Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 18/06/2008
Kampala, Republic Of Uganda
18-20 June 2008
The Situation Of The Ummah In The 21st Century
- Economic Partnership
- Knowledge Sharing
- Humanitarian Assistance
Royal Highnesses, Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
At the outset, let me express profound gratitude and appreciation to our host Honorable Sam Kutesa, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uganda for the generous hospitality and excellent arrangements made by his government to make our stay in Kampala memorable.
I am also grateful for having this opportunity to place before all of you some very important issues with direct implications on the development, welfare and happiness of the Ummah in the 21st Century which could be discussed in a visionary, proactive and friendly manner by the distinguished members of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
During the 11th OIC Summit, the OIC leaders have given us lots of food for thought regarding the situation of the Ummah in the 21st Century through their eloquent and visionary statements. They have also given us guidelines to move forward in the arduous path of prosperity and development with the vision of economic partnership towards achieving sustainable development, effective knowledge sharing for reaching the desired targets of progress as well as providing humanitarian assistance to the backward section of the Muslim Ummah to enable them to advance at the same pace with others.
With the above in my mind and taking the advantage of this august gathering, I would like to focus on some crucial but achievable development objectives and relate them to the ongoing efforts of implementation of the OIC Ten Year Program of Action (TYPOA).
Royal Highnesses and Excellencies,
Our organization, together with its vision and its activities are now going through a historical phase of transformation in its four decades old life span. The adoption of the Ten Year Program of Action at the Third Extraordinary Summit held in Makkah Al Mukarramah under the visionary invitation of His Majesty Custodian of the two Holy Mosques has been a milestone development in the history of the OIC. The fact that the Ten Year Program of Action was based on the visionary conclusions of a forum of Muslim Scholars which was held in Makkah Al Mukarramah before the Summit makes the same an exemplary and unique exercise.
Most important aspect of that vision of His Majesty the King was inviting around 100 scholars with multidisciplinary background to focus on the problems of the Muslim World. All challenges faced by the Ummah in the 21st century were put on the table in a sincere effort to find remedies which would reflect the collective will of Ummah. This collective will then was manifested under the motto of solidarity in action in a blueprint titled Ten Year Program of Action which gave us the strategic message to solve our problems in a conciliatory manner and invited us to promote moderation and modernization.
The Programme of Action is an all-encompassing plan that addresses all areas of concern to the Islamic Ummah in the 21st Century ranging from Political, Economic, Social and Cultural issues up to issues related to Islamic Jurisprudence, Human Rights and Good Governance, Science and Technology and Humanitarian Assistance.
Highnesses, Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you are all aware, the reform process of the Organization of the Islamic Conference which started with the adoption of the historic Plan of Action by the OIC leaders has very recently witnessed one of its landmark achievements through unanimous adoption of the new Charter by our leaders during the Dakar Summit. The new Charter has made the OIC perhaps the only intergovernmental organization at the moment having a Charter with very recent and modern outlook as well as with a vision to deal with the complexities of the new millennium. With the new Charter, the efforts of the OIC member states and the general secretariat have gained a new momentum to implement and accomplish their objectives enshrined in the Ten Year Program of Action in a more concerted and effective way.
To make a very frank assessment on how we at the General Secretariat perceive the Ten Year Program of Action, I should state that the document serves as a guideline in all our activities. Strengthened with the new Charter, the General Secretariat is now more apt to deal with the complex and critical political challenges of present times. In political matters, proactive stance vis-à-vis political conflicts, assertive role in mediation and peace building efforts, active cooperation with the international community in the international peace and security matters, initiatives related to ensuring rights and welfare of the Muslim Minorities all over the world, particular emphasis to develop mutually beneficial relations and opening new horizons of partnership with the UN and its various agencies and other international organizations, are all among the priorities of the General Secretariat with regard to implementation of relevant mandates of the Program of Action in the political field.
Leadership in mobilizing humanitarian assistance campaigns including among the civil society charity institutions, establishing election monitoring teams, reinforcing the roles of the OIC Ambassadorial Groups particularly in Geneva and New York towards more concerted action, assuming the role of the legitimate representative and voice of the Muslim World on issues of dialogue among civilizations, interfaith dialogue, and combating the dangerously increasing trend of Islamophobia through dynamic interaction with the international community should also be added to our long list of new initiatives which myself and my colleagues are certainly proud of.
