Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 28/09/2018
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, announced the OIC intention to implement new plans to develop cooperation with all international parties concerned with the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The Secretary General, addressing the annual coordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Member States, held on 28/9/2018, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, said that the OIC signed two days ago a memorandum of understanding with the UN to combat terrorism and extremism. The MoU represented a framework for continued cooperation in this important dossier. He looked forward to further cooperation with the international community to develop a comprehensive approach that takes into account all security, economic, cultural, social and intellectual dimensions.
Al-Othaimeen stressed the OIC keen interest to work hard to counter false and malicious ideas about Islam through the Voice of Wisdom Center in the General Secretariat. The Center seeks to nourish social media with a tolerant discourse, refute extremist rhetoric, promote the voice of reason, spread the image of moderation and tolerance and educate the youth about the dangers of joining criminal and extremist groups.
The Secretary General expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for their constant and sustained support for the Organization and for facilitating delegations' visits, meetings and various activities and the programs of work as the host country.
The Secretary General valued the close relationship between OIC and the UN, stressing that the cooperation between the two organizations, based on coordination and complementarity in their various agencies, seeks to serve international peace and security in order to achieve, prosperity and development among Member States.
On the other hand, the Secretary General said that the Palestinian issue was high on the agenda of the current session of the UN General Assembly. He made a special reference to the Forty-ninth anniversary of the arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which continues to be subjected, side by side with Al-Quds Al-Sharif, to violations and attempts to undermine their Islamic and Arab identity. He stressed that the mobilization of a serious international will to move the peace process and find a just solution to the Palestinian issue, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and the vision of a two-state solution, is the actual way out that will meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people and their right to establish their independent sovereign state of 4/6/ 1967 with Al-Quds Asharif as its capital.
Al-Othaimeen said that last summer, the OIC witnessed a milestone event. Supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the headquarters country, it succeeded to convene the international meeting of scholars on security and peace in Afghanistan in preparation for a comprehensive national reconciliation.
The Secretary-General also noted that in the search for national reconciliation among all the components of the Iraqi people, the Iraqi National Reconciliation Conference "Mecca II", in coordination with the Iraqi Government in Baghdad, held the Preparatory meeting for Reconciliation, December 2017 in Baghdad, which prepared recommendations to be submitted to, "Mecca 2 Conference " to be held after the formation of the new Iraqi government.
The Secretary-General spoke about issues of concern to OIC, including the follow-up to the situation of Muslims in Europe and the West, addressing the phenomenon of Islamophobia and the issue of Rohingya refugees. He thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its initiative to hold a meeting on the Rohingya issue on the sidelines of the current session of the United Nations. He indicated that the marked presence in this meeting reflected the importance of the event.
The Secretary-General also spoke about the situation of Muslim groups in both the Philippines and Thailand, referring to the Organization's continued interest in the people of Kosovo, calling on those States that have not yet recognized Kosovo to do so based on their free sovereign right.
Among the important issues addressed by the Secretary-General were women, family and children, the implementation of the Ten-Year Program of Action, science and technology and the Organization's 50th anniversary.
Mr. Shahriar Allam, Minister of State of Bangladesh, and Chair of the CFM opened the meeting. The opening session was also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey, Sedat Onal Turkey, Chair of the Islamic Summit and Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
