Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 02/11/2011
2 November 2011 Honorable Minister Davutoğlu, Honorable Minister Rassoul, Ministers, Secretaries General, Distinguished Participants, I wish to begin my remarks by extending our congratulations and gratitude to the Turkish Government for holding this important conference which is held at a time when new developments are taking place in Afghanistan in political, security and economic areas. The Afghan Government and its people need once more all of our support and help to achieve a better future. After last year’s Istanbul Summit on Friendship and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia, the present conference is an opportune occasion for a thorough assessment on how far we have come since then on practical aspects of regional cooperation. This is particularly important when Afghanistan is getting ready for assuming responsibilities of her own by 2014. Distinguished Ministers, Afghanistan is rich in possessing enormous human and natural resources. It is a bridge in the Heart of Asia, connecting South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Given its strategic location and historical position, Afghanistan may in fact serve as a catalyst for the promotion of security and cooperation in the region. We need to continue to invest in human capacity building as well as meaningful economic cooperation to pursue concrete projects in critical areas and to advance regional trade exchanges. As an active partner in regional initiatives, the OIC continues to support and facilitate regional cooperation aiming at peace, security and development in Afghanistan and the region. Member States of the OIC in the past also made contributions in this field and continuing to do so, particularly in intensifying cooperation and dialogue between Afghanistan and her neighbors. In the aftermath of the Fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan which took place in Istanbul in November 2010, the OIC General Secretariat has identified the critical sectors for its engagement with other multilateral partners in the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan. To this end, projects relating to the rehabilitation of rail transportation in the country have been elaborated, as evident in the on-going project to build Dushanbe-Mazar-i Sharif- Herat railway. Similary, Afghanistan has recently started to participate in the OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation in Central Asia which entails cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, rural development and food security, trade exchanges, health, education, poverty alleviation, transport as well as research and scientific cooperation. The OIC has also endeavored to play its role in supporting Afghanistan at the international level. We in fact hosted the last meeting of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan at our headquarters in Jeddah in March 2011. That meeting was considered by the Afghan authorities and other international stakeholders as a turning point in collective collaboration on Afghanistan. At this point, I would also like to bring to your attention that, at their 38th meeting held in Astana in June 2011, the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers have adopted a specific resolution entitled “Regional Initiatives in Support of Afghanistan”, which extended OIC’s full support to regional initiatives on Afghanistan to be undertaken by Member States, including today’s conference. Ladies and Gentlemen, Last September, terrorism showed its ugliest face in Afghanistan by the assassination of President Rabbani. He was a national hero with distinguished personality and man of wisdom who devoted his life to the freedom and prosperity of Afghanistan and to the pursuit of peace and national reconciliation. As we pay our tribute to President Rabbani, we hope the goals for which he sacrificed his life would be supported and continued to bring peace and reconciliation to Afghanistan. The OIC has already pledged its help to contribute to the process of national reconciliation through using its comparative advantages, potentials and resources. To this end, I would like to reiterate our commitment to hold an Ulama Conference at an appropriate time in cooperation with the Afghan authorities with the aim of contributing to the reconciliation process. Mr. Chairmen, Distinguished Ministers, In concluding my remarks, I hope this high level meeting, considered as a strong manifestation of our political will, brings peace, security and lasting stability to Afghanistan. It is indeed a substantial step in adopting a collective strategy to bring about a concerted effort leading towards a set of agreed multi-dimensional practical measures for building up confidence in the region, forever enlarging and consolidating our network of cooperation. On behalf of the OIC, I pledge our full support and readiness, within OIC’s means and capacities, to the regional and international efforts to assist Afghanistan. Thanks for your kind attention.
