OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed concern about the situation in Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, and Nagorno Karabakh, Itar-Tass reports.

Speaking at the 33rd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, now in progress in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ihsanoglu condemned Israel for the occupation of the Palestinian territories and protested against the construction of the wall between Israel and Palestine, as well as excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He welcomed recent elections in Palestine and urged its new government to take effective measures to improve the situation in the region.

The OIC secretary general also expressed satisfaction with the formation of a new government in Iraq and stressed that this gives one optimism in assessing the possibility of resolving the crisis in this country.

The OIC is making preparations for the opening of its mission in Baghdad, he said.

Ihsanoglu also condemned the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories and urged Armenia to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions and free the seized land.

He called on Moslem countries to help Azerbaijani refugees affected by the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The secretary general believes that the OIC countries should pool their efforts in maintaining peace and security in the world.