OIC Journal Issue 16 English

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Our Message

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu OIC Secretary General

Beyond the uprisings The groundbreaking developments occurring in some OIC countries should be taken as an opportunity to shape a better future in the region and the overall Muslim world.

It is unfortunate that these developments had to be at times violent and painful, but it is necessary at this stage to draw strength from forgiveness, patience and wisdom.

Change does not come readily, and change itself is an arduous process.

It was impossible to predict the timing and the spark that would ignite this flame of reform, but the signs of a brewing firestorm were obvious to the keen observer.

The Muslim people aspire for good governance, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, the promotion of human rights, fighting corruption and the expansion of political participation and comprehensive development. These are fundamental principles recognized by the OIC Charter. The OIC Ten Year Program of Action adopted in 2005 also underlined the growing political and socioeconomic challenges which could only be overcome through introducing and implementing reforms in different sectors.

The events that took place were distinctive historic moments for the triumph of the will of the people. Several elements played a key role in their occurance. First among those is the information technology providing instant news and images and the social network websites that connected people across borders and time zones in a virtual community of shared hopes and goals. Adding to that is the unflinching presence of digital communication and satellite television under the peaking eyes of which nothing could be hidden.

Combining those factors with high numbers of unemployment among youth, who represent the largest sector of the population, disturbing statistics about poverty and huge social class gaps despite the wealth, and clear indications of corruption, mismanagement and nepotism naturally led to a boil over in frustration and anger.

External global difficulties including the financial crisis, the food crisis and high cost of energy also contributed to the pressure. Not to mention that the region itself is potentially explosive due to political instabilities, internal conflicts and the ever-present Israeli occupation which remains a sour pain.

However, the most crucial factors that are generally attributed to directly causing the civil unrests are stifled socio-economic development, obstructed human rights and deficient governance.

During these critical times when several parts of our Muslim world are facing insurmountable challenges we implore and encourage that wisdom prevails in implementing tangible reforms that meet people’s needs and expectations.

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OIC Journal

A Word

Issued by The Organization of the Islamic Conference Editor - in - Chief Isam Salim Shanti General Supervisor & Managing Editor Maha Mostafa Akeel

Reconsidering nuclear power

Editors Ahmed Salem Abdelhamid Salhi Layout & Design Mohammed Abdelqader Qalaba Advisory Board Ali Abolhassani Shahreza Hasan Oker Gurler Address: Madinah Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah-21411 Tel: 6515222 Fax: 6512288 Telx.: 601366 Islami SJ. Website: www.oic-oci.org E-mail: journal@oic-oci.org

Maybe developing alternative, safer sources of energy should now be given higher priority.

Maha M. Akeel

The views expressed by the writers/ authors of the articles published in OIC Journal do not necessarily represent the views of the OIC, but are the personal of

the

authors

OIC

reserves

themselves. the

Japan, one of the most advanced and developed countries in the world, is struggling to control leaks caused by eruptions in one of its nuclear plants as a consequence of the tsunami. The whole world is holding its breath in subdued panic as it follows Japan’s efforts. The ramifications of radiation leaks in the seawater and the atmosphere are huge.

There are of course positive aspects to nuclear power, but they have to be balanced with strict adherence to the highest standards of safety and preventive measures for possible eruptions and leaks. Transparency about the country’s nuclear plants is also important.

OIC Permanent Observer to the UN Geneva Office ICC-20 Route Pre-BoisCase Postal 1818 CH 1215 Geneve - SUISSE www.oic-un.org oic@oic - un.org

However,

However, if the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11 were natural disasters that could not be prevented, the looming catastrophe of a nuclear meltdown would be manmade.

Countries, including in the Muslim world, that either have or developing or seeking nuclear power might at this juncture wish to reconsider their nuclear energy policy. Some countries in Europe already are.

OIC Permanent Observer to the UN New York Office 320 East - 51st Street New York 10022 New York - U.S.A. www.oicun.org oic@un.int

views

Watching on TV the giant waves slapping into Japan’s coastlines and sweeping everything in their path from cars, boats and complete homes like little toys was a terrifying awe-striking sight. The horror and pain of the Japanese must be unimaginable. We can only pray for them and offer our condolences and assistance.

right/

discretion to amend, revise, edit, delete or scrutinize any part or portion of the text as and wherever deemed necessary.

In Focus

Call for extensive researches on Saudi efforts in serving the Ummah

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World Affairs

End of impasse in Cote d’Ivoire after an escalation of violence

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Japan devastated by earthquake and tsunami

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A referendum in the south of the Philippines to define the Autonomous Region

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Culture

Tlemcen, Islamic Culture Capital for 2011

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The OIC calls for legislations prohibiting violence against women

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Challenges of early childhood promotion in the Islamic world

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Science & Technology More funds for promotion of Science and Technology in the OIC Member States

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The People call for Reform

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OIC directs $2.7 million urgent relief appeal for hungerstricken people in Somalia

17 Afghan-led national reconciliation stressed at the International Contact Group on Afghanistan

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Economy

Draft OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia

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OIC Related Links

OIC Calendar: April – June 2011

Subsidiary Organs The International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) www.fiqhacademy.org The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) www.sesrtcic.org The Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) www.ircica. org The Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (CIDC) www.icdt-oic.org The Islamic University of Technology (UIT) www.iutoic-dhaka.edu

2- 3 April: 55th Session of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity

Specialized Institutions and Organs The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) www.isdb.org International Islamic News Agency (IINA) www.islamicnews.org.sa The Islamic States Broadcasting Organization (ISBO) www.isboo.org The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat (ISESCO) www.isesco.org.ma

24 - 27 April: 13th Trade Fair of OIC Member States – Sharjah UAE.

Affiliated Institutions Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) www.icci-oic.org Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) www.oicc.org Organization of the Islamic Shipowners Association (OISA) www.oisaonline. com World Federation of Arab Islamic International Schools (WFAIS) www.wfais. org Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) www.icyf.com Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) www.ias-worldwide.org

1 - 2 June: 27th Meeting of the Follow-up Committee of COMCEC –

Fund - OIC Headquarter, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

22 - 24 April: 14th Private Sector Meeting – Sharjah, UAE. 24 - 26 April: 34th Session of the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs (ICECS) – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

12- 15 May: First OIC Health Expo – Tunis, Tunisia.

27- 28 May: Donors’ Conference on the Mobilization of Resources for the Implementation of the Regional Project on “Sustainable Tourism Development in a Network of Cross-Border Parks and Protect of Areas in West Africa” – Dakar, Senegal.

Ankara, Turkey.

6 - 8 June: Conference of the Ulemas of the Muslim Ummah – Dakar, Senegal.

7 - 9 June: 7th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) – Astana, Kazakhstan.

28 - 30 June: 28th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) – Astana, Kazakhstan.

IN FOCUS

Call for extensive researches on Saudi efforts in serving the Ummah

(R-L) E. Ihsanoglu, N. Madani, A. Al-Attieh and A. Hilli at the conference in Madinah

Madinah Munawarah, Saudi Arabia - Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said Saudi Arabia's efforts in the service of the Islamic Ummah deserve extensive scientific researches in view of their denseness since the establishment of the Kingdom.

Speaking at the First International Conference on Saudi Arabia's Efforts in the Service of the Islamic Ummah, organized by the Islamic University in Madinah on 1921December 2010, the Secretary General said these efforts were based on two basic pillars: the first was the strong adherence to the noble Islamic principles, and the second was the strong commitment to the Islamic solidarity based on the cohesion of the Muslim Ummah.

"Since its inception, the Kingdom's foreign policy was directed towards uniting Muslims and consolidating them within context of the Islamic faith that would ensure their solidarity and integration," he said. He added that whenever the contemporary concept of Islamic solidarity is mentioned, the efforts of King Abdul Aziz, the Founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to engrain this concept at the level of the Ummah, conspicuously come to mind.

Ihsanoglu indicated that the successive reign of King Saud witnessed a continuation of the policy of his late father. "King Saud was determined to promote the concept of Islamic solidarity and the service of the Islamic causes in practical terms." It was during his reign the Muslim World League was established in 1962 with the aim of promoting the Islamic call, explaining the principles of Islam and defending the Islamic causes.

The Secretary General said the concept of Islamic solidarity witnessed an unprecedented leap during King Faisal's rule when many Muslim countries responded to it. "The entire Islamic world has appreciated King Faisal's efforts to promote Islamic solidarity and leaders of the Muslim world were unanimous in his support," he said.

The Secretary General recalled that the attempt to burn down the Aqsa Mosque in 1969 provided King Faisal with an opportunity to direct world’s attention to the Palestinian 4

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cause, particularly the issue of Al-Quds, which he wanted to take out of the limited Arab context to the broader Muslim fold.

Subsequently King Faisal and King Hassan of Morocco called for an Islamic conference at summit level in Rabat.

The Summit was held in September 1969 and was attended by 25 Islamic countries. This Summit gave birth to the OIC which is now undertaking a fundamental role in supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and defending their cause.

During the reign of King Faisal, the Islamic Development Bank was established in 1975 to become one of the tools of Islamic solidarity.

The Secretary General continued: "In the glorious reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia continued its unwavering support to the efforts aimed at achieving Islamic solidarity translating it into reality."

The OIC is living its golden days during the reign of King Abdullah through providing it with huge potential, resources and backing, which enabled it to adopt a new Charter and a Ten-Year Program of Action. King Abdullah called for an extraordinary Islamic summit to study ways and means of extricating the Ummah from its old realities to new ones which were commensurate with the contemporary needs and requirements. The King called for a meeting of Muslim scholars and thinkers in Makkah before the Summit to consider the situation of the Ummah and come out with concrete concepts and solid suggestions that would help resolve its problems.

In addition to the Secretary General, the Madinah Conference was also attended by Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Madani, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Abdul Rahman AlAttieh, Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ahmed ibn Hilli, and a number of Saudi and Muslim officials and academicians.

The Conference discussed the Kingdom's efforts to achieve Islamic solidarity and service the causes of the Ummah in addition to its support to organizations, societies, Arab and Islamic universities, Islamic cultural issues, education of Muslim children, its financial support to Arab and Islamic countries and its contributions to development efforts in Arab and Islamic countries.

