Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 09/09/2012
Jeddah – Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
22 – 24 Shawwal 1433
9 – 11 September 2012
Mr Chairman,
Excellencies, Heads of Delegation,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
As-salam Alaykum warahmatullahwabarakatuh
I am delighted to meet you again at the commencement of the preparatory meeting of senior officials for the thirty-ninth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Djibouti in about two months from now.
First and foremost, I have the honour to convey our most sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, for his lofty initiative to convene the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference in Makkah Al Mukarramah a few weeks ago. That summit highlighted the concept of Islamic solidarity and established joint Islamic action as an institutional and effective endeavour. That blessed summit sought to address the sources of differences and schism, restore harmony to the Islamic ummah and catalyze dialogue among Islamic schools of thought. This can only be achieved through unity of voice and positions, enhancing Islamic brotherhood, synergy and cooperation as well as supporting institutions that feed into these orientations. We therefore give the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques our highest commendation and profound gratitude for his blessed efforts.
I am also pleased to express our genuine appreciation to the Republic of Kazakhstan for graciously hosting the 38th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, and for competently and capably embarking on joint Islamic action, boosting it as a result, during its various activities at various international fora over the period of one and a half years.
We look forward today, with gratitude, to the Republic of Djibouti, having generously offered to host the 39th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. In this regard, we appreciate the great efforts put in by Djibouti to host this big Islamic meeting on its soil. We believe that the meeting would produce tangible results and come up with resolutions that would address the difficult situations the Muslim world is going through these days.
The upcoming session of the CFM would further strengthen the efforts our organization has made in the past few months, which culminated with the extraordinary Islamic summit. This is also affirmed by the ministerial meetings of our Executive Committee which met to set out our positions on recent developments.
Excellencies, Heads of Delegation,
Distinguished Delegates,
The developments, whose chapters we are following in the Middle East, North Africa and West Africa are truly defining and will have historic implications on the lives of the people of those regions. All the agitations seek to underscore the need to give expression to the yearnings of these peoples for rule of law, good governance, democracy, respect for human rights and expanding the space of political participation. These basic principles are contained in the OIC Charter and have been further confirmed in the Ten-Year Programme of Action elaborated by Muslim scholars in 2005 and adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Islamic Summit. The resolutions of that summit drew Member States' attention to the challenges of the twenty-first century and the contemporary era, making it incumbent that states’ policies should seek to adapt to the conditions of the world in the new millennium.
The next session of the Council of Foreign Ministers would consider several important questions that dominate the attention of the Islamic ummah. The dangerous developments going on in Jerusalem top the list of these issues. The question of Palestine has always taken the first position in the list of our priorities, having followed, and continuing to follow, developments there with special attention. This is more so after growing Israeli attacks against the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque in the form of incursions, denying access to worshippers, conducting dangerous excavations beneath and around the Mosque thereby opening this blessed Mosque to destruction and disintegration. Added to this is growing attacks against Islamic and Christian holy places in all parts of Palestine.
In the light of these conditions, the 4th Extraordinary Islamic Summit decided to adopt the sectoral plan for the City of Al Quds and the OIC was mandated to follow up its implementation. I am happy to mention here that we have agreed with President Mahmoud Abbas to follow up this plan. In fact, we have commenced contacts with some Member States, financial institutions and funds to give this plan their constant attention and contribute effectively towards its execution.
The scope of Israeli settlement operations in the Palestinian territories has grown alarmingly, with its pace quickening in recent times as Israel seeks to confiscate more Palestinian lands and impose a fait accompli, especially in Jerusalem. The sections of this City are being filled with settlements in order to Judaize it, change its demographic composition, and prevent its return to Palestinian sovereignty. If these violations and land grabbing settlement continue, we would see that no effective and meaningful peace process can take place.
On another hand, we accord special attention to the question of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. We condemned Israel's continuation of the policy of administrative arrest under which Palestinians are detained for extended periods without trial or even being charged. This is a grave violation of international law and requires earnest follow up with various international organisations concerned with human rights.
Distinguished Delegates,
The developments in Syria is a cause for deep concern due to the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation there and the growing violence in which thousands of innocent Syrian civilians have been killed and tens of thousands injured and displaced. I made several contacts with the Syrian leaders since the crisis began. I sent a special envoy to Damascus with a message for President Assad. On several other occasions, we called on the Syrian government to stop the use of excessive force against Syrian civilians immediately and to respond to their legitimate aspirations and demand for political participation and good governance. Following that, we supported the Arab initiative aimed at stopping violence in Syria and finding a peaceful solution to the crisis there. At the same time we emphasized the need to preserve Syria's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in order the save the country from the dangers of all-out civil war with its disastrous consequences on the Syrian people, the region and international peace and security.
The OIC welcomed the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation in Syria adopted on 3 August 2012, which condemned continued widespread and systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, the use of excessive force against civilians, random assassinations, killing and oppression.
