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Resolutions on Political Affairs of the 25th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
On
UN Reform and the Expansion of the Security Council.
On
the Political Situation in the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros.
On
the US Decision to Impose Unilateral Economic Sanctions against Sudan.
On
the Restoration of the Democratically Elected Government of Sierra Leone.
On
the Preservation of the Security and Territorial Integrity of the Islamic
States.
On
the Safeguarding the Rights of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-OIC
Member States.
On
Question of Muslims in Southern Philippine.
On
the Situation of Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace.
On
the International Islamic Court of Justice.
On
the follow up of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam.
On
Coordination among Member States in the field of Human Rights.
On
the Status of Signature and Ratification of the Agreements concluded under the
auspices of the OIC.
On
the Convening of an International Conference under the auspices of the U.N. to
define Terrorism and Distinguish it from Peoples’ Struggle for National
Liberation.
On
the follow-up of the Code of Conduct for Combating International Terrorism.
On
the Strengthening of Islamic Solidarity in Combating Hijacking.
On
the Contribution of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on the Occasion
of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On
the Role of Information and Communication in Promoting the Just Causes and Image
of Islam.
On
the Information Plan and the Financing Problems of Information and Communication
Activities.
On
the International Islamic News Agency (IINA).
On
the Islamic Broadcasting Organization (ISBO)
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha,
State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida, 1418H (15-17
March, 1998),
Affirming
the importance of the ongoing processes of UN reform, including the reform of
the Security Council;
Recognizing
that any reform of the United Nations, including Security Council reform, should
be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter;
Reiterating the need for the reform and democratization of the
Security Council, in order to reflect the current political realities in the
international relations, and to address the need for the enhanced representation
of the developing countries, as well as the need to significantly improve the
working methods and procedures of the Security Council for enhanced transparency
in its decision making process;
Reiterating that any reform and expansion of the Security Council
should be in accordance with the principles of equitable geographical
distribution and sovereign equality of States;
Recalling the Declaration on the UN Reforms including the
expansion and reform of the Security Council adopted by the OIC Annual
Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York on 2 October, 1997 as well
as resolution No. 40/8-P (IS) of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit
Conference;
Recalling also paras 13-20 of the Communique adopted by the NAM
Ministerial Meeting in New York on 25 September 1997, the paragraph relating to
the reform of the Security Council in the Declaration adopted by the
Thirty-second session of the Heads of State and Government of the OAU in Harare
in June 1997, and the Working Paper of the Arab Group adopted by the Arab
Foreign Ministers in New York on 29 September 1997,
1. Affirms that the
Member States have a direct and vital interest in determining the outcome of UN
reform and Security Council expansion.
2. Reaffirms
the readiness of the Member States to contribute actively and constructively to
the consideration of the reform and expansion of the Security Council on the
basis of the aforementioned declarations and communiques.
3. Requests
the OIC Open-Ended Contact Group on UN Reform and Expansion of the Security
Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to regularly exchange
views and coordinate efforts with a view to safeguarding the interests of Member
States and enabling them to make their indispensable contribution to the process
of UN reform and expansion of the Security Council.
4. Requests
the Secretary General to implement this resolution and to submit a report
thereon to the Twenty-sixth session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha,
State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida, 1418H (15-17
March, 1998),
Having taken cognizance of the economic problems undergone by
the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros which have substantially contributed to
the generalisation of the current crisis;
Having examined the political situation prevailing in the
Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros;
And proceeding from the aspirations of the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference to preserve the unity, integrity and sovereignty of all its
member states over their territories,
1. Expresses
deep concern over the situation in the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros,
particularly in view of the intransigence, the rejection of dialogue and the
lack of political will of the Anjouan separatists;
2. Reaffirms
its full commitment to the national unity, territorial integrity and to
constitutional legality in the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros and its
determination to ensure the respect of those principles;
3. Reiterates
its rejection of any act aimed at destroying the unity of the Comoro people or
encouraging separation in Anjouan, particularly the two referenda held on the
Island;
4. Emphasizes
that the separatist scheme poses a serious threat to the peace, security and
stability of the Comoros and constitutes a dangerous precedent that may be
emulated in other Islamic countries;
5. Calls Upon
the international community to support the initiatives and good offices of the
Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States aimed at finding an
early solution to the crisis, particularly by using all the means deemed
appropriate to restore the unity and territorial integrity of the Federal
Islamic Republic of the Comoros;
6. Urges
the Islamic countries, in close cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, to take all appropriate measures in order to preserve the unity and
territorial integrity of the Comoros;
7. Urges
the Member States to provide urgently needed relief and all kinds of economic
assistance to the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, and to take an active
part in the Round-Table meeting of Donor Countries for the Comoros to be held
under the auspices of the OAU;
8. Calls upon
the specialized Islamic Organizations, as well as the OIC funds and institutions
to the Organization of the Islamic Conference to extend material, technical and
security assistance to the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros, each within
its field of competence;
9. Asks
the Secretary General to follow up the question in coordination and cooperation
with the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States and the
Government of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros and to ensure follow
up to this resolution;
10. Addresses thanks
to the Secretary General for the interest he takes in this question, and
requests him to submit a report thereon to the next Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers and to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha,
State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida, 1418H (15-17
March, 1998),
Recalling General Assembly Resolution 22/51 of 27 November,
1996 calling on the international community to take urgent and effective
measures to put an end to the drastic economic decisions and in which the
General Assembly expressed serious
concern over the economic restrictions which have lately been taken and which
extend beyond the regional boundaries, thus contravening the principles of
international legality and the
objectives of the United Nations which assert the inalienable right for each
country to economic and social developments as well as its right to choose the
political, economic and social system which it deems more appropriate for the
well-being of its people according to its plans and policy;
Recalling also General Assembly Resolution 17/51 on the
necessity of putting an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo
imposed by the United States of America on Cuba, in which the General Assembly
expressed its concern over the fact that UN Member States continue to take and
implement decisions aiming at reinforcing and extending the economic embargo;
Reaffirming the principles embodied in the OIC Charter calling
for the strengthening of solidarity between the Member States such as expressed
by Resolution No. 15/8-P (IS) adopted by the 8th Session of the Islamic SummitConference pertaining to solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and
the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya concerning D’Amato Law,
1- Requests
the United States of America to lift the economic sanctions imposed on the
Sudan, in view of its harmful effects on that country and the losses incurred at
economic and social levels.