The participants stressed the need for documenting Saudi Arabia's efforts in serving the causes of the Arab and Muslim Ummah as well as the other friendly countries. The participants recommended the establishment of a specialized General Secretariat at the Islamic University in Madinah to monitor the Kingdom's efforts in this regard. They also called for convening seminars and symposia to tackle many aspects of the Kingdom's efforts aimed at boosting Islamic solidarity.

The Conference appreciated the Kingdom's efforts in supporting the process of sustainable economic and

social development in the developing Arab and Muslim countries through its contributions to their budgets and also to the programs and initiatives of the Islamic Development Bank, its extending of soft loans, the encouragement of Saudi investors to invest in Arab and Muslim countries, the Government's direct investments in basic infrastructure projects in Arab and Islamic countries, the trade exchange and free zone agreements with these countries, and giving work opportunities for qualified Arab and Muslim human cadres.

The Conference appreciated Saudi Arabia's great initiative of holding Inter-faith conferences in Riyadh, Madrid, Switzerland and New York.

The Conference also reviewed Saudi Arabia's contributions in giving grants and soft loans to many Muslim countries in the past three decades which amounted to more than US 100 billion representing about four percent of the Kingdom's GDP, which exceeds what is expected by the concerned international organizations.

OIC book on the Kingdom's efforts in support of Islamic solidarity

by Ahmed Salim On the occasion of the First International Conference on Saudi Arabia's Efforts to serve the Causes of the Islamic Ummah, the OIC published a book, titled: "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Conference: Continued Support and Remarkable Progress".

In his introduction to the book, OIC Secretary General reviewed the various historic phases of the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leaders in defending the Islamic causes and promoting unity among Muslims. These efforts have been going on since the time of the founder late King Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud who sponsored the first conference of the Islamic World in 1344H (1926). The Islamic solidarity reached an unprecedented level during the time of King Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz culminating in the establishment of the OIC in 1969. The efforts of the Saudi leaders in reinforcing Islamic solidarity continued unabated until the current era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz.

The book has seven chapters. The first chapter highlights Saudi Arabia’s support of the Islamic solidarity as a consistent policy. Figures speak for themselves in this respect. The Kingdom's foreign aid sometimes amounted to six percent of its Gross Domestic Product and at times reached about 7.7 percent surpassing by many folds the ratio decided by the UN which is 0.7 percent. During the period 1991- 2008, the assistance and soft loans extended by the Kingdom to the third world countries amounted to SR120.6 billion (US $32.16 billion).

The second chapter dealt with the issue of Islamic solidarity in Saudi Arabia's foreign policy.

In the aspect of defending Islamic causes and the interests of Muslims, the third chapter covered the extreme care given by the Kingdom to the Muslim causes foremost of which is the Palestinian cause. The Kingdom also had a significant role in the support of Afghanistan, BosniaHerzegovina, Kashmir, Somalia and Pakistan in addition to other countries. It also provided extensive relief assistance to the victims of natural and man-made disasters.

The third chapter also sheds light on the issue of Muslim minorities. It mentioned in this regard the call made by late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd ibn Abdul

Aziz in 1992 for the convening of the first international conference to discuss the issues of Muslim minorities and proposing the best methods of supporting them.

The fourth and fifth chapters focused on Saudi assistance within the framework of the OIC and its humanitarian and relief work. The sixth chapter covered the efforts of the Saudi leaders in enhancing Islamic solidarity. It reviewed the efforts of King Abdul Aziz 1319- 1373H (1900- 1953) and his solid history in the support of Islamic solidarity. One of the most important conferences held after the downfall of the Ottoman Empire was the Islamic World Convention held under the sponsorship of King Abdul Aziz in Makkah in Dhul Hijja 1344h (June 1926) which was attended by a number of Muslim leaders.

The chapter also pointed out to the efforts of King Saud ibn Abdul Aziz 1373- 1384H (1953- 1964) and a special tribute to late King Faisal ibn Abdul Aziz 13841395H (1964- 1975) during whose reign Islamic solidarity witnessed an unprecedented leap. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the OIC in 1969 after the attempt to burn down the Aqsa Mosque. The research also pointed out the efforts of late King Khaled ibn Abdul Aziz 1395- 1402H (1975- 1982) and by late King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz 14021426H (1982- 2005). King Fahd crowned this inclination by the announcement during the sixth Islamic Summit Conference held in Dakar (Senegal) in 1412H (1991) to write off Saudi Arabia's debts to all Muslim countries.

The book dedicated a large segment to the efforts being made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz. In the 10th Islamic Summit Conference held in Putrajaya, Malaysia in October 2003, King Abdullah, who was then Crown prince, made a call for reforms in the Islamic world. This was realized in the Third Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah on 7- 8 December 2005, which produced the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action that constituted a road map for the Ummah towards development, dignity and prosperity.

King Abdullah also ordered the construction of a new headquarter building for the OIC and launched his Interfaith initiative which reached the UN and gained the interest of world community.

The seventh chapter is a brief review of the Organizations’ institutions and organs.

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OPINION OIC and the Winds of Change Dr. Isam Salim Shanti Chief Editor

Since the outset of the year 2011 several member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have witnessed dramatic political disturbances and popular protests, which eventually lead to the collapse of two regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.

In Yemen popular unrest continues demanding a regime change, while in Libya the peaceful and unarmed popular protest took a dramatic detour where the country is now witnessing a state of war between the army of the leader Muammar Qaddafi and the Libyan rebels with the help of the international community embodied in the NATO military might. Other OIC member states have had witnessed lesser degree of popular protests but were contained through quick and responsive policies by the concerned governments. Still, other member states are predisposed to similar developments unless certain official reforms are timely taken.

The main reasons behind all these protests and unrests are related to popular demands of political reforms, socio-economic reforms and wealth redistribution, freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of media. In other word, these demands have amounted to what both the OIC charter and the Ten-Year Programme of Action have called since 2005, including good governance, the rule of law, the promotion of human rights, and economic and development reforms. These demands are natural and legitimate rights of all the peoples around the world, including the Muslim peoples of the OIC countries. Moreover, these demands do not in any way contradict with any religion or belief, including the religion of Islam, nor they are in conflict with the will of the majority of Muslims all over the world.

The position of the OIC and its leadership vis-Ă -vis the sudden breakout of these unexpected popular protests and unrests was drafted in accordance with the principles and rules of the OIC. The general position was discreet, well-thought, and highly appreciated within the Muslim World and without.

With the breakout of the events in Tunisia and Egypt by the peoples of these countries the OIC made its position clear that although the OIC considered those events to be internal affairs, it nevertheless affirmed its solidarity with the Tunisian and Egyptian peoples and called on all parties to preserve security and stability and to protect public and private properties and safeguard their achievements.

Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC, asserted in several occasions that the Islamic World is witnessing historic developments and changes and called on all parties concerned to display a high degree of wisdom and sound judgment in order to properly deal with these developments. He underscored the urgent need for many of the Muslim countries to accelerate the process of manifesting the people's ambitions for good governance, rule of law, promotion of human rights, expanding political participation space and comprehensive development.

In addition, Prof. Ihsanoglu reiterated in his various statements that the fundamental principles of the OIC Charter provide for these values and that the Ten-Year Programme of Action was a forerunner 6

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in drawing Member States' attention to the political changes facing the Muslim World.

Fortunately, the changes in Tunisia and Egypt took place relatively quick and with limited loss of valuable lives and properties. Both countries are currently undergoing smooth and coherent transitional political processes towards parliamentarian and presidential elections when the peoples of these two great countries will be able to choose their representatives through the boxes of ballot. Unfortunately, however, this proved to be not the case with regard to the situation in Libya where the initial peaceful and popular protests encountered different circumstances as the Libyan regime decided to use military power against its people in order to put an end to the popular aspirations to freedom and reforms.

As the situation in Libya deteriorated the OIC was among the first to condemn in the strongest terms the excessive use of force against civilians and called for a meeting of the Council of Permanent Representatives, which endorsed many recommendations based on statements by the Secretary General and called on the Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers to convene to make decisions concerning the Libyan crisis.

The Final CommuniquĂŠ of the Executive Committee Meeting on 19 March 2011 supported the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 or the implementation of no-fly zone as well as the practical measures therein to stop the killing of the Libyan people and to open contacts with the Libyan National Transitional Council. However, the CommuniquĂŠ underlined that it stands against the deployment of any occupation force in any form to any part of Libya.

Furthermore, the OIC called since the initial start of the crisis in Libya for a political solution, including the potential process of political transition, and responded positively to all invitations with the aim of taking all the international efforts towards putting an end to the bloodshed and to protect the region against the gravely and adverse effects that could jeopardize both regional and global security. In this context, the OIC participated in the first international contact group in London in order to join the international efforts to end the crisis in Libya.

Comprehending the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya the OIC commenced on 7 March 2011 the distribution of food and medical aids to more than 13,000 displaced persons stranded on Libyan borders. And since the earliest days of the conflict the OIC had called on all Member States, along with Islamic and international civil society organizations to provide necessary and urgent humanitarian assistance to the Libyan people to enable them overcome this grave crisis. The OIC also was quick to dispatch its humanitarian teams to the Libyan borders with Egypt and Tunisia.

The developments that took place in some of the OIC Member States during the past three months have proven that the vision and resolutions of the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC in the Holy City of Mecca in 2005, particularly the Ten-Year Programme of Action, to be accurate, relevant and worthy. The constant repeat of the need for "modernization and moderation," by the Secretary General over the past six years have also proved to be worthy and relevant. Clearly, no state could anymore ignore the evolutionary process that is taking place worldwide. Prof. Ihsanoglu has rightly and fairly stated in his speech to the Permanent Representatives Meeting on Libya that "International law provides that one of the primary duties of any state is to guarantee for its citizens the right to livelihood and to freedom and security. The same law makes it a duty for the state to respect the human rights of its people and their basic freedoms."

It is safe after all the developments in the Muslim World to say that the OIC Charter and the Ten-Year Programme of Action, which were unanimously adopted by all OIC countries, provide the safe passage towards stability, prosperity, and a better future.

PALESTINE FILE Ihsanoglu welcomes President Abbas’ initiative for national reconciliation Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu received in his office on 20 March 2011, Dr. Mahmoud El Habbash, the Palestinian Minister of Endowments. He discussed with him the initiative of President Mahmoud Abbas for Palestinian national reconciliation.

