Newsletter

Issue No.56

Date: 19/03/2017

OIC Regrets the Withdrawal of the ESCWA Report on Apertheid Israel and Stresses the Importance of its Conclusions

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, expressed his deep regret at the withdrawal of the report of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which objectively represents the reality of Israeli policies of occupation, oppression, settlement and apartheid.

The Secretary General emphasized that the withdrawal of the United Nations report on Israeli apartheid practices towards the Palestinian people is counterproductive and would avert the international community from reaching the conclusions of such a substantive and professional document, and encourages Israel to continue its apartheid policies.

He stressed on the responsibility of the United Nations and the international community to take measures to put an end to Israel's racist policies and its continuing violations of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

The Secretary General also expressed regret at the resignation of the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rima Khalaf, commending her professional and balanced performance and her principled and well-appreciated position, which goes fully in line with the principles and Charter of the United Nations.

OIC Holds Consultations with United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Palestine

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, received in his office in Jeddah the deputy special coordinator for peace process in the Middle East and the United Nations coordinator of humanitarian assistance and development aid in the Palestinian Territories, Robert Piper, and his accompanying delegation.

Discussions were held on the developments in the Palestinian territory, particularly the situation in the occupied Jerusalem and Hebron as well as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Secretary General commended the important role of the United Nations and its specialized agencies throughout the Palestinian territories, including occupied Jerusalem.

He emphasized the readiness of the OIC to cooperate with all active parties to mobilize greater support in the interest of the Palestinian people.

Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam presents Letter of Credence to the Secretary General

H. E. Dato Yusoff Ismail, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 16 March 2017, presented his Letter of Credence to Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, the OIC Secretary General, accrediting him as the Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the OIC.

During the discussion that took place after the presentation of Credentials, Ambassador Ismail reiterated his country’s commitment to the OIC and its programs & activities.

He also expressed his interest to work very closely with the General Secretariat for the benefit of the Organization and its member states.

Welcoming the Ambassador, the Secretary General underlined on the important role of Brunei in materializing the objectives of the OIC.

Dr. Al-Othaimeen assured the Ambassador of required support and assistance from the General Secretariat during his assignment at the OIC.

Meeting to Review Funding Gaps & Mobilize Resources for OIC-IDB-IAEA National Cancer Control Programs in Member States

The OIC General Secretariat in coordination with the Islamic Development Bank Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency will convene a meeting to review funding gaps and mobilize resources for the implementation of priority interventions in the National Cancer Control Programs among 18 OIC Member States.

The meeting will be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health of the Republic of Sudan in Khartoum, Sudan on 20-22 March 2017.

Representatives of 18 OIC Member States, Development Funds including Saudi Fund for Development (SDF), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA); African Development Bank (AfDB); and International Organisations including World Health Organisation (WHO) will attend the meeting.

The Meeting is organized within the framework of the OIC-IDB-IAEA Practical Arrangements on Cooperation in the Area of Comprehensive Cancer Control in common Member States.

It is worth noting that the OIC adopted its Strategic Health Program of Action (OIC-SHPA) 2014-2023 at the 4th session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers held in Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2013.

http://www.oic-oci.org/topic/?t_id=13301&t_ref=5813&lan=en

Meeting of OIC institutions to Review the Preparations for the OIC First Summit for Science and Technology

The OIC General Secretariat convened a meeting of OIC institutions at the OIC Headquarters on 14 March 2017 to review substantive preparations for the First OIC Summit on Science and Technology due to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 10-11 September 2017.

The Meeting was attended by the OIC relevant institutions including the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH); Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC);Statistical, Economic, Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC); Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF); Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA);Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group; Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisations (ISESCO); and Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), IRCICA and COMCEC. The Meeting was also attended by the Representatives of the host country; Kazakhstan.

In his opening remarks, the OIC Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology Amb. Muhammad Naeem Khan underscored the need for OIC institutions to develop synergies and enhance partnerships so as to achieve the goals and targets which are outlined in the outcome document of the Summit.

The meeting examined, in detail, the proposed outcome document for the Summit compiled by COMSTECH with inputs of more than 120 scientists in various disciplines from several Member States and made valuable comments thereon, which would be incorporated and submitted, to the Member States for their consideration.

http://www.oic-oci.org/topic/?t_id=13289&ref=5808&lan=en

OIC Expresses Deep Concern at Islamophobic Statements in The Netherlands

The spokesperson of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed deep concern at the Islamophobic and anti-immigrant statements made by Dutch far right politician Geert Wilders during the election campaign in the Netherlands calling for Turks to leave the country.

Promoting intolerance and xenophobia against Muslim communities through fear and hatred has led to a backlash against all immigrants.

Such statements are not only irresponsible, but also feed the radical narratives of violent groups and terrorists.

