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FOURTH ISLAMIC
CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
BENGHAZI - LIBYA
19-21 SAFAR, 1393 H. 24-26 MARCH, 1973
RESOLUTION No. 1/4
THE PALESTINE CAUSE
RESOLUTION No. 2/4
THE MIDDLE EAST
RESOLUTION No. 3/4
ZIONIST THREAT TO THE RED SEA BASIN
RESOLUTION No. 4/4
THE PROBLEM OF MUSLIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES
RESOLUTION No. 5/4
THE CAUSE OF PAKISTANI PRISONERS OF WAR IN INDIA
RESOLUTION No. 6/4
SUPPORT TO LIBERATION MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA
RESOLUTION No. 7/4
THE ERITREAN ISSUE
RESOLUTION No. 8/4
THE FOURTH SUMMIT CONFERENCE FOR NON-ALIGNED
STATES TO BE HELD IN ALGIERS
RESOLUTION No. 9/4
SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF GUINEA, SENEGAL
NEIGHBOURING SISTER COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES
STILL UNDER PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM
RESOLUTION No. 10/4
THE SITUATION OF MUSLIMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
RESOLUTION No. 11/4
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC NEWS AGENCY
RESOLUTION No. 12/4
ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRES
RESOLUTION No. 13/4
PATTERN OF COOPERATION WITH THE SECRETARIAT
RESOLUTION No. 14/4
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JIHAD FUND
RESOLUTION No. 15/4
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT ECONOMIC
EXPERTS COMMITTEE WITHIN THE SECRETARIAT
RESOLUTION No. 16/4
THE YEAR BOOK
RESOLUTION No. 17/4
BUDGET OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE ISLAMIC
CONFERENCE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR
1973
RESOLUTION No. 18/4
RETIREMENT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND
APPOINTMENT OF A NEW SECRETARY GENERAL
RESOLUTION No. 19/4
DATE AND VENUE OF THE FIFTH ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
RESOLUTION No. 1/4
THE PALESTINE CAUSE
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
In pursuance of the resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit Conference in Rabat and the previous Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers on the Palestine Question and related issues;
RECONSIDERING the evolutions of the Palestine problem and its developments on the international scene as well as the grave situation resulting from the usurpation of Palestine territory, the expulsion of its people, and the occupation by force of part of territories of three Islamic States, all of which constitute a violation of the UN Charter and resolutions and a threat to world peace ;
REAFFIRMING paragraph 5 of Article II of the Islamic Conference Charter, stipulating that the consolidation of the Palestine People's struggle for the restoration of their legitimate national rights and the support of sister Islamic Arab States for the recovery of their occupied territory, was an obligation and duty necessitated by Islamic solidarity and the principles of justice and peace ;
NOTING the United States persistence in supplying the aggressor Zionist entity with military, economic and technical aid thus encouraging it to pursue its expansionist policy;
NOTING the design of the Zionist entity for the annexation and judaization of Jerusalem and the alteration of its religious and historic features;
DECIDES:
1. To support the Palestine people in their just struggle for the liberation of their country and in their right to selfdetermination and to consider the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestine people;
2. To extend political, moral and material aid to the Palestine people to enable them to recover their usurped lands and to foil any attempts at eliminating Palestine Resistance Movement;
3. To call upon Member States to open offices in Islamic States for volunteers wishing to participate in the Jihad for the liberation of the holy land and to open offices for the Palestine Liberation Organization;
4. To call on all Islamic States to adopt clear and definite attitudes in their relations with the Zionist entity and to renew the demand for the severance of all political and economic relations with that entity;
5. To appeal to the big powers to refrain from providing the Zionist entity with military, economic and technical aid which encourage it to persist in its aggression and to threaten peace in the region;
6. To appeal to all countries to stop the emigration of Jews to occupied Palestine;
7. To implement the recommendation adopted by the Third Islamic Conference on the establishment of a "Jihad Fund" for Palestine;
8. To request Islamic States to inform the Secretariat of all measures taken by them in connection with the committees set up to promote awareness among the masses on the aims of the Palestine resistance and on the realities and plan of action of the Zionist movement;
9. To request the Secretariat to pursue its efforts with a view to stopping all measures for the annexation, judaization and alteration of the historic features of Jerusalem;
10. To request the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of these resolutions and recommendations and to submit a report on what has been achieved in this respect to the next Conference.