Ihsanoglu later welcomed the meeting that took place in the West Bank between President Mahmoud Abbas and the Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a delegation of the Hamas Movement’s leadership.

The Secretary General welcomed the initiative and called upon all

parties concerned to respond to it responsibly and positively as a serious and valuable opportunity to reunite Palestinians that should not be missed.

The Secretary General promised to make every possible effort to ensure the success of the initiative.

Israeli demolition of the residence of Haj Al-Husseini condemned Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - In a flagrant violation of international law and an infraction against the Forth Geneva Accord, Israel began demolishing the residence of the late Mufti of Al-Quds Haj Amine Al-Husseini in order to build a new settlement project on its grounds.

The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu sent messages to the UK Foreign Minister William Hague U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning these latest Israeli violations.

The Secretary General strongly condemned Israel for starting to demolish the residence of Haj Amin Al Huseini, in the district of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied Al Quds. He declared that the confiscation of the Mufti’s residence and then its demolition to make way for the unlawful construction of a Jewish settlement represents a flagrant violation of international law and an infraction against the Forth Geneva Accord, which prohibits the occupier state from altering the existing features of the occupied territories and from confiscating private property or establishing settlers there.

Ihsanoglu indicated that the OIC will act at all possible levels to reverse the Israeli plans. He also appealed to all states and concerned international institutions to undertake

immediate action to deter Israel from proceeding forward with the implementation of its designs and its violations of international law.

The Secretary General also extended letters to the Foreign Ministers of the UN Security Council Permanent Member States besides the United States and the United Kingdom - China, Russia and France- to draw their attention to the threats facing the Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque, which put in peril the safety of its premises. He also called on them to prevent Israel’s persistence in its aggressions and to allow Islamic Endowments to implement the required maintenance works in the mosque.

Letters were also sent to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the foreign ministers of Germany, Spain, Portugal and Hungary.

The Secretary General had received in his office on 8th January 2011 a delegation of the heirs of the Mufti of Al Quds, and discussed with them appropriate moves and ways to protect the Mufti’s home and to expand and bring to their completion the steps already initiated by the OIC in this respect at the international level.

OIC welcomes recognitions of the State of Palestine

Human Rights Council adopts resolution on Goldstone Report

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the recognition by Guyana and Suriname, two OIC Member State, of Palestine as a free and independent State to the 1967 borders. He indicated that this step is a new qualitative development in international support to the inalienable Palestinian national rights.

The Secretary General also welcomed the recognition of many States in Latin American of the free and independent Palestinian State within the 1967 borders. He expressed hope that other States would follow suit and recognize Palestine as a free and independent State on the Palestinian lands occupied by Israel in 1967, with eastern Al-Quds as its capital.

Geneva, Switzerland - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference expressed his satisfaction with the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of resolution on the “Goldstone Report”. In his comments on the resolutions, the Secretary General said that requesting the UN General Assembly to refer the report to the Security Council for examination and appropriate measures, constitutes an important step that needs to be followed up for implementation. The Secretary General added that it is now incumbent upon the international community to honor its duties as to ensuring that Israel is made accountable for its outrageous violations of the international law and the humanitarian international law.

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PALESTINE FILE

Indonesia grants $2.24 million to build cardiac surgery center in Gaza Jakarta, Indonesia - The Indonesian Government is to finance building of a cardiac surgery center at Al-Shifa Hospital in North Gaza, Palestine.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project was signed between the Indonesian Government and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on 9 February in Jakarta in the presence of Dr. Endang Sedyaningsih, the Indonesian Minister of Health and Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of the IDB Group. Under the document the center would be funded by a US$2.24 million grant from the Indonesian Government to the Gaza community through the Islamic Development Bank. After the signing ceremony, the Indonesian health minister said her respective government gave the money to Al-Shifa Hospital after its initial plan to build a hospital in Gaza was stalled by land acquisition difficulties. Once completed within 8 months, the center would occupy one floor of the five-story building with an area of 1,500 square meters.

IDB Group President, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali for his part appreciated the donation, which originally was the initiative of the President of Indonesia himself to cover the

needs of Muslim brothers and sisters in Gaza for such a specialized unique center in Palestine. Dr. Ali then expressed IDB Group’s readiness to facilitate any humanitarian assistance to help the Palestinian people to face the hard conditions of their daily lives either in Gaza or the West Bank under the occupation through concerned humanitarian entities. The IDB Group President, moreover, urged the IDB member countries to further contribute to building schools and educational facilities for 10,000 Palestinian students in Jerusalem enabling them to enjoy their natural human right of free education.

Later during the same day, another agreement was also signed between the Indonesian Government and the IDB in the presence of Indonesian Minister of Social Services Saleem Al Jifry and IDB Group President Dr. Ali. It specifies that the Indonesian Government shall contribute US$ 3 million through the Al Wafa Indonesian Charity to support ‘Al Raed Program for Economic Empowerment in Palestine’. The Program, aims to provide proper living standards for more than 600 Palestinian families.

USA vetos Security Council Resolution on Israeli settlements

OIC warns of human tragedy in Gaza

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned the US veto on February 18 against the Security Council draft resolution titled “Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem” terming it as an encouragement to Israel to continue its violations of International law and practices.

The Secretary General deplored the US position stating that it would further complicate matters in the region. He said that it hampers the credibility of international efforts to restart the peace process. He added that it would provide Israel with reasons to shun its international commitments and responsibilities as well as to ignore international community’s call to freeze its illegal settlement activities in the occupied territories, a crucial precondition to the peace talks.

The other 14 members of the Security Council voted for the resolution, which demanded that “Israel, as the occupying power, immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and that it fully respect its legal obligations in this regard.” But as one of the five permanent members, the negative US vote is the equivalent of a veto.

The resolution, co-sponsored by over 120 of the UN’s 192 member states, also called on both parties to comply with their obligations under the Road Map plan.

Gaza Strip, Palestine - The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) warned of a human tragedy in the Gaza Strip due to the dire lack of water and food supplies as well as electricity and reconstruction facilities in the besieged region.

According to a report issued by the OIC’s Humanitarian Affairs Department, 10% of the Gaza residents have access to water every fifth day, while 80% can use water only twice a week and the daily water consumption of individual citizens in Gaza hardly amounts to 86 liters, half the amount of the world average.

Also the diesel-engine generators supplied by Egypt cannot generate sufficient power to meet the Gazans’ need to electricity and the people of this region face 4 to 6 hours of power cuts on a daily basis, the report added.

The report also lamented that the intensified siege of Gaza by Israel and the ban imposed by the regime on imports of the construction materials have caused a delay in the reconstruction of schools in the region.

The siege of Gaza started in June 2007 when Israel imposed a land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip. The blockade has attracted criticism from many human rights organizations. The 2009 UN fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza “amounted to collective punishment” and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

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Gaza farmers risk their lives during olive harvest

Gaza, Palestine (dpa) -The Palestinian farmer Abu Kamal Jundiya feels a high level of danger with every visit he pays to his land located on the outskirts of Gaza close to the partition fence with Israel. Usually Abu Kamal is very careful in following the latest news and the developing situation on the field in attempt to avoid the chances of being in his land in case the situation escalated. Still, his trips to his land for farming and harvesting olives are always without safety guarantees.

Abu Kamel has been subjected to gun shootings from the Israeli troops near the partition fence many times, member of his family were even injured. He feels as if he is carrying his coffin on his shoulders every time he has to work at his farm.

Gaza farmers whose lands are close to the Israeli partition fence endure many difficulties during olives harvest season that starts mid October.

Their difficulties are caused by the Israeli troops patrolling in the military towers that surround Gaza territory, who intentionally fire at everyone they think approaches the fence, which puts the Palestinian farmers in sever danger. Israel enforces a safety security area that stretches along Gaza territory borders and 300 meters deep, and prohibits Palestinians from getting close to it claiming that their reason for doing so is to secure Israel from the armed Palestinian militia.

Abu Kamel says that he goes to his

land early in the day every morning and work hard only for few hours to avoid being late in the evening so as not to irritate the Israeli troops.

The olive harvest season is a rare economic and agricultural opportunity for Gaza territory residents. The region is historically famous for olives planting though this has been severely deteriorating for years now since the constant military operations and the Israeli siege imposed on the territory.

Abu Kamel uses some tricks that enables him to successfully harvest his olives such as cutting and trimming the trees’ branches from above so they would not be taller than him in order to avoid being shot at by the Israeli soldiers who might claim they were unable to see him.

By doing so however Abu Kamal and his fellow farmers do not expect a rich harvest, specially that their trees have been subject to destruction and the dust of the Israeli heavy shovel machinery. The Palestinian agricultural reports declared that Gaza territory has lost during the Israeli war on Gaza two years ago four-thousand donom of their land that had more than 13,000 trees and a million tree in the West Bank.

Luckily, what has helped ease Gaza farmers’ tragedy a bit is the help they receive from foreign volunteers who help them harvest the olives and shield them from the Israeli army random gun shootings.

Many volunteers come every year

to Gaza to help the farmers during the harvest season. The Palestinian activists and foreign peace activists has launched ‘The local initiative Volunteers for Civil Services’ and named the campaign ‘Peace and Justice of the Olive Trees’. The activists are distributed in small groups over the border towns in Gaza to ensure that farmers safely reach their lands.

Saber Al Za'nin, the local initiative coordinator, says that their main goal is to sustain the farmers’ jobs and challenge the Israeli forced migration of Palestinian residents along the borders. He noted the volunteers’ activists "reflect Palestinians ability to face Israeli occupation with the simplest peaceful methods." Al Za'nin said that the presence of activists in front of TV cameras did help decrease the attacks on the farmers, and instead of shooting human targets Israeli army resolved to only warning shots in the air most of the time.

Human rights data documented the injuries of more than 160 Palestinian farmers and workers who were shot by Israeli army forces since they started imposing the secure safety areas after the Israeli war on Gaza that started on December 27, 2008 and ended on January 18, 2009. Essam Yuonis, director of the Mizan human rights center, said that Israel’s continuous targeting of Palestinian farmers in the safety security areas is "an intentional war crime."

