Statement by the OIC Secretary General at the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference

Date: 14/06/2012

Kabul, 14 June 2012 Your Excellency President Karzai, Honorable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, I wish to begin by conveying my condolences to the Government and people of Afghanistan for the loss of lives due to the earthquake and expressing our appreciation for the kind invitation extended to the OIC to attend the First Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process. We have, time and again, reaffirmed our support for the Government and people of Afghanistan in their tireless efforts for the overall betterment of their country. As we are fast approaching the date when the Afghans will hopefully take full control of their fate, our continued support to Afghanistan and to an intensified cooperation between Afghanistan and regional countries seem, more than ever before, crucial and indeed indispensable. On behalf of the OIC, I pledge once again our continued support and readiness to the regional and international efforts to assist Afghanistan. Mr. President, We are all cognizant of the fact that stability, peace, and prosperity of Afghanistan and its surrounding region cannot be fully and sustainably achieved without a genuine and strong regional trust and cooperation. Fortunately, Afghanistan and other countries in the region have on different occasions shown their willingness and determination to build confidence; various steps have also been taken so far to explore common opportunities in this regard. The Istanbul Conference was indeed a landmark initiative where a broad range of measures to build confidence and advance cooperation was adopted and we in the OIC commend the significant contribution and dedicated leadership by Turkey in close cooperation with Afghanistan. Excellencies, The OIC has always supported and facilitated regional cooperation on different fields and levels aiming at peace, security and development in Afghanistan and the region. Last year, during our 38th meeting of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Astana, the OIC Member States have reiterated their full support to regional initiatives on Afghanistan. Moreover, the OIC funding mechanisms have continued to carry out important country and regional projects in the domains of trade financing and transport sector development, with particular reference to the Dushanbe-Mazar-iSharif-Herat railway corridor. Similarly, Afghanistan is participating in the OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia which contains cooperation in various areas of agriculture, rural development and food security, trade exchange, health, education, poverty alleviation, transport, as well as research and scientific cooperation. We hope that during the future course of preparing detailed implementation plans for CBMs, the OIC would be able to further play its role in specific areas. Mr. President, Afghanistan is a rich country possessing enormous human and natural resources, with a strategic location and historical standing. It should reclaim its position as the ‘Heart of Asia’ for the promotion of security and cooperation in the region. I wish to seize this opportunity and urge countries in the region to take real advantage of the potentials and value-adding capabilities of the OIC in facilitating regional cooperation. In conclusion, I would like to borrow the words of Allama Iqbal, and hope that soon the spark of love and peace would arise from the Heart of Asia.

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