2 Calls
for proceeding to set up the Committee which the Eighth Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference decided to create from the Member States and call a meeting to
study the issue of unilateral economic sanctions with a view to countering such
sanctions and alleviate their impact.
3. Requests
the Secretary General to follow up the implementations of this Resolution and
submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha,
State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida, 1418H (15-17
March, 1998),
Recalling the deplorable event of 25 May, 1997 in which a
faction of the Sierra Leone army illegally and violently seized power from the
democratically elected Government of President
Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah;
Noting that the overwhelming majority of the civil population
in Sierra Leone have openly condemned the ensuing military government of the
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and have demanded the reinstatement of
their democratically elected Government, by launching a civil disobedience
campaign to back their demand;
Aware that the assumption of power in Sierra Leone by a
military junta has resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure and the
squandering of public funds and mineral resources;
Aware also that a large number of Sierra Leone nationals
including professionals, were forced to flee to neighbouring countries or
elsewhere as refugees, thus
imposing a heavy burden particularly on the Republic of Guinea, Republic of the
Gambia, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the
Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Liberia;
Noting that the junta reneged on all attempts at peaceful
solutions,
1. Expresses
its deep appreciation to the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its peace keeping body,
the ECOMOG steps it has taken to ensure the restoration of constitutional order
in Sierra Leone and the reinstatement in his high office of H.E. Alhaji Dr.
Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, in accordance with the ECOWAS decision of August 1997 and
the desire of the OIC and the international community.
2. Appeals
to all Member States to extend urgent financial and material assistance to the
Government of President Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah who has now return home
and to enable him to undertake the economic and social rehabilitation of the
country and to facilitate the return home of refugees living in neighbouring
countries.
3. Requests
all member states to refrain from supporting, harbouring or giving refuge of any
kind to any member of the vanquished AFRC/RUF Junta.
4. Urges
the OIC Member States to pledge their generous assistance to Sierra Leone for
the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country upon the re-instatement of
the legitimate government.
5. Further
urges the Member States to extend appropriate assistance to neighbouring
states to mitigate the impact of the influx of Sierra Leone refugees into their
territories estimated at 400,000, pending their return home.
6. Requests
the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and
submit a report on this matter to the Twenty-sixth session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE SECURITY AND TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY OF THE ISLAMIC STATES
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha,
State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida, 1418H (15-17
March, 1998),
Recognizing to the great importance of achieving security and
stability in the region without which the people cannot achieve their
aspirations in development and progress towards a free and decent life;
Committed to preserving the fundamental interests of the
Islamic Ummah and Islamic solidarity,
1. Reaffirms
its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and
regional security of Iraq.
2. Calls
for halt to act of intervention in Iraq and for refraining in the future from
any such acts in order to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Iraq and the inviolability of its borders.
3. Requests
the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and to
submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
(Session for a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in
Doha, State of Qatar from 17-19 Dhul Quida 1418H ( 15-17 March, 1998),
Recalling that Muslim
communities and minorities living in Non-OIC Member States account for over one
third of the Islamic Ummah;
Recalling also the
principles and objectives of the OIC Charter, the Resolutions adopted by the
Sessions of the Islamic Summit Conferences, the Sessions of
Islamic Conferences of Foreign Ministers and
international conventions, declarations and agreements, particularly
those calling for observance of human rights namely political, social, cultural,
economic rights and religious freedoms;
Further recalling UN
General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief;
Reaffirming its commitment
to Muslim communities and minorities living in Non-OIC Member States and expressing
its concern at the forms of intolerance towards some of these communities and
minorities in particular in the western hemisphere;
Condemning persecution and
violations, especially those committed by aggression and occupation forces
against Muslim communities and minorities in a number of non-OIC Member States;
Having considered the
Report submitted by the Secretary General on the situation of Muslim Communities
and minorities (Document No. ICFM/25-98/MM/D.1),
1. Expresses its satisfaction at the efforts
exerted by the Secretary General for the implementation of the resolutions
adopted on the Islamic Communities and Minorities in Non-Member States
particularly concerning the setting up of a Contact Group among the Member
States within the United Nations in New York and Geneva to deal with cases of
violation of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member
States.
2. Emphasizes
the need to see to it that the Muslim communities and minorities in
non-OIC Member States preserve their religious and cultural identity, and enjoy
equal treatment as far as rights, obligations and duties are concerned, and have
access to all their civic and religious rights without discrimination or
distinction.
3. Reaffirms that preservation of the rights of
Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States is, essentially, the
responsibility of the governments of these states, on the basis of abidance by
the principles of International Law and respect for sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
4. Calls upon Member States and the OIC Subsidiary, Specialized and
Affiliated Institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) as well as
non-governmental Islamic organisations, bodies and institutions, to provide the
OIC General Secretariat, step by step, with available information, studies and
statistics on the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC
Member States so as to establish an advanced data-base which enables the General
Secretariat to perform the tasks entrusted to it concerning these Muslim
communities and minorities in a manner that satisfies the aims and objectives of
the OIC.