I should point out that in all these endeavors, we continue to attach a very special attention to Palestine and Al-Quds matters, in conformity with the raison d`etre of our organization and strong emphasize of the Program of Action on the issue.
Within the sprit of the Ten Year Program of Action, establishment of an Executive Committee as an OIC organ proved to be a very pertinent and wise step which enabled our organization to react to important political developments in a speedy and flexible manner. In last two years, this organ particularly played an important role in expressing the views and strong feelings of the Muslim World at the level of Heads of States and Foreign Ministers on alarming situations in Palestine, Al Quds and Gaza, during the Israeli attack on Lebanon and in countering Islamophobic attacks on our religion and its followers.
OIC`s active involvement in the international endeavors for finding lasting solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East, Iraq, Darfur, Afghanistan, Somalia through attendance at international conferences and mediation and fact-finding missions has already brought us lots of recognition and acclaim in the international fora. Particularly the meeting that we have organized under the umbrella of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy to bring together the religious representatives of the Iraqi Sunni`s and Shiites in the holy city of Makkah Al Mukarramah was an important contribution of the Organization to the implementation of the articles on multiplicity of Islamic Jurisprudence of our blueprint Program of Action.
I am happy to report to you that International Islamic Fiqh Academy has been overhauled with a new vision and structure, following the Extraordinary Makkah Summit. The Charter of the Islamic Fiqh Academy has been amended with introduction of many changes to concur with recent developments in the Islamic World and it should be mentioned here that the call made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz during the Islamic Summit held in Putrajaya, Malaysia in 2003 was instrumental for the reform of the Academy. Now the Fiqh Academy is more active than before. The first Preparatory Conference of Muslim Scholars was held in the General Secretariat in coordination with the Academy to work out ways and means towards rapprochement among the different Islamic Madahibs (Schools), which decided to develop a Comprehensive Plan of Action to this end. The next Meeting of the Scholars of the Muslim world will be held at the end of June 2008 to discuss the contents of the Plan of Action.
Excellencies,
The Ten Year Program of Action provides the basis and enshrines the joint will of the leaders for increased economic partnership among the member states. The Program is articulated in clusters of increasing intra-trade, eradicating poverty, eliminating pandemic diseases, as well as providing economic assistance to the Least Developed Countries, particularly to African member states. Accordingly this new economic partnership for the Ummah should be undertaken through collaborative efforts of the member states, regional and international organizations, private sector and civil society.
We have taken major steps towards achieving the lofty goals of the Ten Year Program of Action to eradicate poverty and support development in the Muslim World. Under the new visionary and strategic direction of the OIC, Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) will start working this year initially with US$ 2.611 billion out of its targeted US$ 10 billion. A Special Program for the Development of Africa (SPDA) should certainly be considered as a major breakthrough in the field of economic development.
In connection with our poverty reduction efforts, we need to address a very crucial issue i.e. the debt burden of our member states. This is a priority area initiated by the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action (TYPOA) as the total amount of debt owed by the OIC Member States culminated to US$773.64 billion by 2006, with fifteen countries classified as heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). The Dakar Summit has adopted an important Resolution to reduce the debt burden of Member States, particularly African countries. The ISFD and SPDA therefore, can work as a solution to this debt crisis to ensure poverty alleviation and sustainable growth in our heavily indebted member countries.
I would like to point out that the OIC Ten Year Program of Action mandated COMCEC to increase the intra-OIC trade from the level of 14% to 20% by the year 2015 and to consider the possibility of establishing a free trade area in order to achieve a higher level of economic integration among the member states. In this connection COMCEC prepared the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme (PRETAS) at the end of the First Round of Negotiations conducted under Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System OIC (TPS-OIC). As of today, eleven member states (Bangladesh, Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates) have signed and among them only two member states, Jordan and Malaysia have ratified the PRETAS. Both the TPS-OIC and PRETAS envisage successive rounds of trade negotiations in order to deepen and expand the trade preferential system among the OIC member states.
The second round of trade negotiations were concluded with the finalization of Rules of Origin in November 2007. January 1st 2009 has been set as the target date to make PRETAS operational.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Establishment of Trade Preferential System forms the basis for the realization of our goal of creating a free trade area covering all member states.
