to consolidate stability, and seek to prevent anarchy and insecurity in the country.

His Excellency tackled the issue of refugees, especially of those coming from Syria and Afghanistan. He stated that Turkey cannot bear to receive new waves of migrants.

Then he addressed the issue of Muslim minorities, and stated that Muslims in non- Muslim countries suffer from racism and Islamophobia, especially women who are more victimized by such negative practices. His Excellency referred to the presence of about 35 million Muslims in Europe, and that we should stand by their side in order to realize a better livelihood for them. He urged Muslims to defend the causes of Muslim minorities in all parts of the world.

10 December 2021