Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 12/12/2011
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed that he is devoted to bring the international community to reach common ground to ensure cultural diversity for development. The Secretary General stated in his speech at the Fourth Annual Forum of Alliance of Civilizations in Doha on Sunday, 11 December 2011, that OIC was able to make the first breakthrough by taking the initiative at the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year that resulted in the consensual adoption of HRC Resolution 16/18. Ihsanoglu stressed his satisfaction that another milestone recorded in November 2011 when the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the OIC sponsored Resolution by consensus with some additional positive provisions. The Secretary General warned that intolerance based on religion, faith or cultural background has become acute in recent years in many parts of the developed world, remarking that the OIC is well aware of this fact, since Muslims are the principal victims. Ihsanoglu added that the reality of a multicultural society and the need to live in peace and harmony in such an environment must be understood and appreciated by all. "Our societies must be convinced of the benefits that cultural diversity brings to our lives" he concluded.