RESOLUTION No. 2/4
THE MIDDLE EAST
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L. A. R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973)
GUIDED by the resolutions of Summit Islamic Conference held in Rabat from 9 to 12 Rajab, 1389 H (22 to 25 September, 1969);
REAFFIRMING the resolutions adopted by the First Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah from 15 to 17 Moharram, 1390 H (23-25 March 1970), the Second Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Karachi from 27 to 29 Shawal, 1390 H (26-28 December 1970), and the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah from 14 to 18 Moharram, 1392 H (29 February-4 March 1972);
CONSIDERING that support by sister Arab States for the liberation of their territory and the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestine people is a responsibility and an obligation imposed by Islamic solidarity and the principles of justice and peace;
CONSIDERING the discussions which took place at the Conference sittings on Israel's violation of the resolutions and Charter of the United Nations, the principles of International Law and Human Rights, and its continued aggression against Arab territories;
1. INSISTS on Israel's unconditional withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied during the June 5, 1967, war, in compliance with the principles of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the respect of the territorial integrity of states;
2. CONDEMNS Israel's violation of UN principles and resolutions, which leads to the deterioration of the Middle East situation, obstructing the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region and poses a grave threat to world peace and security;
3. DECLARES as null and void all measures taken by the Israeli authorities in the occupied Arab territories with a view to altering their demographic character and political structure, thus revealing Israel's expansionist designs. It calls upon all states and international organizations to refrain from any action which bears an implicit recognition or support of these measures or facilitates them. It further calls upon these states and organizations to refrain from any assistance to the Israeli occupation authorities in their illegitimate measures aimed at exploiting the resources of the occupied territories;
4. REQUESTS the Permanent members of the Security Council to take the necessary measures for effecting total, immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories and further requests the UN General Assembly and Security Council to invoke Chapter 7 of the Charter to ensure the implementation of their resolutions;
5. DECLARES that in view of Israel's refusal to abide by the numerous resolutions of the United Nations, Member States call upon the UN Secretary General to take cognizance of the stand of the Islamic States meeting in the present conference and their historical right to counter Israel's obstinate and persistent determination to pursue its violation of Islamic Holy Places;
6. SUPPORTS in all ways sister Arab states in their efforts to liberate their territories from Israeli occupation;
7. REQUESTS all States providing Israel with arms and military equipment or extending to it economic or technical aid, particularly the United States, to desist from such action. In this connection the Conference calls upon all peace loving nations to exert their utmost to ensure that this request is met so that Israel may not persist in its refusal to withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and its disregard of world public opinion;
8. DECLARES that it is incumbent upon Member States to take all measures including political and economic action against Israel to help liquidate the consequences of aggression against the occupied Arab territories;
9. EXPRESSES its appreciation for the role played by Islamic States and the efforts exerted by African and Asian nations aimed at reaching a just solution to the M.E. problem in accordance with the UN resolutions and welcomes the firm and just attitude adopted by the sister African states which recently severed political relations with Israel .
RESOLUTION No. 3/4
ZIONIST THREAT TO THE RED SEA BASIN
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
REALIZING the political, strategic and economic importance of the Red Sea Basin area to the Arab nation and to the Islamic World as a whole:
TAKING NOTE OF the efforts exerted by Israel and by the forces of imperialism and Zionism to control this area politically and militarily;
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the suspicious moves conducted by Israel in the area at present which are in keeping with its expansionist policy aiming at controlling the Red Sea Gateways so as to transform the area into a huge base serving its economic and military purposes and to besiege the area and turn it into a lake under its control ;
CONSIDERING that the steps taken by Israel to obtain facilities from Ethiopia in the Red Sea with a view to fulfilling the afore-mentioned designs, such as leasing bases, supply for the forces, etc. aggravate the present situation and call for prompt and direct intervention on the part of Member States to prevent Israel from controlling the gateways to the area since this would pose a threat to the political military and economic interests of its people;
1. CALLS UPON Member States to establish the fullest cooperation between themselves, in order to unify Islamic and Arab efforts and act according to a joint plan to confront the impending danger to the area;
2. CALLS UPON the Sister Countries of the Libyan Arab Republic, the Republic of Tunisia and the Republic of Senegal to use their good offices with the Government of the Republic of France to provide an atmosphere of freedom and democracy and to grant to French Somaliland its freedom and independence;