On this occasion, when we are discussing the ways and means of putting in effect the idea of a functioning economic partnership, I would like to appeal to you all to accord due consideration to the praiseworthy efforts of COMCEC and spearhead a special effort in your countries so that increased economic partnership within the OIC membership can be a reality.
I would also like to draw your attention to the significant progress that was made by the OIC and its member states in two particular sectors in implementing the objectives of the Ten Year Program of Action. The Tourism Sector of the OIC member states is experiencing a boost up through regular interaction of the OIC Tourism Ministers. A document outlining the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Tourism Sector has been prepared by the intergovernmental Group of Experts which will be submitted to the 6th ICTM to be held in Damascus, Syria from June 29 to July 2, 2008 for consideration and adoption.
The second sector that achieved noticeable results is Agriculture, particularly the cotton sub-sector. The OIC now have the “Five Year Plan of Action for OIC Cotton Producing Countries”. A Steering Committee and a Project Committee have been formed to study projects and proposals to ensure further development in this sector.
While discussing the agriculture sector, out attention is automatically turned to the new crisis which has emerged and reached an alarming stage: the global food shortage. The rapidly escalating global food crisis threatens to hamper the OIC Member States’ efforts towards economic development, in particular in their fight against poverty. 14 OIC Member States are among the world’s 37 countries in crisis, and are requiring external assistance in food supply.
In this regard, let me draw your attention to a simple fact. If we look at the OIC Member States, we will see that some of them are endowed with natural resources like vast land, ample water supply and favorable climatic conditions conducive to greater food production and we also have some others who are advanced in technology and have sufficient financial capability. Now if we join the efforts of these two groups of member states, we ourselves would certainly be able to cope with this looming danger of food crisis. Therefore, I would like to urge upon the OIC member states to address the issue in the line of joining efforts among the OIC family in order to avoid the larger economic and political implications of this growing crisis.
Highnesses, Excellencies
In the light of my professional background, I am proud that the field of science and technology has been given special prominence in the Ten Year Program of Action. I must state that, particularly, highlighting the importance of research and development in the process of socio-economic development of the member states was one of the major achievements of the Makkah Summit. Therefore it is my duty to inform you all that in spite of all resource and personnel limitations, through dedicated efforts, we have been transforming our Science and Technology Department into one of the most active and project-producing Departments at the Secretariat. I am happy to state that we have established a team work in this field by developing a cooperation and coordination model involving the General Secretariat, member states, subsidiary organs, specialized organs and standing committees. I would like to stress that this successful set up is the right cooperation model in every field for the OIC family.
I must acknowledge that one of the most inspiring projects we have undertaken is related to the establishment of a specialized group to select twenty potential universities in OIC Member States to be elevated to the rank of Top 500 universities in the world. Raising the profile and academic capacities of the OIC Universities is also an important priority for us.
Another very crucial point that I would like to emphasize on that OIC 10-Year Programme of Action foresees setting aside by the member states at least 1% of their GDP for Research and Development (R&D) and supporting the initiative to establish an OIC R&D Fund to be managed by OIC in collaboration with COMSTECH.
Today, most of the OIC member states are striving to achieve economic development by wholesale importation of various kinds of technologies from developed countries. We recognize that not all technologies can be transferred without having knowledgeable and skillful manpower to manage the imported technologies locally. As a remedy and in order to avoid over-dependence on the developed countries, the OIC countries should further concentrate on education, training and innovation in the fields of science and technology using their existing capabilities through partnership.
In the domain of information, the process of restructuring the Islamic News Agency has reached an advanced stage following the appointment of a new Director General for the Agency and the commencement of a study which would form the basis of the restructuring which the Islamic Development Bank has agreed to finance. The same approach will be adopted soon for the Islamic States Broadcasting Organization, agreed to be changed into the Islamic Broadcasting Union, in order to open it a new proposal was prepared, which caters for diversity and multiplicity and preserves the values and interests of the Islamic Ummah. Many Member States have sent their views on the proposed draft to the General Secretariat.
We are happy to see that a new dynamism is being introduced into the body of COMIAC under the able leadership of its Chairman H.E. the President of Senegal and its role is being activated. I am confident that formation of a follow up committee and establishment of a permanent secretariat for COMIAC will prove to be pertinent steps.
