CAIRO: The leaders of Turkiye and Iran called on Thursday for unity in Syria at a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries after the ouster of Syria鈥檚 president Bashar Assad.
Turkiye historically backed Assad鈥檚 opponents, while Iran supported his rule.
The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.
In a speech at the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for reconciliation in Syria and the restoration of the country鈥檚 鈥渢erritorial integrity and unity.鈥�
He also voiced hope for 鈥渢he establishment of a Syria free of terrorism,鈥� where 鈥渁ll religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace.鈥�
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also called for 鈥渢he participation of all (Syrian) groups in the future government... as well as respect for different beliefs and religions.鈥�
He added that 鈥渇or more than 14 months, the Middle East region, in particular Gaza and southern Lebanon, and now... Syria, has been the target of massive attacks鈥� by Israel.
鈥淚t is our religious, legal and human duty to prevent further harm鈥� to those suffering in the conflict zones, he said.
Pezeshkian is the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013.
Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza.
Iran鈥檚 Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Egypt in October, while his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty traveled to Tehran in July to attend Pezeshkian鈥檚 inauguration.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, speaking at a special session on Gaza and Lebanon, said the international community should adopt 鈥渁 single standard of justice鈥� and ensure Israel 鈥渋s held accountable and punished for violations of international law鈥� in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Abbas called for the adoption of a political plan he presented at a November summit in Riyadh, which includes a ceasefire, Israel鈥檚 complete withdrawal from Gaza and full UN membership for Palestine.
Iran鈥檚 president expressed support for any agreement backed by all Palestinian factions.
鈥淭he right to self-determination of the Palestinian people must be respected,鈥� said Pezeshkian.
He called on the international community to pressure Israel to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, end attacks on Lebanon and Syria and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The Cairo summit also hosted a meeting between Bangladesh鈥檚 interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation but split in a brutal 1971 war, with Bangladesh then drawing closer to Pakistan鈥檚 arch-rival India.
Bangladesh鈥檚 interim leader Muhammad Yunus said he had 鈥渁greed to strengthen relations鈥� with Pakistan, a move likely to further test his country鈥檚 frosty relations with India.
Established in 1997, the D-8 aims to foster cooperation among member states, spanning regions from Southeast Asia to Africa.
The organization includes Egypt, Turkiye, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia as member states.