3. URGES Member States to stand united in their confrontation with foreign powers that help Zionist infiltration;
4. REQUESTS Members to draw up a joint plan to eradicate Zionist influence in the area before it is too late.
RESOLUTION No. 4/4
THE PROBLEM OF MUSLIMS IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973)
HAVING discussed the situation of Muslims in the Philippines and the reported persecution and genocide campaigns directed against them, in contravention of the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Charter:
AWARE of the fact that the problem is full of complications the more so as it concerns the internal affairs of an independent sovereign state;
HAVING studied the report presented by the Libyan Arab Republic as well as the report drawn up by the Secretary General on the matter in implementation of Resolution No: 12 adopted by the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah, 1972, and the report submitted by the State of Kuwait;
CONSIDERING the gravity of the situation;
1. EXPRESSES deep concern over the reported repression and mass extermination of Muslims in South Philippines and urges the Philippine government to halt these operations immediately;
2. URGES the creation of a Fund to help Muslims in South Philippines which would be financed by Muslim governments as they deem fit, while organizing a fundraising campaign at the popular level in Islamic countries for the Filipino Muslims;
3. CALLS ON the government of the Philippines to take prompt measures to provide protection and security for Muslims, to repatriate the refugees to their homes and to halt organized Christian migration from the North;
4. APPEALS to peace-loving states, religious and international authorities to use their good offices with the Philippines government in order to halt the campaigns of violence against the Muslim community in the Philippines and ensure their safety and the basic liberties guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and their country's Constitution;
5. DECIDES to send a delegation composed of the Foreign Ministers of the following states to the Philippines to discuss with its government the condition of Muslims there;
The Libyan Arab Republic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Somalia;
The Mission should be undertaken within 3 months and Member States of the Conference should be informed of the results achieved. The Conference requests as well as the Governments of Indonesia and Malaysia to exert their good offices for the same purpose within the framework of ASEAN;
The Conference also considers that diplomatic efforts should be exerted with international religious institutions and authorities. Such efforts should be coordinated by the Secretary General in the light of preparatory contacts of which he will be informed.
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RESOLUTION No. 5/4
THE CAUSE OF PAKISTANI PRISONERS OF WAR IN INDIA
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973)
TAKING NOTE of the Pakistani delegation's appeal for support as regards the immediate release and repatriation of Pakistani prisoners of war as well as civilian internees detained in India;
RECALLING the Security Council Resolution No. : (307) and the United Nations Resolution No.2793 (26) on the situation in the Indo Pakistani Subcontinent;
POINTING with deep appreciation to the fact that the Pakistani Government has unilaterally released Indian prisoners of war;
NOTING with deep concern that India still detains more than 90,000 military and civilian Pakistanis which is a violation of the Geneva conventions and the United Nations Resolutions in this respect;
NOTING that these prisoners of war in India, are suffering from torture, lack of medical care, nourishment and clothing and that many have been shot dead or wounded, according to the reports of the International Red Cross;
1. EXPRESSES growing concern on India's continued detention of Pakistani prisoners of war and civilian internees and calls on the Indian Government to release them immediately;
2. APPEALS to UN Secretary General and Member countries in the Organization to exert all possible efforts to implement the Resolutions of the General Assembly and Security Council of the United Nations, concerning the release of the Pakistani prisoners of war;
3. RECOMMENDS that Member States extend material assistance to the Government of Pakistan to enable it to repatriate and rehabilitate prisoners of war;
4. REQUESTS the Secretary General of the Islamic Conference to implement the recommendations passed by this Conference and report the results to Member States.