It also runs contrary to the ongoing global efforts to strengthen dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions to promote better relations between and among communities.

The OIC spokesperson reiterated that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and that terrorism should not be equated to any race or religion.

The OIC urges the authorities in the Netherlands to take strong and collective measures to promote peace, harmony and tolerant co-habitation among peoples of diverse religious faiths, beliefs, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

The OIC also calls upon all political, secular or religious leaders to join hands and strengthen their efforts in promoting peaceful coexistence, dialogue and mutual understanding.

Palestinian ambassador to Rabat visits ISESCO

The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Rabat, Dr Zouheir Saleh Mohamed Achchane, paid a visit to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on 16/03/2017 where he was received by the Director General, Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri.

Talks during the meeting focused on prospects of cooperation between the competent parties in the State of Palestine and ISESCO as part of the implementation of the 2016-2018 Action Plan.

On this occasion, the Palestinian Ambassador commended ISESCO’s support to the educational, scientific and cultural institutions in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and in all the Palestinian territories.

He also hailed ISESCO’s stances in support of the Palestinian cause, as well as its denunciation of the Israeli repetitive aggression on the Palestinian people.

SESRIC signed MoU with Anadolu Agency (AA)

SESRIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Anadolu Agency (AA) to initiate and facilitate cooperation and collaboration between both institutions in matters of common interests.

The MoU was signed by H.E. Amb. Musa Kulaklıkaya, Director General of SESRIC, and Mr. Şenol Kazancı, Director General and Chairman of the Board of AA.

The MoU aims at bringing about a synergy between SESRIC and AA on capacity building directed towards staff members of news agencies across OIC Member Countries, as well as enhancing exchange of information and expertise among the agencies on key issues with regards to the news industry, notably in the effort to establish an “Islamic World News Agencies Cooperation Network”.

http://www.sesric.org/event-detail.php?id=1659

ICD and TUV SUD collaborate in developing the private sector in the countries of Central Asia

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group and TUV SUD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster their joint operations, and expand the services offered to private sector investors in the countries of Central Asia.

The Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of ICD, Mr. Khaled Al Aboodi and the Managing Director of TUV SUD Central Asia, Mr. Anar Ahmadov, signed the MoU on behalf of the two organizations during IFN CIS forum in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan on March 14.

The aim of the MoU is to facilitate cooperation between ICD and TUV SUD in promoting private sector participation in developing the member countries and inform about business opportunities in countries of Central Asia.

ICYF-DC: Model OIC (MOIC) Academic Training and Diplomatic Simulation Program

The implementation of Model OIC (MOIC), academic training and diplomatic simulation program of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC), is underway at the Institution’s Headquarters in Istanbul.

In its third week of 10-week training program, more than 100 students from different countries of OIC attended the lecture by Assist. Prof. Ismail Yaylacı from the Istanbul Şehir University on the history and conceptualization of the OIC.

It is important to note that MOIC was adopted by relevant resolution of the 3rd Islamic Conference Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM) with activities that include the opening of 70 new MOIC Clubs in the reputable universities of the Member States, the holding of 07 national MOIC Conference in Member States that comprises academic training and simulation of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The grand finale (5th International MOIC) would be held in Morocco later in 2017. It would include simulation of Islamic Summit with participation of more than 100 student delegates from all OIC Member States, as well as academic panels consisting of leading academicians, diplomats and experts from the OIC member states.

Start-up Platform for OIC Countries

Another important project adopted by the 3rd ICYSM, which has initiated its activities is the Start-Up Platform for OIC Countries.

It is an ICYF-DC youth entrepreneurship program offering young entrepreneurs from OIC Member States the opportunity of online/offline trainings in business fields and to be matched with the specifically chosen investors both in online platform and in a yearly summit. The official website of the program (www.oicstartups.org) has been launched and it is available for submission of the start-up projects of the young citizens of the OIC Member States and beyond. Following the online training and mentorship and the Evaluation of the projects by the Financial and technical committees of the platform, successful projects will be invited to yearly investment summit to present their projects to leading investors in OIC Member States which will take place in Kazan (Tatarstan) in May 2017 and in (Malaysia) in October 2017. 

Brief

- The Islamic Development Bank Group is organizing an Agriculture

and Rural Development Week under the theme “Inclusive Economic Growth through Productive and Resilient Agriculture” during the period from 19-23 March 2017 at its Headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The event will explore means and discuss successful models to promote inclusive rural economic growth with emphasis on enhancing smallholder productivity and resilience.

- The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has criticized European Court of Justice’s ruling that allows employers to ban Muslim women staff from wearing hijab at work.

ISESCO deemed the ruling at odds with the international human rights instruments, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, casting it as a restriction on the freedom of expression and conscience.