5. Invites the OIC General Secretariat to receive representatives of
some Muslim Communities and Minorities in non-OIC Member States aimed at closely
being informed about the conditions of these Muslim communities and minorities
whom they represent; or to get information
on Muslim Minorities, Communities and Societies through these
representatives, this is to be done within the framework of respect for the
sovereignty of the states in which they live in accordance with paragraph 5 of
Resolution No. 38/24-P adopted by the Twenty-fourth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers.
6. Urges Member States to pay special attention to those Muslim
communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States who are exposed to
persecution or oppression because of their religious beliefs and to know their
needs which are to be communicated to the Member States so as to provide the
necessary capabilities - material, human and financial. Also to intensify the
cultural and educational Islamic activities as well as various human assistance
so as to accord more attention to improving the general conditions of the Muslim
communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States in general.
7. Invites Member States to exert further efforts in order to inform,
within the OIC Member States, about the reality of the problems of Muslim
communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States.
8. Urges Member States to coordinate efforts for preparing able
workers who can perform Islamic Dawah missions among Muslim communities and
minorities in various countries of the world. These workers should include also
qualified women. A series of integrated educational books on Islam, its rituals
and principles should be written. These series should be simplified and in the
form of publications or modern audio-visual messages. Special attention must be paid to translating thoroughly this material into the languages of the
areas inhabited by Muslim communities and minorities.
9. Requests the OIC General Secretariat
and the Islamic
organisations and bodies that are members of the OIC Committee for the
Coordination of Islamic Action, to hold an early meeting to consider drawing up
an action plan on preserving the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in
non-OIC Member States.
10. Requests the
OIC General Secretariat to make contacts with the governments of the states that
have Muslim communities and minorities in order to identify with problems and
needs and elicit the view of these States on ways to evolve a cooperation
formula with the OIC aimed at making the required contributions for improving
the conditions of these Muslim communities and minorities and preserving their
religious and cultural identity, while giving priority to contacts with
governments of non-OIC Member States that have Muslim communities and minorities
confronting pressing problems.
11. Urges the OIC
Member States to exert efforts with governments of Non-OIC Member States where
violations of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities take place so as
to urge them to take necessary and immediate procedures to stop these violations
and restore matters to normal course.
12. Commends the efforts of the Contact Group requested to Study the
conditions of the Muslim Minorities in New York and Geneva and encourages it to
deal with cases of violation of the rights of these Muslim minorities and communities in non-Member States. It
also urges the Contact Group to hold meetings at Ministerial level whenever
necessary.
13. Hails the OIC
Group in Geneva for its efforts and active participation in the deliberations of
the Sub-committee for combating intolerance and for
the protection of minorities, in defense of the rights of Muslim
communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States.
14.
Invites the OIC General Secretariat to follow up the UN activities
relevant to the minorities issue so as to be informed about developments on the
situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States, and to
submit a report thereon to the next meeting of the Group of Experts.
15. Reaffirms the
commitment of Member States to respect the rights of non-Muslim communities and
minorities living in their territories, in accordance with the sublime teachings
of Islam; denounces the allegations of some quarters concerning the
treatment of these minorities; and requests the OIC Group of Experts on
Minorities to pay special attention to this question.
16. Welcomes the
recommendation contained in the report of the Third Meeting of the
Inter-Governmental Group of Experts Entrusted with the Following-up of the Cairo
Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, to coordinate with the Expert Group on
Considering the Conditions of Muslim Minorities and Communities in non-OIC
Member States with a view to undertaking a comprehensive survey of the
conditions of Muslim communities and minorities there, and, at a later stage, to
make the necessary arrangements at international fora for preserving their rights
and invites the Group of Experts on Muslim Communities and Minorities in
non OIC-Member States to continue its work steadily.
17.
Requests the Secretary General to prepare a report on the matter
and submit it to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
(Session for a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in
Doha, State of Qatar from 17-19 Dhul Quida 1418H ( 15-17 March, 1998),
Bearing in mind the
previous resolutions of the OIC and the recommendations of the Six-member
Committee on the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines;
Recalling the Tripoli
Agreement signed on 23 December 1976, under the auspices of the OIC, between the
Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front which the
signatory parties agreed to consider as the basis for a political, permanent,
just and comprehensive solution to the question of Southern Philippines within
the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
Republic of the Philippines;
Also recalling
that in accordance with the 2 Memoranda of Understanding by which the
Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front concluded
two rounds of preliminary talks, held in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 3-4
October, 1992 and in Cipanas, Western Java, Republic of Indonesia on 14-16
April, 1993, the two parties agreed to conduct official peace negotiations for
the full implementation in letter and spirit of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement;
Further recalling the
results of the four rounds of formal peace talks held in Jakarta between
the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front;
Commending the agreement
reached by the participants in the Fourth Round of Formal Peace Talks to
reaffirm all the points of
agreement in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 Interim Agreements
and to include them in the Final Agreement provided for in the 1976
Tripoli Agreement,
1. Welcomes the "Peace Agreement"
between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National
Liberation Front initialed on 30 August 1996 in Jakarta and officially signed on
2 September 1996 in Manila.
2. Appreciates the important steps already taken to fully implement
the Agreement and calls on both the GRP and the MNLF to preserve the
gains achieved as a result of the signing of the "Peace Agreement".