RESOLUTION No. 6/4
SUPPORT TO LIBERATION MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
AWARE of the sufferings of the African peoples, struggling against terrorism and the evils of colonialist domination as well as racist oppression;
ACTING IN ACCORDANCE with the provisions of the Islamic Charter related to the call for championing right and justice, and safeguarding human freedom and dignity;
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the acts of aggression and social injustice to which African peoples are subjected and which contravene the basic rights of man to live in freedom and dignity;
TAKING DUE ACCOUNT of the resolutions adopted by the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
1. STRONGLY DENOUNCES the Portuguese and other European governments which continue to pursue colonialist policies in Africa, and strongly denounces as well racial discrimination in South Africa, Rhodesia and Namibia and also the acts of aggression perpetrated against Zambia. It also denounces the imperialist States' occupation of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, the so-called Spanish Sahara, Eritrea and so-called French Somalia;
2. EXPRESSES all-out support for the just struggle of African peoples for their national independence;
3. APPEALS to all Member States to intensity their support to the African liberation struggle in all fields and uphold justice in order to safeguard the dignity of Africans.
RESOLUTION No. 7/4
THE ERITREAN ISSUE
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION UN resolution No. 390(V) of 2/12/1950 regulating the federal relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia;
IN CONFORMITY WITH its policy of support to the struggle of peoples for liberation and self-determination;
1. Declares its full sympathy with the Eritrean people and supports their legitimate struggle for self-determination and full freedom;
2. Appeals to the Organization of African Unity to treat the Eritrean issue within the framework of African fraternity with a view to finding a political solution which fulfills the aspirations of the Eritrean people and safeguards security, stability and justice in the region;
3. Appeals to Member States to extend assistance to the Eritrean people in their present plight and to use their good offices with the Ethiopian Government with a view to reaching a just solution to this issue;
4. Requests the Ethiopian Government to stop military acts against the Eritrean unarmed people.
RESOLUTION No. 8/4
THE FOURTH SUMMIT CONFERENCE FOR NON-ALIGNED
STATES TO BE HELD IN ALGIERS
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
- HAVING HEARD the statement of the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Popular Republic of Algeria on the Fourth Summit Conference of non-aligned countries;
- IN CONFORMITY with the Islamic Charter and the principles of non-alignment;
- ANXIOUS that the members of the Islamic Conference support the policy of national independence;
- CONSIDERING that non-alignment has provided a suitable framework for an effective mobilization and solidarity of the countries of the third world;
- RECALLING the resolution adopted by the Ministerial Conference of non-aligned countries held in Georgetown in August, 1972 providing for the designation of Algeria as Rapporteur to the Fourth Summit Conference of non-aligned countries;
- IN VIEW of the preparatory work carried out in Algeria for holding that Conference as well as that to be carried out by the preparatory committee meeting on May 13 in Kabul, Afghanistan;
- CALLS UPON Islamic non aligned countries to participate at the highest level in the Fourth Summit Conference of non aligned countries, meeting in Algiers in September, 1973 and endeavor their utmost to ensure its success.
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RESOLUTION No. 9/4
SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF GUINEA, SENEGAL
NEIGHBOURING SISTER COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES
STILL UNDER PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
The Conference reaffirms its resolution adopted by the Jeddah Conference on the policy of aggression practiced by Portugal against the sister Republic of Guinea;
AFFIRMS its full solidarity with the peoples of Guinea, Senegal, and sister countries in their resistance to Portuguese acts of aggression and in the struggle for safeguarding their independence and sovereignty;
CONDEMNS the colonialist policy of Portugal and denounces the reported acts of aggression launched by Portugal against Guinea, Senegal and other independent African countries neighboring the territories still subjected to colonialist domination;
CALLS UPON Member States to give their material and moral support to the sister Republic of Guinea and other sister countries subjected to Portuguese aggression.
