Foreign Ministers in Guinea for OIC meeting

By World Bulletin

December 11, 2013

The agenda comprises of issues such as the submission of new draft resolutions on Syria, the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority and Muslims in the southern Philippines. 

The Fortieth Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States’ Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) started on Monday in the city of Conakry, capital of Guinea, under the title "Dialogue of Civilizations: Factor of Peace and Sustainable Development."

Speaking at the opening of the session, Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that Israeli blockade on Gaza is unjust and unlawful and the Palestinian question will aggravate the problems in the Islamic world.

"As for the cause of Palestine, the raison d’être of the OIC, it has witnessed important developments in recent times. International unanimity on recognizing the State of Palestine as member of the UN General Assembly on November 29, 2012 was a major achievement that needs to be built on in order to secure more support to the Palestinian people and their legitimate national rights," stressed Ihsanoglu.

To examine the grave situation of the City of Al-Quds and the Aqsa Holy Mosque and consider possible actions to counter Israeli violations, Ihsanoglu invited the member states to participate actively in the proceedings of the special session to be held during the current Council of Foreign Ministers session with a view to elaborate a program of action, including practical measures, that would put an end to continued Israeli violations in the city of Al-Quds.

Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet Yilmaz is expected to address the foreign ministers of OIC member states and also to deliver a speech at the special session to be held on the events ongoing in Al-Quds.

The attendees also observed a minute's silence in honor of anti-apartheid leader and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

The agenda of 40th Session of Council of Foreign Minister of OIC Members comprises consideration of all major issues, particularly the submission of new draft resolutions on the situation in Syria, the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority after the visit of the ministerial delegation to Myanmar, Muslims in the southern Philippines, the establishment of new OIC regional offices in non-ömember states, and the appointment of assistant secretaries-general for the starting tenure.

The OIC foreign ministers will, in the Conakry meeting, tackle Islamophobia and elimination of hatred against Islam, combating defamation of religions, as well as the adoption of the draft resolutions on the cause of Palestine, political affairs, the situation of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states, humanitarian affairs, information, economic affairs, science and technology, cultural and social affairs and family.