3. Pays tribute to the leadership of the Moro National Liberation
Front under the Chairmanship of Professor Nur Misuari, as the sole legitimate
representative of Muslims in Southern Philippines ("Bangsamoro
people"), for their courage, political vision and wisdom which paved the
way for the ultimate achievement of a political, just, comprehensive, and final
solution to the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
4. Pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines under the wise leadership of His Excellency President Fidel Ramos
which led to the establishment of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and
Development and, consequently, to the achievement of the peaceful, durable,
comprehensive and just settlement of the problem of Southern Philippines.
5. Pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Republic of
Indonesia, under the sagacious leadership of His Excellency President Soeharto,
in facilitating the peace process culminating in the signing of the Final Peace
Agreement on 2 September 1996.
6. Also pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Great
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, under the wise leadership of His
Excellency Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, in achieving the Tripoli Agreement of 1976
and in hosting the first exploratory talks in Tripoli from 3 to 4 October, 1992.
7. Expresses satisfaction for the efforts exerted by the Ministerial
Committee of Six, under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Ali Alatas, the
Foreign Minister of Indonesia, and the membership of the Libyan Jamahiriya,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Senegal, People's Republic of Bangladesh
and the Republic of Somalia as well as the efforts exerted by the OIC Secretary
General, to find a political, just, comprehensive, honourable and final solution
to the problem of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
8. Expresses satisfaction for the positive contribution of the OIC
Observer Team manned by Indonesian officers in maintaining the ceasefire and
thereby creating conducive atmosphere for the attainment of the Peace Agreement
and their role in the implementation phase of the Agreement.
9. Urges the Member States, the OIC subsidiary organs, specialised
and affiliated institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, to increase
their economic, financial, technical and material assistance for the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Southern Philippines through the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and/or the Southern Philippines
Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) under the leadership of the MNLF.
10.
Decides to maintain the status and the participation of the MNLF
in the activities of the
Organisation of the Islamic Conference in its capacity as the sole legitimate
representative of the Bangsamoro people in Southern Philippines aimed at
improving their conditions in accordance with the Peace Agreement.
11. Requests the
Ministerial Committee of the Six and the OIC Secretary General to continue
extending assistance as appropriate for the full implementation of the Peace
Agreement during the transitional period pending the establishment of the
regular autonomous region in Southern Philippines.
12. Urges the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation
Front to take the necessary steps for the implementation of the peace agreement
so as to ensure an auspicious environment for development and stability in
Southern Philippines.
13.
Urges the Member States to contribute to mobilize a broad
international support to both parties of the Peace Agreement aimed at enabling
them to achieve peace, development and prosperity in the Southern Philippines.
14. Requests the
Secretary General to follow up the full implementation of the
"Peace Agreement" and to submit a report thereon to the
Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
(Session for a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in
Doha, State of Qatar from 17-19 Dhul Quida 1418H ( 15-17 March, 1998),
Reaffirming its commitment to Muslim communities and minorities
living in Non-OIC Member States;
Keeping in mind that the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western
Thrace, is an integral part of the Muslim World;
Recalling the principles and objectives of the OIC Charter, the
Resolutions adopted by the Sessions of the Islamic Summit Conferences, Islamic
Conferences of Foreign Ministers and international conventions, declarations and
agreements, calling for observance of human rights namely political, social,
cultural, economic rights and freedom of worship, and most particularly the
Lausanne Agreement which calls for observance of the right for the Muslim
minority in Western Thrace to use their Turkish language and practice their
religious rites as well as to the free election of their representatives in all
matters;
Further recalling UN General Assembly Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or
Belief;
Regretting that the violation of the minority rights and
fundamental freedoms of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is
continuing;
Keeping in mind that the rights and freedoms of the Turkish Muslim
Minority in Western Thrace are defined and protected by multilateral and
bilateral Treaties and Agreements,
1. Deplores the juridical harassment aimed at the elected Mufti of
Xanthi, Mr. Mehmet Emin Aga, and his sentencing to imprisonment.
2. Expresses its concern on the obstruction of the building of
Kimmeria Mosque.
3. Requests that the steps for the election of the administration
board of the Wakfs are taken to enable a better administration of the Wakfs
which will promote the religious and educational activities.
4. Urges Greece to take all measures to restore the rights of the
Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and urgently recognize the elected
Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official Muftis,
5. Requests the Secretary General to monitor the situation of the
Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and to report to the Twenty-sixth
Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the
Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul
Quida 1418H (15-17 March 1998),
Recalling
Resolution 12/5-P(IS) of the Fifth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
regarding the establishment of the International Islamic Court of Justice as a
fourth main organ in the OIC;
Wishing
to speed up the establishment of the International Islamic Court of Justice and
the commencement of its work so
that it may contribute to the peaceful settlement of disputes among Member
States;
Mindful
of the importance of Resolution No. 49/8-P(IS) adopted by the Eighth Session of
the Islamic Summit Conference on the Islamic Court of Justice,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Member
States that have ratified the statute of the Court and the amendment of Article
(3) of the Charter involving the addition of a fourth paragraph (d) concerning
the International Islamic Court of Justice.
2. Urges the Member States that have not yet
ratified the Statute of the Court and the amendment of the Charter to accelerate
the completion of the ratification procedure and to deposit their instruments of
ratification at the General Secretariat as soon as possible, so that the quorum
needed for the Court to become operational may be attained.
3. Calls for continued coordination and
consultation between the State of Kuwait, the host country, and the General
Secretariat in looking for the best ways and means to accelerate the
establishment and functioning of the Court.