RESOLUTION No. 10/4
THE SITUATION OF MUSLIMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
HAVING DISCUSSED the situation of Muslim minorities in countries with non-Muslim majorities;
HAVING EXAMINED the studies presented by participant delegations;
1. EXPRESSES its concern as regards the fact that Muslim minorities in some countries of non Muslim majorities do not enjoy the political and religious rights guaranteed by international law and norms;
2. APPEALS to countries with Muslim minorities to respect those minorities and their culture and beliefs and grant them their rights in accordance with the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights;
3. APPEALS to Islamic States to extend aid to Muslim minorities in order to raise their religious, cultural and social standards;
4. REQUESTS the Secretariat to draw up a report on the condition of these minorities, particularly those deprived of the freedom to exercise their religious and political rights and submit this report to the next Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
RESOLUTION No. 11/4
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC NEWS AGENCY
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
CONVINCED of the importance of the International Islamic News Agency for serving the causes of Islamic States, providing information on their progress and achievements, and explaining their stand to world public opinion;
URGES Member States to remit promptly their subscriptions to the Agency;
RECOMMENDS THAT Wealthier States contribute to the Agency to enable it to carry out its projects and widen the scope of its activities;
FURTHER RECOMMENDS that Member States urge their News Agencies and specialized bodies to provide the International Islamic News Agency with news items and press releases in order to enable it to realize satisfactorily the objectives for which it has been set up.
RESOLUTION No. 12/4
ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRES
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION Resolution No. (7) adopted by the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah;
NOTING the plight and the political, social and economic conditions of Muslims especially in non-Islamic countries, the insidious attacks against Islam and the lack of coordinated efforts to propagate Islam;
RECOGNIZING the urgent need to protect and strengthen our religion, Islam, propagate and disseminate its ideologies and instruct and educate Muslims in its authentic tenets;
AWARE OF the need for realizing these objectives and for the coordination and maintenance of Islamic activities in all countries;
DECIDES:
a) To hold a Conference of Islamic (Cultural) Centres in Europe in London and follow it by similar conferences in other key areas in the world as may be found necessary;
b) To gather necessary information on the problems facing Muslims throughout the world, and to attend to their organizational and financial needs in order to strengthen and render more effective the efforts exerted for the spread of Islam;
c) To set up as early as possible new Islamic Cultural Centres in Africa particularly in Member States of the Conference after submission of the necessary study by the Secretariat;
d) To urge Member States to extend the necessary religious, financial, technical and organizational support for the establishment of these centres.
RESOLUTION No. 13/4
PATTERN OF COOPERATION WITH THE SECRETARIAT
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
AWARE of the obligations and responsibilities of the Member States as defined in the Charter;
RECOGNIZING the absolute necessity of giving unqualified support to the Secretariat to enable it to discharge its duties efficiently and effectively;
STRONGLY URGES the Member countries;
a) To extend their fullest cooperation to the Secretariat and to use it as an effective channel for discussion of their problems and reconciliation of their differences;
b) To be regular in the payment of their subscriptions and to be prompt in their response to any communications received from the Secretariat;
c) To give in addition to subscriptions some generous financial grants and assistance to strengthen Islamic solidarity and promote Islamic concepts and culture; and
d) To give serious attention and wholehearted support to the course charted by the Conference and which aims at uniting Muslim peoples and enabling them to speak with one voice and act as a single entity in international and world affairs;
e) RECOMMENDS that the Secretariat complete the basic documents, regulations and rules of procedure necessary for the proper functioning of the Conference;
To this end, the Secretariat can seek the help of a Committee of representatives of Member States accredited at Jeddah or by a Committee of experts convened for this purpose prior to the next Conference session.
RESOLUTION No. 14/4
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JIHAD FUND
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
CONSIDERING the objectives of the Charter of the Islamic Conference which aim at strengthening Muslim solidarity among Member States and in order to provide funds required to achieve this aim:
DECIDES:
1. To set up a fund attached to the Secretariat of the Islamic Conference, which would bear the title of Jihad Fund;
2. To establish branches of the Fund in all Member States;
3. To utilize the Fund for the assistance of Islamic liberation movements, for extending help to Islamic centres and societies abroad as well as in cases of natural disasters, and for building schools and hospitals;
The Fund shall proceed from:
a) Funds advanced by Member States yearly;
b) The proceeds of taxes and duties that may be imposed for the benefit of the Fund;
c) Proceeds of the investment of the Fund's assets;
d) Grants and donations;
4. The Secretariat shall draw up the scheme for the Fund and endeavor to achieve the objectives for which it has been established;
5. To set up an adhoc commission in Jeddah composed of the representatives of Member States to advise the Secretary General until he completes the study of that subject.