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PALESTINE FILE

Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails: Horrible facts about an often-overlooked story Dr. Shaher Awawdeh

Dept. of Palestine & Al-Quds, OIC

In the twenty-first century, and at a time when peoples of the Middle East are standing for justice, democracy, freedom and human rights, more than 7000 Palestinians are kept in miserable conditions behind the bars of Israel’s detention facilities. More shockingly, their story, which is also the story of grave violations of international law, is not widely told and often goes unnoticed by the media as well as by politicians. When it comes to prisoners in the Middle East, the one-eyed world sees only one captive: Gilad Shalit who is an Israeli soldier captured from his tank while launching a military offensive against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Most international calls for freeing prisoners usually do not come in plural, they rather come in the singular form: let Gilad Shalit be free. This happens despite all the following facts and figures about the story of Palestinian prisoners. Below is only a very short list of the most shocking facts: It has been estimated that over 800,000 Palestinians have been arrested by Israel since the beginning of occupation in 1967. This means that almost every Palestinian family has been affected by the detention of at least one of its members.

There are currently 350 children in Israeli jails, of whom 187 are between 16- 18 years old while the remaining children are below 16 years old.

There are prisoners who have been behind the bars of Israeli prisons for more than 30 years. Currently, over 130 Palestinian detainees have spent more then 20 years in Israeli jails.

The oldest prisoner, Sami Yunus, is 84 and has been imprisoned for 29 years. The youngest is Karim Al-Tamimi, 11 years old.

Over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners suffer from disabilities or chronic diseases requiring medical care such as heart disease, cancer, and kidney failure. All are subjected to deliberate medical neglect.

The number of prisoners who have been killed since 1967 is 201. They lost their lives because of torture, gunfire or deliberate medical neglect.

Israel is the only country in the world that legalized torture in its prisons.

Israel systematically violates international human rights mechanisms, and in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child. While Palestinian children are prosecuted as adults at age of 12, Jewish settler children are not prosecuted as adults until the age of 18. More reprehensibly, the age of detainee is considered as the date he is brought before the court and not the age when he was arrested. It is worth noting that Israel has a record of detaining 7 years old kids.

In a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions, Israel transfers Palestinian prisoners to detention facilities inside Israel in violation to article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention 10

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which provides that the occupying power must detain prisoners in prisons inside the territory it occupies.

The Administrative Detention is another kind of violation of international law. This kind of detention has been widely used by Israel. Since the year 2000, more than 20,000 orders of administrative arrests have been issued against Palestinian detainees who are kept in prison without any charge. Court decisions are based on “secret evidence” and not provided to a detainee or his or her lawyer.

Horrible facts were revealed by a study compiled by the Human Sciences Research Center of South Africa, and published in March 2010 on the website of the Israeli human rights organization ICHAD-USA. For instance, there is no ‘presumption of innocence’, and the burden of proof is placed on the defense.

Moreover, a Palestinian defendant and attorney are not informed of charges until the first hearing (after the indictment has already been filed in Hebrew and not in the language of the detainee).

Therefore, the defendant is expected to respond immediately with no time to study the indictment.

And here is the thing: According to the above-mentioned study, the average hearing at an Israeli court lasts just 3 minutes and 4 seconds.

Thousands of Palestinian detainees are denied the right to be visited by their families in a blatant violation of article 116 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides that every prisoner may receive regular visits. A worse draft law is being discussed in Israel according to which Palestinian prisoners may be denied access to a lawyer for six months.

A number of prisoners are kept in solitary confinement (some of them for 8 years) and denied their most basic rights and needs.

Detaining the bodies of dead Palestinians is another practice that is unique to Israel. Bodies of hundreds of Palestinians who were killed by Israel, including those who died in detention, are withheld by Israeli authorities. Their families are deprived from their right to bury them according to their religious beliefs and rituals.

Lastly, but never the least, several reports revealed that Israel has admitted to experimenting pharmaceuticals on Palestinian prisoners that were not approved for human use.

According to article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the aforementioned Israeli practices against Palestinian prisoners are serious violations of international humanitarian law. In various cases, they mount to war crimes, which, pursuant to article 146 of the same Convention, should be subject to international criminal prosecution. While this is a general responsibility of the entire international community, the High Contracting Parties of the Furth Geneva Convention have a special duty to address the Israeli grave violations of the Geneva Conventions.

Although a prisoners’ swap remains the most practical way to release a good number of them, the Palestinian leadership has kicked off a campaign to internationalize the detainees’ cause. In addition to raising the international awareness of this ongoing tragedy, the Palestinian campaign would pursue UN action at the level of the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice. This would be an opportunity to bring the cause of Palestinian prisoners to the focus and would, as a sequence, put pressure on Israel to abide by international law. All peace-loving countries should support this campaign and join forces to end the plight of the Palestinian prisoners.

Source of statistics: Palestinian Prisoners’ Club

World Affairs

The People call for Reform The year 2011 will go down in history as the year of revolts in some Muslim countries.

It began with a series of persistent popular uprisings in several Arab countries that resulted in major scale changes and developments in the region.

The Arab street expressed its demands loud and clear for reform in all areas and was defiant in its stance until it achieved its goals.

The dramatic, inspirational events that began in Tunis and Egypt and spread to other countries highlight the need to address the vital issues of good governance, democracy, and human rights.

Friday, after prayers, became the day and time for gathering, and the new social network websites were the tools used to mobilize and organize the protesters who were mostly young.

Tunisia

After a month of unrest Tunisian President Zine ElAbedin Ben Ali was forced to leave the country on January 14, 2011. In power since 1987, Ben Ali had earlier declared a state of emergency and said protesters would be shot in an increasingly violent confrontation. He had dismissed the government and called an early parliamentary election. As the violence escalated, police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in central Tunis demanding his immediate resignation. They were not satisfied with his promise to step down at the end of his latest term in 2014.

The wide protests, which turned into deadly confrontations with the police, was sparked when police prevented an unemployed graduate from selling fruit without a license and he set fire to himself on December 17, 2010, dying shortly afterward of his burns. The protesters were demanding reform.

After the president fled the country, a transitional government was formed by Prime Minister Mohamed

Ghannouchi in preparation for elections.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has followed with concern the events in Tunisia, a founding Member State of the OIC. It reaffirmed its solidarity with the Tunisian people and called on all Tunisians to endeavor to preserve security and stability, protect public and private property and safeguard their achievements.

Protests continued demanding the removal of figures from the toppled regime. Ghannouchi announced his decision to resign after just over six weeks as interim prime minister. He was replaced by 84-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi.

The protesters said they will continue to push for change.

On March 9, a Tunisian court ordered the former ruling party, the Rally for Constitutional Democracy (RCD), to be dissolved, consigning a key pillar of the toppled regime to the scrapheap. The RCD had already been suspended from official duties in February. The party was accused of violating the constitution to set up a one-party “totalitarian 11

regime” under Ben Ali. Its imposing headquarters in the heart of the capital was one of the first symbolic targets of the revolt that rose up from the impoverished provinces and spread to Tunis.

The interim government struggling to put Tunisia back on track has fixed an election for July 24 to choose an assembly to write a new post-revolution constitution. The country’s new premier Essebsi unveiled his government line-up free, for the first time, of any ministers from the Ben Ali era.

Egypt

The dramatic events in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, were followed hour-by-hour on TV screens around the world, particularly in the Arab world, since they began to unfold on January 25. The demonstrations were peaceful but turned deadly when the government used its police force and thugs to disperse and quench them. Concessions to demands for reform – such as appointing a vice president for the first time in almost three decades, promising to hold free parliamentary and presidential elections and changing items in the constitution – were rejected by the protesters who considered the moves as a ruse that would not deter them from their goal of toppling President Hosni Mubarak and his regime.

Finally, on February 11, President Mubarak, after nearly 30 years in power, resigned and handed power to the military.

Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square, the symbol of the revolution where millions of protesters camped out for three weeks, and Egypt exploded with joy and tears of relief after they brought down the regime. The crowds in the capital 12

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Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and other cities around the country erupted into a pandemonium of cheers and waving flags. They danced, hugged and raised their hands in prayer after Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on national TV. Mubarak and his family flew to his isolated palace in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Egypt now is ruled by the Armed Forces Supreme Council, the military’s top body consisting of its highestranking generals and headed by Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi.

The ruling military pledged to eventually hand power to an elected civilian government and asked the government appointed by Mubarak in his final weeks to continue operating until a new one is formed. However, that government was eventually forced to resign under pressure from the protesters and the opposition who did not want any remnants of the deposed regime. The military also banned current and ex-government officials from traveling abroad without permission and brought charges against some of them, including minister of interior Habib El-Adly, of corruption and abuse of power.

The military leaders then dissolved Parliament and suspended the constitution, meeting two key demands of protesters who have been keeping up pressure for immediate steps to transition to democratic, civilian rule. The suspension of the constitution effectively puts Egypt under martial law – where the military makes the laws and enforces them in military tribunals.

The ruling council said it will run the country for six months, or until presidential and parliamentary elections can

World Affairs be held. It formed a committee to amend the constitution and set up the rules for a popular referendum to endorse the amendments, which took place on March 19 with an overwhelming majority in favor of constitutional changes that eliminate restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.

Continuing with its reforms, officials announced that Egypt will lift its emergency laws within six months and release political prisoners. The country’s widely hated state security agency was dissolved, also among the major demands of the protest movement. The State Security Investigations agency is accused of torture and other human rights abuses in the suppression of dissent against ousted Mubark’s regime.

The military announced on March 30 a new 62-article interim constitution to replace the one suspended. The presidential elections will be held a month or two after September’s parliamentary contests, the military said.

Islamic Summit in Egypt postponed

Delegates to the preparatory senior officials’ meeting for the twelfth session of the Islamic Summit Conference expressed their understanding of the decision to postpone the Islamic Summit, which had been scheduled for 15 March 2011 at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, due to the prevailing circumstances. A new date would be chosen by Egypt as developments unfold, in coordination with the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The meeting held at the Headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat on 12 February 2011 expressed strong confidence on the success and effectiveness of the next summit in a way that would reflect Egypt’s capability and the solid potentials of its institutions.

In this context, the participants expressed their appreciation and pride in the Egyptian people and the hope that the developments in Egypt would take the country to the desired progress and all that would be in the best interest of the Egyptian people.

In his speech to the meeting, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu asserted that the Muslim world was witnessing historic changes in many of its countries.

Contending with these changes, he said, required a high degree of wisdom and sound judgment.