4. Invites the Secretary General to continue
his intensive contacts and consultations with Member States aimed at expediting
the attainment of the necessary quorum of ratifications for establishing
the Court and ensuring the commencement of its work.
5. Also invites the Member-States and the
General Secretariat to make every effort to raise and disseminate awareness of
the relevance of the Court, and its
objectives and of the need for its establishment and functioning as an optional
judiciary means to settle conflicts peacefuly.
6. Requests the Secretary General to ensure the
implementation of this resolution and report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session
of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the
Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul
Quida 1418H (15-17 March 1998),
Recalling
the prime movers and noble objectives of the glorious religion of Islam which
emphasizes the need for, and importance of, human rights; and mindful of
the universality and comprehensive nature of the Islamic rules on human rights
and the prominent place of Man.
Bearing in mind
the objectives of the Charter of the OIC of promoting and encouraging respect
for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people without distinction as
to race, sex or religion;
Recalling
Resolution No. 49/19-P of the Nineteenth Session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers adopting and issuing the document entitled Cairo Declaration
on Human Rights in Islam; and the subsequent resolutions the latest of which was
resolution No. 50/8-P (IS) of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit
Conference on the Follow-up of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam.
Recognizing the
necessity and urgency of translating the follow up of the Cairo Declaration into
concrete and practical measures after a
lapse of 7 years of its adoption;
Aware
of the prevailing international circumstances and the necessity of strengthening
the existing mechanism within the OIC for exploring ways and means to promote
and protect human rights through, inter alia, the formulation of a set of
Islamic covenants on human rights;
Recognizing the
obligations and endeavors of the Member States to promote and protect the
internationally recognized human rights while taking into account the
significance of their religious, national and regional particularities and
various historical and cultural backgrounds, and with due regard to the “Cairo
Declaration on Human Rights in Islam”,
1. Welcomes the unanimous decision of the Nineteenth Session of the
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to issue the Cairo Declaration on Human
Rights in Islam as a general guideline for Member States in the field of human
rights.
2. Recognizes the importance of following up
the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam and calls upon the
Governmental Expert Group, in accordance with its mandate and pursuant to the
principles enshrined in the Cairo Declaration, to start the formulation and
consideration of Islamic covenants on human rights in meeting in preparation for
recommending their submission to the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
3. Encourages Member States to support and facilitate the realization
of the mandate of the Governmental Expert Group through, inter alia, convening,
in Member States and Non-Member States and in collaboration with the General
Secretariat, seminars and workshops on human rights in Islam.
4. Calls upon Member States to continue their active coordination and
cooperation in the field of human rights in order to strengthen Islamic
solidarity against any initiative that may use human rights as a means of
political pressure on any Member State.
5. Takes note of the report of the Fourth Meeting of the Governmental
Expert Group on the follow up of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam
and of the proposals and recommendations made therein, particularly para.7 (c),
which reiterates the need to seize the opportunity of the celebration of the
50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to highlight the
human rights and noble values established by Islam.
It calls upon Member States to take all necessary measures to
implement them, and requests
the Secretary General to convene a Fifth meeting of the Governmental Expert
Group during 1998 to continue the task assigned in its mandate.
6. Requests the General Secretariat to include this item in the
agenda of the future sessions of the OIC; and also requests the Secretary
General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to
the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Bearing
in mind the objectives of the Charter of the OIC and the Cairo Declaration on
Human Rights in Islam, of promoting, encouraging and ensuring respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with Islamic values and
teachings, as well as the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant instruments;
Mindful
of the universality and comprehensive nature of Islamic values with respect to
human rights, the prominent place of man in Islam as vicegerent of Allah on
earth and hence the great importance attached by Islamic thought to the
promotion, encouragement and respect of human rights;
Noting
the attempts to exploit the issue of human rights to discredit the principles of
Islamic Shariah and to interfere in the affairs of Islamic States;
Stressing the need for active international cooperation for the
effective realization of the right to development;
Emphasizing the need for close coordination among Member States in
resisting the moves to exploit human rights for political purposes including
selective targeting of individual countries for undeclared reasons,
1. Reitrates the need for continued consultation and coordination
among Member States in the field of human rights especially
during international Conferences and meetings
on the subject.
2. Requests
the Secretary General to provide ways and means to convey OIC stands on
different issues in the field of human rights specially in respect of
minorities, to the UN Human Rights
agencies and mechanisms, in particular their Special Representatives and
Rapporteurs with a view to furthering OIC positions on human rights at the U.N.
3. Also
requests the Secretary General to designate a Contact Group with the
relevant international organizations, in particular, at the U.N. headquarters in
New York and Geneva, with the mandate of holding meetings on appropriate
occasions, to consider and discuss human rights issues with a view to adopting,
if possible, a common position among Member States on the matters under
consideration.
4. Calls
for the necessary vigilance and caution towards any attempts at
misrepresenting and undermining the Islamic Shariah.
5. Requests
the Secretary General to implement this resolution and report thereon to the
Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Having considered
the Status of signature, ratification, and accession to the Agreements concluded
under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference;
Noting
that the necessary quorum of ratifications by Member States for the coming into
force of many of these Agreements is not yet reached in accordance with the
provisions of their Statutes; and the importance of expediting this process for
strengthening the role of the OIC and expanding the fields of cooperation among Member States,
1. Urges the Member States to sign and/or ratify, as soon as
possible, the various agreements concluded in the framework of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference.