During the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah last Ramadan, the summit decided to suspend Syria's membership in the OIC and its entire subsidiary, specialized and affiliated organs, based on the recommendation of the ministerial Executive Committee meeting held in Jeddah on 24 June 2012. We also announced our support for the Arab League – United Nations Envoy Mr Lakhdhar Brahimi whom we wish success in his difficult tasks.
For Iraq, the recent past has confirmed the strength of Iraqi – OIC relations and our desire to keep pace with the developments there. I made several contacts with all Iraqi parties and called for strengthened relations between various Islamic sects in the country and for the avoidance of anything that could stoke the fire of sectarian strife targeting Muslims unity. I also reiterated my strong condemnation of all terrorist acts in Iraq targeting citizens, infrastructure, peace and stability and all that could create sectarian conflict.
During my participation in the Arab League Summit in Baghdad in March 2012, the Iraqi Prime Minister and I agreed to improve Iraq-OIC relations. We also agreed on the importance of holding a second Makkah conference in Baghdad within one year. Contacts are ongoing between the OIC and Iraq to prepare for the said conference.
Concerning the positive developments witnessed by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the OIC commended the success of the presidential election process, which we regard as a historic and qualitative shift in Egypt's journey toward democratic transformation for which the Egyptian people have always longed. I held a meeting with H.E. Dr Mohamed Morsy, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in Cairo on 21 July 2012, where I underscored the OIC's positive attitude towards the democratic process in Egypt which, for us, is an inspiring model of peaceful democratic change. We also discussed the issue of the 12th Islamic Summit to be hosted by Egypt next year.
In Sudan we welcomed the resumption of negotiation between the Republic of Sudan and the State of Southern Sudan. We renew our call to the two countries to abide by the peace agreement and to solve all pending issues through negotiation and peaceful means. The OIC also welcomed efforts made to implement the Doha Peace Document, especially in the area of reconstruction and providing support to displaced people and refugees. We call on all parties that are yet to accede to the Doha Peace Document to do so. On another level, we call for all efforts to be made to calm the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
Libya. I visited the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in December 2011 where I met with the Chairman of the Transitional National Council. During the visit, we gave assurances of our support for the steps initiated by the Council to institute a democratic process that would give the Libyan people stability, security and prosperity. We also discussed the issue of enhancing OIC – Libya relations, signing a memorandum of understanding between the two sides, and assisting Libya's involvement in joint Islamic action.
In this regard, I commend the success of Libya’s legislative elections of 7 July 2012, which was held in a democratic and transparent setting that allowed the Libyan people to choose members of the General National Congress (GNC).
Distinguished Delegates,
The situation in Mali and the Sahel region is a major source of concern to the OIC due to its impacts on the peace and stability of the region. The crisis in Mali and the Sahel was at the top of the agenda of the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah a few weeks ago. While reaffirming its full solidarity with the new national transitional government in the Republic of Mali in addressing the serious challenges facing its unity and sovereignty, the OIC endorsed ECOWAS' peace mediation efforts led by the Republic of Burkina Faso. Following the mandate of the Fourth Extraordinary Summit, I will in the coming days appoint a special envoy to the region to help evolve a peaceful solution to the conflict. I therefore urge all Member States to provide every assistance possible to ease the humanitarian crisis in Mali and the Sahel.
Concerning Somalia, I would like to voice my satisfaction with the important achievements of the signatories to the roadmap and the parties concerned with the completion of the political transition process in the country. I commend the dedicated efforts exerted by the Somali parties, which resulted in the adoption of a provisional constitution for Somalia and the selection and investiture of the members of the new Federal Parliament through broad, popular consultations and the election of a new president. On this occasion, I urge the protagonists in Somalia to work sincerely to finalize the transitional period with the election of the new President of the country on 10 September 2012 through a credible and transparent process, with a view to reinforcing lasting peace and stability and serving the interests of the Somali people who have endured a long-lasting and terrible crisis.
The OIC reaffirms once again its solidarity with the Republic of Cote D'Ivoire under the leadership of President Alassane Ouatara. We commend his efforts aimed at consolidating peace and laying strong foundations for a robust economy that would resolve the problems of a devastated economy caused by the war. I will continue my efforts to hold the donors' conference endorsed by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
In another vein, we reiterate our support to the Government and people of Afghanistan in their relentless efforts to improve the situation in the country whose authorities would soon take over the management of security and military affairs. This requires us to double our support and our assistance to Afghanistan to pave the way to a more peaceful, stable and secure future. And since Afghanistan is geographically located amid a number of OIC member states, a special responsibility lies with us, namely that of intensifying cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighboring countries. I would like in this regard to encourage the countries of the region to benefit from OIC's potential and effective capacities to build bridges of regional cooperation.