Ihsanoglu expressed his congratulations to the Egyptian people at these distinctive historic moments for the triumph of their will and national choices and wished them the progress and prosperity they aspire.

The Secretary General underscored the urgent need to accelerate the process of manifesting the people’s ambitions for good governance, rule of law, promotion of human rights, expanded political participation space and comprehensive development.

Ihsanoglu pointed out that the OIC would spare no efforts in helping the brothers in Egypt and Tunisia to meet the challenges of the coming period. He explained that the fundamental principles of the OIC Charter provide for these values and that the Ten-Year Program of Action was a forerunner in drawing Member States’ attention to the

political challenges facing the Muslim world.

Bahrain

The kingdom of Bahrain slowly returned to normalcy by the end of March after more than a month of protests.

Bahrain reduced curfew times, announced that ministries and schools would return to normal working hours, arrested at least seven opposition leaders and cleared demonstrators from the streets after weeks of protests that prompted its king to declare martial law and draw in troops from neighboring countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The unrest brought Bahrain’s economy to a virtual standstill as protesters set up blockades at key street intersections, and schools and universities were closed.

Bahrain tore down on Mach 18 the statue at the center of Pearl Square roundabout, focal point and symbol of the protests, who had taken over the roundabout near the financial district of Manama setting up a tent city where free food was handed out and political speeches and rallies were held into the night.

Bahraini riot police launched a crackdown on the Pearl Square protest camp, driving out demonstrators who were demanding wide-range political and constitutional reform, but the government accused the opposition of shifting their demands and acting like gangsters. The government said leaders of the civil strife were arrested for communicating with foreign countries and inciting murder and destruction of property.

However, Bahrain’s foreign minister said the government remains committed to dialogue with the opposition but restoring security is a priority and more GCC troops will arrive on the island to support its forces. Their role would be limited to guarding strategic assets such as oil facilities and they would not be involved in quelling protests, he said.

The General Secretariat of the OIC expressed its full support for the initiative of the Bahrain leadership to firmly establish institutions and law and engage in comprehensive national dialogue on the basis of the principles of the rule of law, freedom of speech and opinion, and promotion of Bahrain citizens’ exercise of all their legitimate rights.

The OIC appealed to all parties concerned in Bahrain to respond positively to this initiative and to place the high interest of Bahrain and its people above any other consideration. The OIC also stressed the need to abide by non-interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain in accordance with the principles of the OIC Charter,

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which call for respect for Member States’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs.

Yemen

In the Arabian Peninsula state of Yemen the National Security Council declared on March 18 a state of emergency in the country for 30 days after dozens of protesters were killed at Change Square in Sanaa.

Yemeni government snipers firing from rooftops and houses shot into a crowd of tens of thousands of antigovernment demonstrators after Friday prayers killing at least 40 people including children and injuring hundreds demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

However, the Defense Ministry on its website quoted a security source as saying that the security forces had nothing to do with the firing and the high casualties caused by clashes between the inhabitants of the area and the protesters.

President Saleh also denied that his police were to blame.

There were a series of defections among Saleh’s allies including from the ruling party, his own tribe and the military, adding pressure on him to step down. During the weeks of protests in February and March, which took place in several cities in the north and south, around 100 people have been killed. Struggling to preserve his 32-year rule, Saleh has rejected demands to step down immediately but promised to leave office when his term expires in 2013. He has also offered a new constitution giving more power to parliament.

However, protests demanding he step down continued.

Other countries

In Morocco thousands of protesters gathered on February 20 in Rabat to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers and clamp down on government corruption.

The king responded by promising reforms, which were welcomed by Moroccans. In a rare televised national speech on March 9, he unveiled plans for constitutional reforms including a popularly elected prime minister with real powers, reform the judiciary, create a stronger role for parliament and political parties and boost the authority of local officials. He appointed a committee to work with political parties, trade unions and civil society groups to draw up proposals by June.

Protests in Syria in late March demanded an end to 48 years of emergency law, freedom and release of political prisoners. President Bashar Assad made unprecedented pledge of greater freedom and more prosperity on March 14

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24 as anger mounted following a crackdown on protesters, resulting in the resignation of the Cabinet and the promise of more reforms.

Thousands of Palestinians rallied in major West Bank cities and in Gaza Strip on March 15 calling for unity between the Fatah-controlled West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Kuwait riot police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of stateless Arabs who demonstrated in February to demand basic rights and citizenship.

In Oman the ruler granted lawmaking powers on March 13 to officials outside the royal family in the boldest reforms yet aimed at quelling protests for jobs and a greater public role in politics.

The decree by Sultan Qaboos bin Said reflects the desire to appease demonstrators and head off possible wider unrest in the strategically important nation, which shares control of the Gulf waterway that carries 40 percent of the world’s oil tanker traffic.

The Sultan has made sweeping Cabinet shake-ups and promises for thousands of new civil service posts since demonstrators began in February. Both Oman and Bahrain have been promised $10 billion each in aid from the GCC. There were also protests in Algeria where the president responded by ending emergency law and promising to improve economic conditions in this oil-rich country. In Jordan rallies called for constitutional reform and more media freedom resulting in a change in the Cabinet.

Troubled Iraq also witnessed demonstrations that sought to bring down the government. In Lebanon tens of thousands of supporters of the opposition thronged downtown Beirut on March 13 demanding that Hezbollah give up its weapons.

Even the non-Arab state of Iran experienced its share of protests, while a call for demonstrations in Saudi Arabia was unheeded.

OIC calls for wisdom and peaceful means in addressing developments

In a statement issued on 20 February, OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu said, “The Muslim World is witnessing significant developments in a number of its countries at present. Clearly the countries are going through difficult times which require to be dealt with a great deal of patience, wisdom and forward looking vision.”

The Secretary General deplored the loss of lives and destruction of properties. He called upon all concerned to resort to peaceful means in order to avoid violence and bloodshed. Ihsanoglu said that the aspiration of the Muslim world for good governance, the rule of law, the promotion of human rights, fighting corruption and the expansion of political participation and comprehensive development is recognized by the OIC Charter and Ten Year Program of Action. “The OIC is certain that the great nations of the Muslim Ummah are able, without any foreign interference, to rise up to these challenges towards accomplishing a prosperous and progressive future”.

World Affairs

Libya

In Libya confrontations between state forces and rebels continued to escalate.

The unrest began against longtime ruler – 41 years – Muammar Qaddafi on February 15 with riot police clashing with protesters in the second largest city of Benghazi and marchers setting fire to security headquarters and a police station in the city of Zentan. From then on the violence which resulted in killing of protesters continued to escalate around the country resulting in mass exodus of Libyans and foreigners to neighboring countries of Tunisia and Egypt.

Qaddafi and his family stood defiantly against the calls for stepping down and promised to eradicate the protesters oneby-one, unleashing security forces attacks that used heavy artillery and resulting in thousands of casualties and injuries, but that did not deter the protesters from gaining ground and support from government officials and military personnel who turned against Qaddafi.

In order to end hostilities in Libya and protect civilians, the international community including the OIC called on the United Nations to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.

The UN Security Council on March 18 adopted resolution 1973 approving the no-fly zone and necessary air strikes on Qaddafi’s forces. A coalition, which included Arab countries, began operations the next day.

OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu invited all parties associated with the ongoing military operations in Libya to exercise maximum restraint and avoid targeting civilians, residential areas, and to preserve infrastructure and earnings of the Libyan people. At the opening session of the Ministerial Executive Committee meeting on the events in Libya held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on March 19, he called on the international community to strictly maintain the Libyan territories, and territorial integrity, political independence and national unity of the Libyan people and its sovereignty, and ensure the safety of citizens.

He also called for contact to be established with the Transitional National Council in Libya. In the speech, the Secretary General welcomed the UN Security Council resolution 1973 and the practical measures it contains to stop the killing of the Libyan people. He called on OIC Member States to contribute to the implementation of the resolution.

He also stressed support for the provision of the resolution excluding the dispatch of any occupation force in any form to any part of Libya.

The Secretary General participated in the London Conference on Libya on 29 March, where he expressed his strong belief that the international community needs to speak with one voice and maintain its unity in response to the critical situation in Libya. Ihsanoglu added that the OIC was the first intergovernmental organization that called for a political solution, including the process of political transition.

He concluded his speech by welcoming the proposals put forward on the formation of a Contact Group to support the Libyan people and to provide regular consultations among international community, and expressed the readiness of the OIC to be a member of such Group.

On the sidelines of the London Conference the Secretary General discussed with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the efforts of the international community in Libya and the developments of the military situation there.

Ihsanoglu stressed on the need to work on a just and peaceful settlement resulting from the military operations, which fulfills the ambitions and aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy, stability and a decent living. In this context, the OIC Secretary General conducted a series of side meetings with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton.

OIC opens a Humanitarian Coordination Unit in Libya

As soon as violence in Libya escalated and resulted in a humanitarian crisis, the OIC opened a Coordination Unit for Islamic Humanitarian Action in Benghazi. The opening of the unit in coordination with the Islamic International Red Crescent, aimed to provide all information on the developments of the humanitarian situation in Libya, and submit reports to clarify the situation there so as to meet potential needs in the affected areas. The unit worked at assisting the Member States, Islamic humanitarian organizations and international partners in all that relates to the reception of aids and their storing and distribution in the affected zones inside Libya and on the borders of Egypt and Tunisia where hundreds of thousands of displaced people had fled to and needed to be returned to their countries.

The Secretary General continued to appeal for prompt action on the part of the OIC Member States and the concerned relief organizations to extend assistance and to dispatch the required medical and food supplies relief so as to contain the crisis and prevent its aggravation, and to cooperate in this regard with the coordination unit in Benghazi.

Meanwhile the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali announced on 29 March that the Board of Executive Directors (BED) of the IDB has approved a grant of US$500,000 to provide urgent medical aid to the people affected by the current crisis in Libya. An IDB mission departed the next day to Egypt where coordination with Egyptian Red Crescent was made to deliver the urgent medical aid. The BED had also approved in February a similar grant of US$200,000.

Residents fleeing the unrest in Libya wait at the Libyan and Tunisian border crossing of Ras Jdir. (epa)

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Southern Sudan vote for secession

South Sudanese celebrate in Juba 30 January 2011. (epa)

Juba, Sudan – South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final results of a referendum announced on February 7, 2011. A total of 98.83 percent of voters from Sudan's oil-producing south chose to secede from the north in a referendum, the chairman of the vote's organizing commission Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil said.