2. Requests the Secretary General to ensure the implementation of
this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Committed to the moral and human principles that the OIC Member
States believe in, and inspired by their sublime and tolerant religion; their
heritage and tradition which call for the rejection of all forms of injustice,
aggression and intolerance;
Convinced
that there is an international consensus on combating terrorism in all its
forms; and on eliminating the causes of terrorism which endangers the life and
property of innocent people, violates the sovereignty of States, and jeopardizes
the rights of peoples;
Recognizing
the need for specific and agreed upon international criteria,
to enable the international community to differentiate
clearly between terrorism and peoples’ struggle for national
liberation;
Stressing
the need for Islamic cooperation in taking practical measures to combat and
prevent terrorism effectively within the framework of the provisions of the Code
of Conduct for combatting international terrorism, approved by the Seventh
Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in its Resolution 43/7-P (IS);
Reaffirming
the fundamental and legitimate rights of all peoples
struggling under the yoke of colonialist and racist regimes as well as
under foreign occupation to fight occupation and determine their own future,
particularly the struggle of national liberation movements;
Condemning
all terrorist acts, including those perpetrated by States, directly or
indirectly, which spread violence and terror and aim at destabilizing countries
and communities;
Denouncing the frantic attempts aimed at obliterating the clear
distinction between terrorism and the legitimate struggle of peoples which
conforms with the principles of international law and the provisions of the
Charters of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the United nations.
Noting the classifications adopted by some quarters on the basis
of biased political considerations according to which a number of Islamic States
are listed among the so called states which sponsor terrorism;
Recalling
U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1514 (1960) on granting the right
of self-determination and independence to colonised countries and
peoples, and U.N. General Assembly Resolution
42/104, adopted on 7 December 1987;
Also recalling
Resolution No. 53/8-P(IS) adopted by the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit
and the Resolution No. 44/24-P adopted by the Twenty-fourth Session of the
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers,
1. Reiterates its support for convening an International Conference
under the auspices of the United Nations to define terrorism and distinguish it
from the struggle of peoples for national liberation.
2. Invites Member States to stress the need for convening an
International Conference to determine the meaning of terrorism, and to
distinguish terrorism from the struggle of peoples for national
liberation.
3. Requests the Secretary General to
ensure the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon
to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers.
ON THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE CODE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Recalling
the Resolution 43/7-P (IS) of the Seventh Session of the Islamic Summit, which
approved the Code of Conduct for combating international terrorism; and
resolution 54/8-P(IS) of the Eighth Session of the Summit Conference
on the follow-up of the Code of Conduct for combating international
terrorism;
Also recalling
the U.N. Resolution No. 49/60 relating to the Declaration of principles on the
fight against international terrorism;
Reaffirming
the determination to combat terrorist acts in all their forms and
manifestations, including those where States are involved directly or
indirectly;
Reiterating
the commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, to
eliminate the objectives and causes of terrorism directed against the life and
property of innocent people and the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, stability and security of States, and to uphold the
provisions of the Code of Conduct for combatting international terrorism, which
reaffirm this commitment;
Emphasizing
the importance of international and regional cooperation, especially among
Member States, including coordination and exchange of informaion among their
competent authorities in combating effectively all forms of terrorism;
Reiterating
its call to Member States to observe the principles of good neighbourliness and
non-intervention in the internal affairs of
States and to prevent the use of their territories by individuals or
groups for the perpetration of territorist acts against other Member States;
Emphasizing
the importance of establishing a climate of confidence and solidarity among
Member States;
Alarmed at the continuing acts of violence and the increasing level of
atrocities accompanying them specially those targeting foreign tourists
recently;
Strongly condemns
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including state terrorism against
all States and peoples;
Conscious
of the negative repercussions of all forms of terrorism on the image of Islam,
1. Declares that Islam is innocent of all forms
of terrorism which involve the murder of innocent people whose killing is
forbidden by Allah.
2. Strongly condemns the
perpetrators of such odious crimes, who pretend to act in the name of Islam or
under any other pretext.
3. Calls upon all states not to grant asylum to
these terrorists, and to take all necessary measures to help bring them to
justice.
4. Affirms the determination of Member States
to concert their efforts to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism,
including state terrorism against all states and peoples.
5. Reaffirms that the struggle of peoples under
colonialist or alien domination or
under foreign occupation, for their national liberation or
to regain their right to self-determination, does not constitute an act
of terrorism.
6. Reaffirms the commitment of Member States to
the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Combating International Terrorism
especially those reaffirming their commitment to refrain from undertaking,
attempting or participating in any way in financing, instigating
or supporting any acts of terrorism, directly or indirectly and also
those urging them to take all necessary measures to ensure that their
territories are not used as a base for planning, organizing, executing,
initiating or participating in any terrorist activity.
7. Calls upon OIC Member States to make every
effort to enhance their cooperation, in accordance with their internal laws and
relevant international arrangements and conventions, in countering and combating
terrorist acts, prosecuting their perpetrators or handing them over to their
respective countries or to the state where the act had been committed, in
accordance with their bilateral agreements and arrangements as well as
cooperation in the fields of exchange of relevant information on terrorists and
their activities.
8. Calls upon Member States to follow-up the
Code of Conduct for combating Terrorism, and to coordinate their stands and
cooperate in the light of the
principles and provisions stipulated in the Code of Conduct within all the
international conferences and fora concerned with international terrorism.
9. Takes note of the
report of the Group of Governmental Experts on its Second Meeting held in
Cairo from 22 to 24 February 1998 in accordance
with Resolution 54/8-P(IS) and approves the recommendations contained in the
report of the Group on the framework for a Draft Convention of the OIC for
combating international terrorism and decides to entrust the OIC General
Secretariat to prepare the aforementioned draft Convention which will be based
on the framework and to circulate it to the Member States in order to enable the
Group of governmental experts to consider it in its forthcoming meeting and
submit its report to the Twenty-Sixth Session of the ICFM.
