WASHINGTON, May 25 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Wednesday with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha on the sidelines of the inaugural US-OIC Strategic Dialogue.
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Blinken underscored "the importance of the OIC's role as a valued partner in deescalating conflicts and working to protect human rights." The statement added Blinken thanked Taha for the OIC's "sustained efforts on issues of global priority, including Afghanistan and countering violent extremism." Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment "to expanding collaboration with the OIC to advance joint priorities, including women's empowerment, minority rights, religious freedom, climate change, health issues, strengthening economic ties and expanding educational and cultural exchanges," the statement noted. (end) si.mb