The referendum is the climax of a 2005 north-south peace accord that set out to end Africa's longest civil war.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir earlier said he accepted the result, allaying fears that the split could reignite conflict over the control of the south's oil reserves.

"Today we received these results and we accept and welcome these results because they represent the will of the southern people," he said in an address on state TV. South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir added to the conciliatory mood by promising he would help Khartoum campaign for the forgiveness of the country's crippling debts and the easing of international trade sanctions in coming months.

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his satisfaction, following the announcement of the final results of the referendum on South Sudan’s self-determination, which confirms the preliminary results released on 30 January 2011.

Ihsanoglu commended H.E. President Al-Bashir and the Government of Sudan for accepting the results of the referendum. He welcomed the Sudanese parties’ full and timely implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and urged them to quickly reach agreement through a negotiated settlement on other critical post-referendum issues.

The weeklong referendum vote, which began January 9 and widely praised for being peaceful and meeting international standards, was a condition for a 2005 peace agreement that ended a north-south civil war that lasted 16

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two decades. Turnout in the ten states in the south was also 99 percent. In northern Sudan, 58 percent of voters chose secession with 60 percent turnout.

“We are still moving forward,” said Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir at the results ceremony on January 30.

He thanked Sudanese President Al-Bashir for his leadership and for “making peace possible.” Kiir said the south will declare independence on July 9, but not before.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Political Bureau held a meeting in Juba on 12 -16 February, and adopted recommendations of naming the new state Southern Republic of South Sudan; the currency shall be named the South Sudan Pound; and the flag of the SPLM will be the flag of the new state.

Southern Sudan: Southern Sudan consists of ten states which formerly composed the provinces of Equatoria (Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Western Equatoria); Bahr el Ghazal (Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap); and Upper Nile (Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile).

One of the major natural features of the Southern Sudan is the River Nile whose many tributaries have sources in the country. It is blessed with many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, and hydropower. The country's economy, like the case in other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture.

Sudan is the third-largest oil-producing country in subSaharan Africa, and 80 percent of the oil lies in the south. But regulating the industry will be among the new government's biggest challenges, experts say, raising questions about whether the oil deposits in one of the world's poorest regions will benefit the people who live there.

OIC directs $2.7 million urgent relief appeal for hunger-stricken people in Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia - The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has made an urgent appeal to Member States, charitable humanitarian organizations in the Muslim world, and international organizations to contain the grievous situation in Somalia, and to extend aid and assistance to the Somali people in the difficult circumstances facing the country. Somalia suffers its worst drought in many years at a time when a million people face humanitarian crisis and millions more are in the throes of hunger and thirst.

The OIC pointed out the increased number of displaced persons due to the difficult conditions and events in Somalia.

This is to say nothing of the spiraling costs of food and mounting number of children hit by malnutrition, waterborne diseases and dearth of necessary life-supporting health services.

In this context, the OIC announced that it had put together an urgent US$ 2,780,405 humanitarian program for the victims of hunger in Somalia. Part of this amount would be used to feed 700,000 people in seven Somali provinces. The medical component of the program would treat about 100,000 Somalis, while another 800,000 would benefit from water distribution programs for drinking and livestock raring.

The OIC appeals to donor agencies and relief organizations to come forward urgently with their assistance and support so as to make the said program a success.

For nearly two decades, civil wars, clashing militias and massive humanitarian crisis, poor health, and malnourishment due to food shortages have plagued Somalia.

The Secretary General appeals to all Somali factions to stop fighting and allow free access of humanitarian assistance to the affected population all over Somalia.

The OIC General Secretariat rolled out its humanitarian

program in Somalia, beginning with the opening of a Humanitarian Unit in Mogadishu and coordination of food distribution in the Afgooye Corridor in partnership with national and international partners, within and outside of the Muslim World.

Severe drought threatens millions The severe drought has plunged millions of Somalis into crisis after rains failed for several consecutive seasons in this Horn of Africa nation, and the U.N. and aid groups are warning of the possibility of a looming catastrophe.

According to the U.N., the malnutrition rate among children has jumped to 30 percent in Somalia's southern Juba region, a figure that is double the emergency threshold.

Food prices have soared up to 80 percent in some regions.

Many drought-affected families are fleeing their homes in search of food. In the Galmudug region of central Somalia, officials said they haven't seen such drought conditions since 1974.

The U.N. has released $4.5 million from its emergency fund to respond to the drought and is likely to release more, said Mark Bowden, U.N.'s Somalia humanitarian coordinator. This figure is separate from the $530 million the U.N. appealed for this year to finance its aid projects in Somalia.

The drought's effects are worsened by the fact aid agencies' work is restricted in many regions where insurgents are in control.

Of Somalia's estimated population of around 8 million people, about 2.4 million need food aid and about 1.5 million are internally displaced.

Kiki Gbeho, the head of the U.N.'s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Somalia, warned that if spring rains expected in April fail, the country "is in a huge problem."

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World Affairs Following the success of the Makkah Document in eliminating the specter of civil war

Iraq welcomes OIC initiative to launch a comprehensive dialogue for schools of thought in the Islamic World

Ihsanoglu during his meeting with Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad

Baghdad, Iraq - Building on the successes achieved in Iraq following the signing of the OIC sponsored Makkah Document to end sectarian tension between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq, the OIC is preparing for a comprehensive dialogue for schools of thought in the Islamic world. The Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu concluded on 18 March 2011, a four-day successful visit to Iraq, highlighted by the enthusiasm shown on the side of the Iraqi Government towards the OIC initiative, the basic themes of which are based on the Makkah Document spirit and beyond towards harmonizing moderate Islamic discourse that would put an end to fanaticism and extremism, and exploiting Islam for political ends.

The OIC Secretary General began his visit to Iraq on 15 March, by meeting the Chairmen of the Sunni and Shi'a Waqfs, where both sides highly appreciated the Makkah Document, which they considered as a major reason for preempting an upheaval in Iraq, defusing a crisis that would have led the country to an uncertain future. Dr. Ahmad AbdulGhafour Al-Samarrai, Chairman of the Sunni Waqf, Saleh Al-Haidari, Chairman of the Shiite Waqf, accepted the principle of a more comprehensive dialogue which, like the Makkah Document signed by 30 religious scholars half whom were Sunnis and the other half were Shiites, will go beyond the boarders of Iraq to represent a regional initiative throughout the Islamic world.

Speaking on behalf of the Iraqi Government, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, stressed the major role played by the Makkah Document in strengthening the Iraqi unity and realizing rapprochement between the different factions.

He added that efforts exerted by Ihsanoglu in 2006 ended the danger which threatened Iraqi assets and people. He underlined that the Document and the national reconciliation initiative ensured Iraqi security. They constituted the first step towards the establishment of a democratic, stable and unified state. In his meeting with the OIC Secretary General, Al-Maliki welcomed a regional initiative to end the 18

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growing sectarian tension, adding that the repercussions of such tension will be reflected on Iraq because of its diverse demographic composition.

The Makkah Document came as an OIC initiative at the 27th night of Ramadan, 2006. The OIC General Secretariat seeks to restore reconciliation between eight schools of thought recognized in the OIC Ten-year Program of Action. It also aims at elaborating a formula for moderate religious discourse capable of setting aside differences, and affirming the principle of accepting the other.

During his visit to Baghdad the Secretary General also went to the Church of Salvation in Karrada district, which had been attacked by terrorist on October 31, 2010, and met with Patriarch Emanuel Deli, Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He renewed his condolences to the victims of that vicious attack, stressing that this criminal act is far from the values of tolerance and brotherhood and coexistence defended by the Islamic religion. Ihsanoglu was briefed on the effects of the devastation inside the church building.

The Secretary General also met with Ammar Abdul Aziz Hakim, the head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and discussed the situation in the Middle East, plus the ways to launch a comprehensive Islamic sectarian dialogue.

On another note, the UN Security Council had lifted in December 2010 the sanctions imposed on Iraq since 1990.

Ihsanoglu welcomed the decision and expressed his belief that the adoption of the resolution represents an important step towards Iraq’s return to its natural position within the international, Arab and Islamic communities and towards achieving an end to the Iraqi people’s sufferings.

The Secretary General had also welcomed the formation and subsequent approval of the new Iraqi government on 21 December by the Parliament and congratulated Prime Minister Maliki and the members of his Cabinet. He expressed the hope that the new government, which reflects the broad based consensus among the Iraqi political groups, would further help strengthen national unity, stability, development and prosperity of the country.

Meanwhile, OIC representative in Baghdad, Ambassador Hamid Athani, met Masoud Barazani, Head of Kurdistan region, on 26 January and expressed to him the OIC’s desire to support the Iraqi people and work with all Iraqi components and powers to establish safety and security and national reconciliation. Amb. Athani stressed on the high status enjoyed by Kurdistan region in the Muslim world, praising Barazani’s international role in the Iraqi political process and the success of his initiative in forming a national partnership government. Barazani on his side emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination between Kurdistan region, Iraq and OIC. Amb. Athani also participated in the international conference on the role of Iraqi women in the political process, which was held in Irbil on 27 January.

The role of the OIC in mediation and facilitation:

Challenges and successes

Amb. Tarig Ali Bakhit Salah Director in Political Affairs Dept, OIC

Introduction The evolving nature of present day conflicts and security challenges transcend national and even regional boundaries. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) believes that regional and intergovernmental organizations are better placed to assess the root causes of conflicts and, accordingly devise specific ways and means to tackle them. They have a greater vested interest, as they are attempting to resolve challenges arising in their own backyard. They also have an intimate understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic underpinnings of such conflicts and have the ability to identify and mobilize existing home-grown mechanisms to address them effectively and efficiently. This may be why the authors of the Charter of the UN devoted Chapter VIII to the role of regional and sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as basis for our collective security.

The regional perspective also contributes to a deeper sense of participation, consensus and democratization in the role of international organizations.

The OIC in the 21st century has emerged as a crucial player in the maintenance of international peace and security. Proceeding from its new vision and mission, the organization has continued to play an important role in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, promoting post-conflict reconstruction and defusing humanitarian crises in its Member States as an important contribution to the global efforts in the promotion of international peace and security.

