Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 13/10/2009
Address by the Secretary General, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu at the Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina Ankara, Republic of Turkey 12 October 2009 Excellencies, It is my immense pleasure to welcome you all to this meeting of the reactivated Contact Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina to review the latest developments in Bosnia. As you will recall the question of Bosnia and Herzegovina since its independence in early 1990s has been on the agenda of the OIC. Following the Serbian aggression against this newly independent state and during the difficult challenges that the Bosnian people faced in 1990s, the OIC stood firmly by our Muslim brothers and sisters in that country and demonstrated its full solidarity and support for the government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their just struggle to safeguard their sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity through the efforts of the OIC Contact Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina, created by the decision of the OIC Extraordinary Ministerial Meting held in Istanbul in 1992. The Contact Group took vital steps in highlighting the legitimate cause of the Bosnian people and in securing recognition by the international community of the need to secure peace with justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is on records that this OIC Contact Group through its brilliant performance distinguished itself and became very well-known by other international influential actors. It relentlessly pursued the most successful implementation of the joint Islamic position and action in support of the Bosnian people. The Group succeeded in closely following up, on the ground and at the international fora, all developments relating to Bosnia in the critical period of 1990s. Even after the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995, the OIC’s support and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina continued. In addition to the Contact Group, new successful structures compatible with the new realities on the ground and to assist in peace-building were set up by the OIC. They included the Assistance Mobilization Group (AMG) and the OIC Trust Fund for the Return of the Displaced Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The OIC Trust Fund has most recently undertaken a number of reconstruction and development projects in Bosnia and will hopefully continue its activities as long as the Member States would contribute to the Fund. The ultimate aim of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been functionality and viability of the State. The best way of evaluating whether this objective has been achieved or not should be through the Peace Implementation Council and the Office of the High Representative. In this regard, unfortunately this objective does not appear yet to be attained. There is a crucial need for more efforts and work particularly regarding state property, constitutional improvements, return of refugees and electoral system issues. All these issues have to be solved in a way that would allow harmony and cohabitation among the three main ethnicities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Turkey and Minister Davutoglu for the active engagement of Turkey in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its active and vocal participation, on behalf of the OIC, in the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board. Distinguished delegates; As it was expressed by the 34th CFM in Islamabad, the inadequate implementation of the key elements of the Dayton Peace Agreement is a matter of deep concern to the OIC. Time is of essence for Bosnian people. I believe that a renewed active OIC role and engagement in monitoring current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to adopt a solid common position to help Bosnian people is necessary. Our meeting today should be seen as a follow-up to the resolution adopted by the 34th CFM to reactivate the OIC Contact Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina. We should all consider this as yet another opportunity to show our unflinching solidarity and support to the Bosnian people and to evolve new initiatives that will further assist and consolidate the peace process. I thank you for your attention.