10. Requests
the Secretary General to follow-up the implementation of this resolution in
close cooperation with Member States, and to submit a report thereon to the
Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Recalling
the Resolutions adopted by the different Sessions of the Islamic Summit and
Foreign Ministers Conferences, the latest of which is the resolution No.
55/8-P(IS) adopted by the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Taking into consideration that the hijacking of aircraft and the
anguish caused to innocent passengers is a crime as grave as highway robbery
which is prohibited by the Islamic Shariah in accordance with the text of the
Holy Quran (Surat Al-Maida/33);
Noting
that the crimes of hijacking aircraft have continued in spite of all
international agreements and conventions prohibiting them and calling for more
severe sanctions against hijacking;
Affirming
that acts of violence against innocent passengers in addition to the dread,
terror and suffering caused to them and to their relatives and their exposure to
unjustified physical and mental torture are contrary to the provisions of
Islamic Shariah;
Having considered
the report of the Secretary General on the strengthening of Islamic solidarity
in combating hijacking;
Conscious
of the need for full observance of the international conventions against
hijacking,
1. Condemns all forms of international terrorism including the crime
of aerial hijacking and unlawful acts against the safety and security of civil
aviation.
2. Calls on Member States to refrain from yielding to the demands of
hijackers, which constitute a form of extortion contrary to the interests and
laws of the peoples and countries
of the OIC.
3. Calls upon Member States to take all necessary measures to curb
such crimes and inflict the most severe punishments on the offenders involved in
them, or to hand these over to the other States concerned.
4. Calls upon Member States which have not yet acceded to or
ratified, the Tokyo Convention (1963), the Hague Convention (1970) and the
Montreal Convention (1971) on penalties for hijacking and guarantees for the
security and safety of civil aviation, to expedite such ratification and
accession and urges the States that have already acceded to these Conventions to
strictly and firmly implement their provisions.
5. Calls upon all Member States on whose territories hijacked planes
land to exert utmost efforts to foil the designs of the hijackers in accordance
with international laws in this
regard and, in cooperation with the country owning the aircraft in accordance
with the relevant international agreements.
6. Requests the Member States facing such situations to provide
necessary assistance to the passengers, crew members, aircraft
and countries owning these in accordance with the provisions of
international agreements.
7. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of
this resolution and to submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of
the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H
(15-17 March 1998),
Recalling United Nations General Assembly Resolution No.51/88 as
well as the Commission on Human Rights Resolutions No. 1996/42 and 1997/35,
regarding the commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;
Reaffirming the resolutions adopted by the Summit Conference and
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers’ on the Cairo Declaration on Human
Rights in Islam, and coordination
among Member States on Human Rights;
Also recalling the recommendations made in the Report of the
Fourth Meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on follow up of the Cairo
Declaration of Human Rights in Islam particularly paragraph 7(C)
contained in document HR-4/97/Rep.1/Final, reiterating the need to seize the
occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights to highlight the human rights and noble values established by Islam
fourteen centuries before any positive covenants,
1. Calls upon the members of the international community on the
occasion of the commemoration of
the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to
reiterate their commitment to the universally accepted principles as follows:
(a) The international community must
treat human rights in a fair way and without discrimination.To this end, the
significance of national and regional particularities and of various historical,
cultural and religious backgrounds must be respected;
(b) The right to development and
decent living is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of
fundamental human rights, which should be firmly established and fully realized
through international cooperation and the creation of a favourable international
economic environment, without hegemony or the imposition of policies of coercion
or starvation on Member States;
(c) The exploitation of human rights
for political and economic motives is contrary to the purposes and principles of
the Charter of Untied Nations in particular the recognition and full respect of
the principles of inviolability of the sovereignty and independence of states,
and of non-interference in their
internal affairs pursuant to the spirit and objectives of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights;
(d) The principles of objectivity,
non selectivity and transparency, in the promotion of Human Rights, are of
paramount importance;
(e) The strengthening of
international cooperation and the building of a consensus through genuine
dialogue instead of confrontation is essential for the effective promotion and
protection of all human rights;
(f) Recognition
and full respect of the major legal systems in the world, including the Islamic
jurisprudence, is essential for the promotion of the universal and comprehensive
understanding of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
(g) Preparation
of booklets in Arabic, English and French containing the Cairo Declaration on
Human Rights in Islam with an explanatory note for authentication;
2- Decides to hold serious consultations amongst Member States in
Geneva to develop a common position, in 1998, taking into account the Cairo
Declaration on Human Rights in Islam as well as the principles set out in the
present resolution, in the discussions due to take place on the sideline of the
forthcoming 54th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.
3- Requests the OIC Secretary General to communicate this resolution
and its contents to the United Nations Secretary General
and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
4- Requests the Secretary General to take all necessary measures for
the implementation of the present resolution and submit a report on the subject
to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
(Session for a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in
Doha, State of Qatar from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418 H (15-17 March 1998),
Recalling Resolutions No. 45/7-P(IS) and No. 57/8-P (IS) on COMIAC
adopted by the Seventh and Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conferences respectively and approving the recommendations of the
Committee during its Third and Fourth Sessions;
Recalling also resolution No. 47/24-P adopted by the 24th Session
of the ICFM on OIC activities under the auspices of the Fifth Session of COMIAC
held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 8-9 Dhul Quida 1417H (27-28 March 1996);
Considering the resolutions of the 4th Session of the Islamic
Conference of Information Ministers held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 29-30
Rajab 1418H (29-30 November 1997), in particular resolution No. 8/4-ICIM on the
Islamic Programme for Development of Information and Communication (PIDIC);
Having taken cognizance of the report of the Secretary General on
the role of information and communication
in promoting the just causes and image of Islam;
Expressing its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of
Senegal for hosting the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee for Information
and Cultural Affairs and the Fourth Islamic Conference of Information Ministers,
1. Commends the Secretary General for the reform measures in the
sector of information and communication proposed by His Excellency so that it
may play its effective role in promoting just Islamic causes and the image of
Islam.