RESOLUTION No. 15/4
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT ECONOMIC
EXPERTS COMMITTEE WITHIN THE SECRETARIAT
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
AWARE of the importance of economic issues to Member States and of the need to set up a Muslim economy in the interest of Islamic States;
PURSUANT to the resolution of the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to the effect that an economic department should be set up within the Secretariat which would provide the nucleus of an agency specialized in Islamic economic affairs;
IN VIEW OF the recommendation of the meeting of the Ambassadors of Member States held in Jeddah 21/2/1973, and to facilitate the attainment of the objectives for which the economic department was set up, and enable this Department to function efficiently;
DECIDES:
To set up a Permanent Committee of economic experts within the Secretariat from Member States that would be convened at the Secretary General's invitation whenever the need arises with a view to advising the economic department and helping it to achieve its objectives.
RESOLUTION No. 16/4
THE YEAR BOOK
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
HAVING NOTED that the Islamic Library is almost devoid of any exhaustive, precise and up-to-date reference book on the conditions of the Islamic World from the political and statistical aspects as well as on its civilizing influences;
TAKING DUE ACCOUNT OF the fact that such a reference book would enhance understanding between Member States and would in addition enable future Conference Sessions to plan the course of action of future activities;
BEING AWARE THAT the issuance of such a reference book by the Secretariat with its official contacts with Member States and access to information about Muslims throughout the world would render it an accredited world document at international political circles and scientific organizations;
DECIDES to ask the Secretariat to compile and issue an annual reference book on the conditions of the Islamic World covering religion, cultural, statistical and other matters.
RESOLUTION No. 17/4
BUDGET OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE ISLAMIC
CONFERENCE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR
1973
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
a) HAVING TAKEN NOTE that the 1973 Budget as presented by the Secretary General of the Islamic Conference was considered and approved at the meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York;
HAVING considered the explanatory note on assessment of financial contribution and appendices attached thereto;
CONFIRMS AND ENDORSES the budget and the scale of financial assessment for 1973.
b) NOTING that the development and efficient functioning of the Secretariat depends on the availability of funds and the prompt payment thereof, in accordance with the Charter;
STRONGLY URGES Member States to pay arrears for financial years 1971 and 1972 together with contributions for 1973, particularly as the Secretariat is set on implementing new vital projects approved by the Conference;
REQUESTS the Secretary General to prepare a new and comprehensive review of the scale of assessment of Member States to the Islamic Conference beginning from the fiscal year 1974.
RESOLUTION No. 18/4
RETIREMENT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND
APPOINTMENT OF A NEW SECRETARY GENERAL
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
ACKNOWLEDGING the requests of H.E. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, the
Secretary General of Islamic Conference, to retire from his office with effect from 31 December, 1973 on account of his age and his private commitments in Malaysia if a successor could be found to replace him;
CONSIDERING that the said requests should be granted since a successor has been nominated and seconded in the Conference;
UNANIMOUSLY AGREED:
a) That H.E. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra be allowed to retire with effect from 31 December, 1973;
b) That in accordance with Article of the Charter, H.E. Hassan Mohammed Tuhamy be appointed as the Secretary General of Islamic Conference with effect from 1st January 1974;
c) To record the appreciation and thanks of the Conference to H.E. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra for his sacrifice and devotion in the cause of Islamic Solidarity during the formative years of the Islamic Secretariat.
RESOLUTION No. 19/4
DATE AND VENUE OF THE FIFTH ISLAMIC CONFERENCE
OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
The Fourth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting in Benghazi, L.A.R. from 19-21 Safar, 1393 H (24-26 March, 1973),
At the invitation of the Government of Afghanistan;
DECIDED:
a) To convene the Fifth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers towards the end of May, 1974 or immediately after;
b) That the Conference meet in Kabul, Afghanistan.