In the domain of social and cultural affairs, the TYPOA has specific provisions for combating Islamophobia. The OIC has been relentless in its efforts to fight the phenomenon at all possible levels, ranging from political, social, and cultural up to intellectual and academic levels. The updated report of the OIC Islamophobia Observatory presented to you enumerates in details our activities in this field.
Remarkable progress has been made related to Women issues as well. The OIC Plan of Action on the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) has been partly discussed and developed by the first Expert Group Meeting and would be completed by the 2nd Expert Group Meeting to be held in October this year in order to be submitted to the next Ministerial Conference on Women's' Role in the Development of the OIC Member States to be held in Egypt from 24-25 November this year.
Highnesses and Excellencies,
Human Rights and Good Governance issues have got prominent place in the TYPOA. In this connection, the provision for the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights in the new Charter has uplifted, strengthened and reiterated the commitment of the OIC and its member states towards Human Rights values as upheld by Islam.
Humanitarian assistance campaigns of the OIC in coordination with the members of the civil society and charity institutions have reached a new height since the adoption of the TYPOA. Under the title Social solidarity in face of natural disasters to address the challenges of humanitarian affairs in Member States, some major achievements so far have been accomplished by the OIC. Assisting Tsunami victims or arranging donor conference for Niger, all comes under this umbrella. Several more humanitarian assistance projects are underway under the auspices of the concerned department of the General Secretariat.
The 1st Humanitarian NGOs Conference took place in Saly Portudal from 7-9 March 2008 at the invitation of the 11th Summit Chairman. The Dakar Summit also called upon all Member States to channel some of their humanitarian assistance through the OIC umbrella to demonstrate the spirit of solidarity and enhance joint Islamic action, and endorsed the holding of a special pledging session for OIC humanitarian initiatives during Heads of State Summit or Council of Foreign Ministers.
Royal Highnesses, Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
If we are to succeed in achieving our desired objectives, then of necessity, we must show commitment to and credibility in our Joint Islamic Action. Therefore, proceeding from a new vision of the Muslim world to address international challenges, as well as political, economic, social and cultural variables in a manner that safeguards the values and interests of the Ummah, we adopt and endorse the Ten-Year Programme of Action to face the Challenges of the Muslim Ummah in the Twenty-first Century.
The Islamic world abounds with human and material resources and at the same time it has a huge market. This market makes it a vast space for economic cooperation rich in economic opportunities of all kinds. We therefore have a strong basis for developing a strong economic group which will help harness more benefit from globalization and address the challenges of the 21st Century.
For the first time in history, the OIC has adopted a comprehensive programme in the form of TYPOA to achieve its noble goals in ensuring the development of Member States and lifting up the living conditions of its populations. This is one of the best ways to fight terrorism and ensure harmony in our societies and communities. The implementation of this programme will require effective and coordinated actions at the level of Member States, as well as the OIC institutions.
As was agreed at the 34th ICFM, Member States should provide full political, moral and financial support for the implementation of the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action. They, in coordination with OIC General Secretariat and OIC institutions, should consider bringing their various existing initiatives, projects and programs, in areas where they have comparatively higher interest or advantage, in line with the objectives of the OIC Ten Year Programme of Action. They should submit regular semi-annual or at least annual progress reports on the implementation of the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action to the OIC General Secretariat for consideration by the ICFM, the COMCEC, the COMSTECH, the COMIAC and the OIC Summits. They should empower the General Secretariat with the necessary means to build capacity in order to enable it to effectively implement and coordinate the implementation of all aspects of the Ten Year Program of Action.
Some Member States have already taken some concrete measures for the implementation of the Programme of Action. I once again appeal to all Member States to take the necessary measures and provide the necessary support for the implementation of the OIC 10-year Programme of Action with a view to prepare the Islamic Ummah to face the challenges of the 21st Century.
Royal Highnesses, Excellencies,
Before concluding, I wish to express the view of the General Secretariat that a special midterm review meeting could be organized in the year 2011 with the participation of all member states, OIC institutions and prominent consultants in relevant fields, to assess the progress of the first five years and to guide the way forward in practical terms.
Thank you for your patience.
