Ankara: The head of the Higher Islamic Council and preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Ikrima Sabri, praised Trkiye's efforts Thursday to strengthen ties among Muslim countries and commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for promoting Islamic rapprochement. 'Growing coordination and cooperation among countries in the Islamic world represented a positive development,' Sabri said in a statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sabri expressed his satisfaction with the visits and diplomatic exchanges hosted by Trkiye to bolster Islamic rapprochement. He conveyed hope that these efforts 'would eventually lead to the formation of an Islamic union similar to existing international and regional blocs.' Sabri emphasized that the Islamic nation is closer than ever to achieving unity and harmony.

Sabri lauded Erdogan's commitment to deepening relations among Muslim countries and aiding them in moving toward greater independence and prosperity. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining Al-Aqsa Mosque as the central focus of discussions and initiatives, terming it 'the compass of the Islamic nation and its central cause.'

The preacher specifically acknowledged the current visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Trkiye, describing Algeria and Trkiye as key supporters of the Palestinian cause. He also welcomed Trkiye's expanding relations with several Muslim countries, including Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, expressing hope that these efforts would lead to stability and prosperity throughout the Islamic world.

Earlier on Thursday, Erdogan received Tebboune with a ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara. The two leaders engaged in discussions and co-chaired a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between their countries, which concluded with the signing of agreements and a joint news conference. Relations between Trkiye and Algeria have seen rapid growth in recent years across multiple sectors, following a friendship and cooperation agreement signed in 2006, and further strengthened since Tebboune assumed office in December 2019.