H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK engaged in a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Faed MUSTAFA, the esteemed Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Türkiye. The meeting delved into multifaceted collaborations and underscored the enduring commitment of SESRIC to fostering technical cooperation with OIC countries.

During the meeting, H.E. SELÇUK reiterated SESRIC’s continuous support for the Palestinian people and their right to live in peace and security. She strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Palestine's integral role in SESRIC initiatives is exemplified by its positions as the Permanent Vice-Chair of the the OIC Statistical Commission (OIC-StatCom) and the OIC Public Employment Services Network (OIC-PESNET). The signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and other national institutions solidify the cooperation linkages, exemplifying SESRIC’s dedication to collaboration.

As part of its proactive approach, SESRIC has organised 149 activities from which 347 participants from Palestine benefit across various formats, namely training courses, workshops, webinars, network meetings, and projects, both virtual and physical.

H.E. SELÇUK also shared with H.E. Mr. Faed MUSTAFA the Centre’s desire to establish the Palestinian National Institutions Capacity Building Programme as a new initiative in 2024. She highlighted the objectives of the programme, which aims to stregthen the human resources of Palestinian national institutions with the necessary skills and expertise for efficient policy implementation, resource management, and service delivery.

H.E. Mr. MUSTAFA thanked H.E. SELÇUK for the visit and appreciated SESRIC's support which extends to initiatives like the SESRIC Emerging Talents Capacity Building Programme (SETCAB), which encourages Palestinian students to apply for practical experience as well as the annual capacity-building activities for junior diplomats to enhance the capacities of Palestinian experts, contributing to the overall development of sectors in Palestine.

The meeting ended with the two sides reaffirming their commitment to enhance and expand their established cooperation and collaboration towards more impactful initiatives for supporting the growth and development of Palestinian institutions.