The key facts

  • The ministers of Turkey and 18 countries 'unequivocally rejected' the opening of Colombia's embassy in Jerusalem
  • The statement cites UN Security Council resolutions 476 and 478 from 1980
  • The ministers called on Colombia to reverse the decision and reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem

Joint Statement of 19 Countries

The foreign ministers of Turkey and 18 other countries on Friday issued a joint statement in which they strongly condemned Colombia's opening of an embassy in Jerusalem. In the statement, released by Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers expressed their 'unequivocal rejection' of the decision. In their view, the move violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions and undermines international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

Reference to UN Resolutions

The ministers stressed that any measures or decisions aimed at altering the legal or historical status of occupied Jerusalem or recognizing the city as Israel's capital are 'null and void and have no legal force.' They cited UN Security Council resolutions 476 and 478, adopted in 1980: they reject attempts to change the character or status of Jerusalem and call on states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city. In the statement, Jerusalem is described as part of Palestinian territory occupied in 1967.

Call to Reconsider the Decision

The ministers called on the government of Colombia to reconsider and reverse its decision, to comply with its obligations under international law, and to refrain from measures that harm the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. They also reaffirmed their support for the right of the Palestinian people to an independent and sovereign state with its capital in East Jerusalem.

Who Signed the Statement

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.