Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 22/11/2013
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu paid an official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on 22 November 2013 and met H.E. Dervis Eroglu, President, H.E. Mr. ÖzkanYorgancıoğlu, Prime Minister, H.E. Serdar Denktas Deputy Prime Minister and H.E. Özdil Nami, Foreign Minister. He also inaugurated the International Conference on Water and Food Security in the OIC Member States.
At a special ceremony held at the TRNC Presidency, Ihsanoglu was decorated with the State Medal of TRNC in recognition of his long standing support to TRNC and services to the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people. Ihsanoglu is the first dignitary who is awarded with the TRNC State Medal.
During his meetings with the TRNC dignitaries, Ihsanoglu reiterated the enduring support of the OIC to the TRNC in political, economic, social and cultural fields. He also signed Cooperation Framework Agreement between the OIC General Secretariat and Turkish Cypriot Government to institutionalize and further develop TRNC’s relations-as one of the OIC observer member state- and cooperation with the OIC and its member states.
The Secretary General also indicated the OIC’s support to the Turkish Cypriot Government and its people through various projects, including in the fields of education and tourism, highlighting the significance of holding the Conference on Water and Food Security in the OIC Member States in Girne.
Earlier, Ihsanoglu, in his statement to the Conference, revealed that the number of undernourished people in the Muslim world has increased from 179.1 million in 1990-1992 to 267 million in 2008 before decreasing to 229 million in 2010, which is 15% of the total population of the OIC countries.
The Secretary General said that the OIC can play a critical role in promoting regional cooperation for addressing challenges and finding solutions to the issues of food and water security pointing out that the OIC is currently putting in place a specialized institution that will operationalize the OIC Framework on Agriculture within a multistakeholders’ setting. He articulated that the OIC partnership funding for agricultural projects has succeeded in executing 89 projects jointly with FAO and IFAD in many OIC member states.
In the conclusion of his visit, Ihsanoglu was granted the Honorary Doctorate Degree by the European University of Lefke for his academic and scientific contributions during his position as Secretary General of the OIC.
