NEW YORK: The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have called for continued dialogue and diplomacy to address regional tensions, stressing the need to uphold the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for lasting peace and stability.

The four foreign ministers met in New York on September 21 on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and exchanged views on recent regional and international developments.

In a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and coordination among the four countries in support of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and the wider region.

Expressing deep concern over continuing tensions and hostilities, they said dialogue and diplomacy remained the only path towards sustainable solutions and underscored the need to uphold the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

The ministers strongly condemned all attacks against Saudi Arabia, including recent Houthi attacks, and reaffirmed their support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

They also affirmed Saudi Arabia’s inherent right to defend itself, its territory and its people in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

The four countries stressed the importance of protecting the safety and freedom of maritime navigation and reaffirmed support for Yemen’s legitimate government and the Presidential Leadership Council.

They called for security, stability and development in Yemen through a political process and inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue involving different parties.

On Palestine, the ministers reiterated that the Palestinian cause remained central to achieving peace, security and stability in the Middle East.

They reaffirmed support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian state on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The ministers also reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan.

They stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s legitimate national institutions and rejected the creation of parallel entities that could undermine the country’s sovereignty and unity.

The four countries called for an end to the illicit flow of weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters into Sudanese territory.

The ministers agreed to maintain close coordination and continue consultations on regional and international developments to strengthen collective security and promote long-term regional stability.