2. Follows
with interest the efforts to establish the Islamic Programme for Development of
Information and Communication (PIDIC) and the contacts of the Secretary General
with the Member States and the international organization concerned in this
respect.
3. Requests
the Member States to draw on the principles of the Information Strategy of
Islamic States in their national information programmes and plans.
4. Requests
the Secretary General to follow up the implementation
of this resolution and make
a report thereon to the Sixth Session of the COMIAC and to the
Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON
The
Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for
a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of
Qatar from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418 H (15-17 March 1998),
Recalling
resolutions 56/7-P(IS) and 58/8-P (IS) of the
Seventh and Eighth Sessions
of the Islamic Summits and resolutions 46/22-P, 47/23-P and 48/24-P of the 22nd,
23rd and 24th Sessions of the ICFM on OIC Information Plan;
Also
recalling the recommendations of the Fifth
Session of COMIAC held in Dakar on 8-9 Dhul Quida 1417H (27-28 March 1996) on
the funding and implementing of the Information Plan;
Further
recalling the commitments made by Member States in the framework of their
cooperation to establish an appropriate communication
network aimed at reducing the imbalance in the flow of information in the
Islamic world on the one hand and a specific information system to assert their
national and cultural identities and combat the hostile campaigns directed at
Islam and Muslims, on the other hand;
Inspired
by the resolutions of the 4th Session of the Islamic Conference of
Information Ministers held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 29-30 Rajab 1418H
(29-30 November 1997);
Having
considered the Secretary General’s Report on the role of communication in
promoting the just causes and the image of Islam as well as his Report on
implementing the Action Programme for 1996/97 within the framework of the
Information Plan (ICFM/25-98/INF/D.2),
1. Reaffirms
the need for Member States’ strong support to, and effective participation in,
the implementation of the Information Plan to ensure its success.
2. Urges
Member States to pledge financial, technical and material contributions for the
Plan.
3. Requests
to Member States:
(a) To assume, individually or collectively, the execution of the various
sections of the Information Plan;
(b) To contribute financially to the activities of the OIC in the field
of information and communication, notably by settling their arrears of
contributions to the budget of the General Secretariat and making voluntary
contributions so as to make up for the delay in implementing the Information
Plan and provide for the financing of other areas.
4. Recalls
the request of the Sessions of the Islamic Summit to the Secretary General:
(a) to make direct contact with Member States for information about the
programmes of the Information Plan whose cost they could assume;
(b) to coordinate action with Member States with a view to mobilizing the
donations and voluntary contributions required for the implementation of the
entire Information Plan;
5. Requests
the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and
submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of
Foreign Ministers.
ON
The
Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for
a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of
Qatar from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418 H (15-17 March 1998),
Having
considered the report of the Secretary General on the role of communication
in promoting the just causes of the Ummah and the image of Islam and
his Background Report on the OIC institutions specialized in the field of
information and also the report submitted by the Islamic International News
Agency (IINA) on its activities and projects;
Noting
with satisfaction the decision of the 5th Session of COMIAC to maintain IINA
and ISBO as two separate institutions;
Having
noted the efforts being made by the Agency to expand and diversify its
activities through publication of books and bulletins on current events in the
Islamic world, as well as reports and surveys on Member States, despite the
financial, technical and journalistic difficulties it is confronting;
Expressing
deep concern over the failure of some Member States to settle their
contributions to the Agency’s budget,
1. Expresses
its thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for
the constant support extended to the Agency, as well as to the Member States
which have contributed human, moral and material assistance to the Agency,
thereby enabling it to pursue its activities in the field of information.
2.
Calls on
Member States to pay their subscriptions and settle their arrears of
contributions to the Agency’s budget so that the Agency can fulfill its
responsibilities.
3.
Urges
Member States to extend support to the Agency by providing it with editorial and
technical staff so that it may achieve its objectives in the service of Islamic
information and also to provide IINA with news reports and information on
Islamic activities and development programmes, and to direct national agencies,
radio and television to propagate the news reports of IINA.
ON
The
Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for
a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of
Qatar from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418 H (15-17 March 1998),
Having
taken cognizance of the report
of the Secretary General on the role of communication in promoting the just
causes of the Ummah and the image of Islam and his Background Report on the OIC
institutions specialized in the field of information and also the report of the
Secretary General of the Islamic States Broadcasting Organisation on its
activities, projects and programmes;
Noting
with satisfaction the decision of the Fifth Session of COMIAC to maintain IINA
and ISBO as two separate institutions working in the field of information;
Noting
also with satisfaction the progress made by ISBO in Dawa activities,
promoting the diffusion of the Arabic language and defending Islamic causes;
Expressing
concern at the accumulated arrears of contributions of many Member States to
the Organisation’s budget,
1.
Expresses
deep gratitude and appreciation to Member States who have paid their
contributions and continue supporting ISBO activities, both materially and
morally.
2.
Calls on
the Member States concerned to regularly settle their full contributions to the
Organisation’s annual budget and arrange for the early settlement of their
arrears so that the Organisation can implement its programmes and projects
normally.