Having acquired a rich experience in this domain of conflict prevention or management over the last forty years, the OIC stands ready to cooperate meaningfully with all regional and international organizations to resolve disputes or prevent conflicts in parts of our Member States especially those long standing conflicts which continue to adversely impact global peace, security and stability. To do this, is not only necessary, but also in our collective interest.

The OIC mandate to engage in mediation A close look at the map of conflicts around the globe will reveal that most of these are located in the Muslim World. That is why the OIC, since its inception, was specifically tasked to address the conflicts occurring between its Member States or disputes with other countries

involving OIC Member States. The Charter of the OIC exhorts its Member States party to any conflict to seek peaceful solution through mediation, the use of good offices, arbitration, conciliation or judicial settlement. The Charter mandates the OIC to cooperate with other international or regional organizations with the objective to preserving peace and security to settle disputes peacefully. Proceeding from this term of reference, the OIC has played an important role in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, promoting post-conflicts reconstruction and addressing humanitarian crises in its Member States.

The Ten-Year Program of Action adopted by the OIC Third Extraordinary Summit held Makkah in 2005 also mandated the organization to strengthen its role in conflict prevention, confidence building, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and post- conflict peace-building through enhanced cooperation with other international and regional organizations. This mandate entails the enhancement of its role in mediation and conflict resolution within its Member States.

Based on this mandate in the Charter and the TenYear Program of Action, the Secretary General of the OIC Ekmelelddin Ihasanoglu has increasingly used his good offices to mediate in various disputes. He appointed some Special Representatives who continue to contribute in finding peaceful solutions to conflicts such as Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Jammu and Kashmir, Southern Philippines and Thailand.

The Secretary General has visited a number of key nonOIC Member States and headquarters of international and regional organizations to develop cooperation in the field of the maintenance of international peace and security.

The OIC General Secretariat hosted a number of important representatives from international and regional organizations and countries and discussed with them approaches to settlement of disputes and issues relating to the promotion of international peace and security.

The OIC believes that approaching problems solely from the angle of security cannot lead to lasting and comprehensive solutions. Short term solutions must give way to a proper understanding of the root causes of conflicts, which often lie in political grievances, injustic e, alienation, backwardness and underdevelopment as well as the need for good governance.

As a mark of its commitment to address socio-economic problems that often serve as the root causes of conflict, the OIC has launched a Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation in Member States. The OIC also attaches great importance to its cooperation with the UN Peace Building Commission to face the challenges of post-conflicts rehabilitation in its Member States. In this context, the OIC operated a number of Trust Funds as in Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Bosnia to help in post conflict peace building.

OIC Success stories in the field of mediation Iraq The OIC intervened in the height of Iraq’s sectarian violence between the Sunni and Shiite sects. The OIC was engaged in one of the main elements of the national reconciliation process which is the sectarian violence by bringing together thirty of the high ranking representatives 19

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of major Sunni and Shiites’ religious authorities of Iraq to Makkah 2006 where they have singed an important document called “the Makkah Declaration”, which had been elaborated under the aegis of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the OIC Jurisprudence organ.

The OIC was able to successfully broker an end to this sectarian strife through mediation between the high religious authorities of the two communities. The Declaration clarifies the position of the Islamic teachings and jurisprudence visà-vis the killings in Iraq based on sectarian considerations.

It clearly showed Islam’s strong position in prohibiting killing of Muslims outside the realm of law. This document which had very wide circulation in all Mosques across Iraq resulted in a resounding success and was effective in drastically reducing the sectarian strife in Iraq. We all know that although violence still continues in Iraq but this in our view is unrelated to religious divisions between the Sunnis and the Shiites.

The OIC is now engaged in consultations with different stakeholders in Iraq including the government of Iraq on how to build on Makkah Declaration. Our plans in this regard take account of the convening of another meeting in Makkah, Iraq or elsewhere to help promoting comprehensive national reconciliation in Iraq.

This method, for example, could be replicated in Somalia since the conflict appears to be taking a religious dimension pitching hard-liners with the moderates. It is important to highlight the fact that the OIC played an instrumental role in bringing to Djibouti peace process of 2008, the current President Sheikh Sharif who was then leader of the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and was considered at that time by the international community as a hardliner. Our mediation successfully convinced Sheikh Sharif and his group to join the peace process which produced the Djibouti Agreement, the only internationally recognized political process currently in Somalia.

The OIC mediation in Southern Philippines The success of OIC in Southern Philippines is manifested in the brokering of the Peace Agreement in Southern Philippines in 1976. A second peace agreement brokered by OIC was signed in 1996 in Manila.

The 5th ICFM held in Kuala Lumpur addressed an appeal to the Government of the Philippines and Moro National Liberation Front to initiate a peaceful negotiation within the 20

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framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippines with a view to reaching a just political settlement of the crisis. Consequently, the negotiations started between the two sides. On 23 September 1976, an agreement reached in Tripoli (Libya) called Tripoli Agreement, which provided for the Philippine Muslims self-rule in 13 provinces and 9 cities. The treaty was concluded with the participation of the OIC. A second Peace Agreement in 1996 was signed in Manila between the Government of Philippines (GRP) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which was brokered by the OIC to establish peace and stability in the autonomous Mindanao region of Southern Philippines.

As there are always questions on the implementation of the said peace agreement, the OIC kept itself continuously engaged with the two parties in the issue to overcome the problems impeding the implementation of the Peace Agreement. The Secretary General dispatched fact-finding mission in May 2006 to get first hand information and assessment on the ground and in March 2007 to prepare a common ground to hold tripartite meeting (GRP, MNLF and OIC) to overcome the problem facing the full implementation of the Peace Agreement.

The Tripartite meetings (in Jeddah, November 2007 and Istanbul, February 2008) mandated the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) to examine further the positions of the two sides in order to arrive at commonalities by examining provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement which were not fully implemented and come up with mutually acceptable solutions. The OIC General Secretariat is still working with the parties to find final solution to the problem. After the Third tripartite meeting held in Manila, during the 37th session of the CFM held in Dushanbe in May 2010, the OIC also brought two factions (MNLF-MILF) together to close their ranks and combine their efforts for the betterment of the Bangsamoro People upon the request of the Philippine Government.

The OIC Mediation in Thailand The Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu sent a high-level OIC delegation to Thailand ahead of his official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand during the period from 30 April to 1 May 2007, to extend a helping hand to find ways and means to resolve the problems in Southern Muslim Provinces of Thailand. During the visit, a joint communiqué was also signed incorporating probable steps to bring sustainable peace to the region. At later stage, there has been exchange of official visits by both sides in light of the Joint Communiqué. According to information that the OIC received from the Thai authorities, the administration in Thailand has been taking some administrative steps, such as facilitating use of local Malay language in public and educational premises and introduced 4-year development plan for 5 Southern Border Provinces. According to Thai side, they drafted a legislation to establish Southern Border Provinces Center to oversee and coordinate all development policies and studying the possibilities expanding the application of Islamic Law in civil cases related to family and inheritance matters.

The Department of Muslim Minorities, OIC, is still

working closely with the Thai authorities to bring justice and calm in the said territory.

OIC Mediation in Chad – Sudan Conflict Since the beginning of the tension between the two OIC Member States, the Secretary General sent missions to both countries to express his grave concern on the deadly clashes between the security forces of the two countries resulting in the loss of precious lives that could undermine the already fragile peace in the region, and urged the two neighbouring nations to take appropriate steps to prevent the re-occurrence of such incidents in order not to further complicate the prevailing humanitarian problem on both sides of the borders.

The OIC under its current chairman President Abdulaye Wade of Senegal brokered the Dakar Peace Agreement between President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Al Bashir, and President of Chad, Idriss Deby, on the sidelines of the 11th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, on 13 March 2008.

However, despite the various efforts of the Contact Group to follow up the implementation of the Dakar Agreement which at the end produced little success, it was only the political will of the two countries to reconcile that effectively restore durable peace along their common borders.

Principles and lessons learned from OIC Mediation experience Based on its mediation in some conflicts, the OIC can present the following learned lessons: The multiplicity of international and regional organizations active in the conflict creates overlapping and often complicates the mediation process. There is now a realization by stakeholders that pooling resources and efforts through a coordinated approach like the idea of the international contact groups such as in Guinea, Mauritania, and Somalia have been found to be more effective in addressing the conflict situation. Joint mediation is also proving to be more effective such as in Darfur between the UN and AU. • Timely intervention is very important to prevent escalation. However the issue of sovereignty has been found to militate against such intervention.

• The fractionalization or split within the parties to the conflict poses a serious handicap in mediation efforts.

• Effective mediation requires clear mandate and a defined role of the leading organization in the process. There is a vital need for effective coordination between all the stakeholders and in particular, with the leading organization in the process.

• Each organization has its own comparative advantage. The OIC focused on conflicts where its mediation efforts could bring benefits such as in the Philippines.

Relative strengths and weaknesses of OIC Mediation experience.

• OIC as a regional organization is better placed to deal with conflicts in the Muslim World being its primary constituency and immediate environment. Because of this comparative advantage, the OIC has been mandated by the OIC different Summits, Council of Ministers and the

Ten-Year Program of Action adopted by the Extraordinary Makkah Summit in 2005.

• The main advantages as a relative strength of the OIC are its honesty, credibility, neutrality, impartiality and its acceptance in the Muslim World. It also enjoys great respect.

As a facilitator, the OIC supported leading organizations in their mediation efforts through quiet diplomacy in talking with the concerned parties.

• The major weaknesses of the OIC in the field of mediation are its limited institutional capacities both human and material. Emphasis on mediation and conflict resolution began relatively new unlike other organizations.

Challenges the OIC is facing in the area of mediation • The main challenge facing the OIC in its mediation efforts is the multiplicity of international and regional organizations active in the conflicts in OIC Member States which complicates its mediation initiatives and limits its achievements. The OIC needs to build up its capacities in order to enhance its effectiveness and visibility in mediation consistent with its new vision and mission. The UN can support the OIC in expanding its capacities in mediation.

• The preventive action/preventive diplomacy is equally important for the OIC if not more. Early warnings should be monitored and duly considered so that conflicts can be prevented before they reach full fledged conflict proportions and become complex.