Distinguished Heads of Delegation,
Distinguished Delegates,
Islamophobia has for a long time been a source of concern for us and for the entire Muslim world as a manifestation of a hostile and reprehensible phenomenon against Muslims and their culture; a phenomenon whose evil and practices have mounted considerably in some European countries where its scope went beyond extreme right to include government practices in some of these States as was the case in Switzerland where the construction of minarets was banned. We have made significant efforts, at the level of the OIC, to stop this phenomenon and we drew the attention of officials and political and religious elites around the world to its dangers.
Thanks to these efforts, we succeeded in convincing the Human Rights Council to adopt by consensus resolution 16/18 on defamation of religions, which condemned unequivocally attempts to discriminate against any person based on religion or belief. Desiring to promote chances for the implementation of this resolution, we initiated the "Istanbul Process" which started from Istanbul and moved to Washington and is now shifting to England representing the European Union. Many prominent Western figures contributed to the initiative, including the US Secretary of State and the EU High Representative. We are still pursuing our efforts to reach concrete consensus on the ground.
I would like also to mention our success in establishing the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) in half the time frame set by the Ten-Year Programme of Action. Since its inception, the IPHRC has met twice this year in Jakarta and Ankara. Its statute was adopted and entered into force in Astana. I addressed the members of the Commission and requested them to bear in their minds that by establishing this Commission we seek practical actions to achieve the goals for which it was initiated, chief of which is the promotion of OIC's credibility in the field of respect for human rights, mainstreaming the human rights perspective in OIC's activities and the practices of its Member States, and reinforcing OIC Member States' cooperation in this area. The members of the Commission have finalized IPHRC's rules of procedure in due time, in preparation for its submission to the next session of the CFM in Djibouti for adoption. I would like here to thank Indonesia and Turkey for hosting the first and second sessions of the Commission.
Distinguished Delegates,
We attached a great deal of importance to the issues of Muslim communities in non-OIC member states through various initiatives and good offices and effective participation in solving problems in many countries with Muslim communities and minorities such as the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Greece, Bulgaria, China, the Russian Federation, among others.
In this regard, we exerted serious efforts to resolve conflicts between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRPH) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Although our efforts from 2005 to 2007 were crowned with the organization of a tripartite meeting between the GRPH , MNLF and the OIC which addressed the issues of designating the autonomous region, wealth-sharing and the establishment of a transitional government, the GRPH is still circumventing in an attempt to gain time and it has not demonstrated serious willingness to resolve the issue of autonomy as it granted autonomy to a small part not exceeding 9% of the territories of the Muslim Mindanao, contrary to the stipulations of the Tripoli Peace Agreement. The MNLF rejected this solution which it considered as being unjust and demanded commitment to the terms of the Tripoli Peace Agreement. Nevertheless, it is necessary to pursue our efforts.
In another vein, we condemned the heinous behavior and practices of the Government of Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims, including their displacement and expulsion, the killing of hundreds among them in the last few years. We took a series of decisive measures to mobilize international efforts to put an end to these inhuman acts through conducting contacts with international and regional organizations and with the Government of Myanmar itself. We also held an extraordinary session of the OIC Executive Committee in Jeddah last August during which resolutions were adopted and submitted to the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference which took crucial decisions in this regard. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, may Allah protect him, kindly donated the amount of US$50 million in humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims. On the other hand, Turkey organized a large-scale campaign to collect donations for the same purpose. Turkish Foreign Minister accompanied by the Prime Minister’s wife visited the region. In implementation of the resolutions of the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit, I dispatched a fact-finding mission to Myanmar from 5 to 16 September and I will visit the country at the end of October to assess the situation there. An OIC humanitarian assistance office may also be established in the capital Rangoon.
We are continuing our efforts to improve the conditions of Muslims in Greece, Bulgaria among others. In this regard, I received a high-level Greek delegation and held talks with its members on the measures to be taken to improve the situation of the Muslim community in Greece. I am determined to pursue my efforts in this regard and will visit Greece at an appropriate time soon. On the other hand, we are happy with the success achieved in the promotion of our relations with the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand to which I made successful visits.
Distinguished Delegates,
The 9th Islamic Conference of Information Ministers held in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, on 19-20 April 2012 was crowned with success as it issued a set of important resolutions, chief of which is the decision to establish an OIC Journalists Forum. The Conference endorsed the draft resolution on the Opening of OIC Media Offices in OIC Member States’ capitals and in major capitals around the world. The conference also adopted the draft resolution on the Launching of an OIC Satellite Channel and the establishment of a special media programme for the African continent.
In the field of legal affairs, a consensus was reached on the draft Rules of Procedure Governing Observer Status in the OIC which were adopted by the previous session of the CFM by virtue of resolution 1/38-ORG. The General Secretariat received applications to the observer status from many countries which were examined and compiled for submission to your august meeting to take the appropriate recommendation thereon.
You will note from the above the amount and diversity of activities of the OIC. The scope of activity will further grow owing to our growing relations both internally and internationally to ensure better championing the causes of the Islamic world and consolidate joint Islamic action in all fields.
I wish you full success in your deliberations.
Wa Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu Lahi wa Barakatuh.