How the partnership with the UN could be enhanced • The OIC partnership with the UN could be enhanced through the enhancement of coordination and the follow up mechanism by building institutional linkages between the two secretariats. Both sides need to implement what has been agreed upon in their coordination meetings, the last of which was held in Istanbul in July 2010. The UN needs to cooperate with the OIC in the areas of training, institutionbuilding, information and experience sharing, and logistical support.

• There should be a coordinated division of labour between the UN and regional organizations as in some cases the chances of success of the regional organizations with certain comparative advantages for the specific situations should be acknowledged and benefited from by the UN. How the UN could strengthen its good offices and mediation efforts • The establishment of a Mediation Support Unit is a big achievement. This Unit should be enhanced and encouraged to enlarge its cooperation with regional organizations.

• UN mediation should be guided by the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

• To cooperate with regional organizations in mediation efforts and to appoint joint mediators with these organizations in crisis in their respective countries.

• Security Council's interaction and cooperation with the regional organizations should be increased.

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Heinous attack on a Church in Alexandria condemned Saints Church in Alexandria. The Egyptian Government said foreign elements were involved in the attack, which came in the wake of threats by Al-Qaeda militants in Iraq, which the OIC also strongly condemned, to expand their attacks against Christians into Egypt. The attack in Alexandria drew worldwide condemnation.

The OIC Secretary General stressed that this disgraceful terrorist act is in complete contradiction with the noble principles of Islam, which strongly condemns such criminal act. It also contradicts the traditions of the Egyptian people who are known of their peaceful coexistence among the various sects throughout the long centuries where A group of Egyptian Coptic Christians (L) protest after a car bomb went off the values of tolerance, harmony and respect outside a church in the northern city of Alexandria, Egypt, on 1 January 2011. (epa) for others have prevailed. The Secretary Alexandria, Egypt - The Secretary General of the General emphasized that the coherence of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin the Egyptian people will undoubtedly enable it to overcome Ihsanoglu condemned in the strongest terms the criminal and this painful ordeal. terrorist act which targeted civilians who were performing Ihsanoglu expressed his deep regret that this vicious attack their religious rituals in a church in Alexandria, Egypt at coincided with the celebrations of New Year's festivities. He dawn on 1 January 2011 resulting in the killing and wounding had earlier issued a press release on Christmas Day and the of a large number of innocent citizens.

New Year in which he considered this occasion as one of More than 20 people were killed and around 50 injured amity, peace, security and equality and called on all people after a terrorist bombing ripped through a crowd of Coptic to make efforts to enhance dialogue among all religions, worshippers as they were leaving New Year’s Mass at cultures and civilizations.

Lebanese political actors urged to place Lebanon’s interest over any other consideration Beirut, Lebanon - The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) called on all Lebanese political actors and parties to place the high interest of Lebanon above any other considerations and to endeavor to surmount this critical political stage.

The General Secretariat reaffirmed the need to preserve the unity, security and stability of Lebanon and the prosperity of its people.

On 25 January a candidate was designated to form

Lebanon’s next government.

The president appointed former Premier Najib Mikati as prime minister-designate after a majority of lawmakers voted for him.

Mikati defeated Saad Hariri who was prime minister from 2009 until Hezbollah forced the unity government he led to collapse.

Lebanon's Prime Minister designate Najib Mikati. (epa)

Ihsanoglu: Kuwait made outstanding contributions to the causes of the Ummah Kuwait - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu participated in the Kuwait festivities on the occasion of the golden jubilee of independence, the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion, and the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah to power in the State of Kuwait. The Secretary General attended the military parade (loyalty parade) and the national operetta as part of the Kuwait festivities.

Ihsanoglu said that Kuwait as a land of good and peace managed to establish security and peace after the difficult

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period of occupation which spread fear across the country.

He stated that Kuwait is a leading and effective member of the OIC which has rendered outstanding services to the causes of the Muslim Ummah.

Ihsanoglu met with kings and heads of the participating states and discussed with them conditions in the region and bilateral relations between the OIC and those states.

The Kuwait festivities were attended by kings, heads of state, secretaries general of international organizations and officials from states which participated in the liberation of Kuwait.

End of impasse in Cote d’Ivoire after an escalation of violence Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – As thousands of women were protesting former President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to cede power on March 3, tanks showed up and soldiers opened fire killing six female demonstrators, shocking Ivoirians and the international community. A week later, forces loyal to Gbagbo killed over twenty five supporters of President Alassane Ouattara.

The United Nations says that nearly 400 people have been killed in the three-month-long dispute, though some estimate the number to be closer to 1000. The UN peacekeeping mission reports that Gbagbo’s security forces used mortars in shelling neighborhoods and hundreds of thousands of people consequently have fled.

The shocking escalation indicates the army is willing to use war-grade weapons on its citizens. Rival Alassane Ouattara’s camp has also stepped up its resistance, led by rebels from the north and soldiers defecting from Gbagbo’s army.

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his grave concern over the escalation of violent clashes between the rival groups, which cause the situation in Côte d’Ivoire to deteriorate and undermine the initiatives of the International Community to reach a peaceful settlement to the ongoing crisis. He appealed for calm and restraint in order to avoid the spread of the conflict. He requested former President Gbagbo to rein in his supporters and prevent the country from slipping into a renewed civil war. He urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and to extend their cooperation to the initiatives of the International Community led by the African Union aimed at finding a peaceful settlement to the political crisis in the country.

The Secretary General welcomed the resolution issued by the leaders of the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) at their latest summit on 24th March 2011, in Abuja. In its communiqué the 39th extraordinary summit of heads of states and government of ECOWAS, urged the United Nations Security Council to facilitate the immediate transfer of power to the acclaimed winner of the disputed November 28 presidential election, Alassane Ouattara. The communiqué further tasked the United Nations Security Council to strengthen the mandate of the United Nations operation in Cote d' Ivoire to protect life and property as well as adopt more stringent international targeted sanctions including force against Gbagbo and his associates.

Finally on April 11 Gbagbo was arrested by forces of President-elect Ouattara which attacked Gbagbo's residence in Abidjan and captured him.

An Ivorian woman weeps whilst holding a picture of murdered victims of post election violence. (epa)

Niger elects new president

Niamey, Niger – Veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou won Niger's presidential run-off election, according to final provisional results announced by the electoral commission on March 14.

The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has commended the people of Niger for their collective contributions to the peaceful and serene atmosphere that marked the presidential runoff election held on 12th March 2011.

An OIC Observer Mission to the presidential runoff election in Niger took part in the monitoring of the voting exercise on the invitation of the Nigerien government.

The poll was meant to return the country to civilian rule more than a year after soldiers ousted the elderly president Mamadou Tandj in February 2010.

Issoufou won nearly 58 percent of votes against rival candidate and ally of the ousted president, Seini Oumarou, who won 42 percent.

A new constitution approved by referendum in October gives the military until April 6 to hand the country back over to civilians and return to its barracks.

"Niger is returning to democracy. If we succeed in this election, we will have achieved a democracy that will give an example to Africa, the world and in particular to Nigeriens," said junta chief and acting head of state, General Salou Djibo.

OIC observers monitor elections in Uganda

Kampala, Uganda – A 5-member OIC delegation participated in monitoring the Presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda, which were held on 18th February 2011. The OIC Observers mission met with officials from the National Electoral Commission and visited, on the day of the elections, several polling stations in Kampala and its suburbs. The election was held peacefully across the country with some stray incidents.

The OIC observers noticed a large turnout from Ugandan voters and a good organization of the polls.

Incumbent Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of presidential elections, extending his 25 years in power. He took 68% of the vote, the Electoral Commission announced, with his challenger Kizza Besigye taking 26%.

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Assassinations of Pakistani officials condemned

Islamabad, Pakistan – The governor of Pakistan’s wealthiest and most populous province was shot dead in Islamabad on January 4 by one of his own guards. The attacker told interrogators that he was angry about the politician’s stance against the country’s blasphemy law.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has condemned the assassination of Salman Taseer,

Governor of the Punjab province.

Offering condolences to the bereaved family as well as the government and people of Pakistan, the Secretary General termed this act as totally inadmissible and inconsistent with the spirit and teachings of Islam. He reiterated the principled position of the OIC against intolerance, incitement to hatred and violence in the name of religion.

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on February 14 charged Taseer’s assassin with murder.

Ihsanoglu has also condemned the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Minister for religious Minorities, on 2nd of March 2011 in Islamabad. He further emphasized that those who are behind the heinous attack should be identified and brought to justice.

OIC welcomes opening of the Afghan Parliament

Kabul, Afghanistan - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the opening of the Afghan Parliament on 26 January 2011. While commending once again the Afghan Government, civil society, and all who participated in the electoral process, the Secretary General expressed

the hope that the new development would further help consolidate democracy, peace, stability and enhancement of economic welfare in Afghanistan. He welcomed the statement of President Karzai during the inaugural session of the Parliament.

OIC expresses solidarity with the Kashmiri People

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu received in his office on 9 February 2011 H.E. Zulqarnain Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K).

The Secretary General reaffirmed the OIC’s principled position of unstinted solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir on their legitimate right to self-determination and pointed out that the OIC will continue to support all endeavors that make use of peaceful means towards working out a negotiated and durable solution to the long-lasting conflict.

For his part, the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir expressed his gratitude to the OIC Secretary General for the unwavering support the OIC has expressed in the successive resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir adopted by

both Summit and Ministerial meetings.

He also lauded the support of the OIC in different international fora.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Abdullah Alim, Assistant Secretary General and Special Representative of the OIC Secretary General to Jammu and Kashmir, participated in the annual ceremony organized by the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah on 5th February 2011, in commemoration of the Day of Solidarity with the Kashmiri people, with the attendance of the Consul General of Pakistan in Jeddah Abdul Salik Khan and representatives of the Pakistan and Kashmiri community along with a number of Saudi officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps. In his statement Amb. Alim underlined the OIC’s steadfast and unequivocal position that the use of violence cannot lead to a permanent solution to the Kashmir conflict and

that the real solution resides in dialogue and peaceful negotiations between the concerned parties, including the Kashmiri people. Alim paid tribute to Pakistan for its commitment to the peaceful process and expressed the hope that the Indian Government would manifest its readiness to pursue the same path for the benefit of achieving a final and lasting solution to this long-standing conflict. Amb. Alim announced that he intends to undertake a visit to the province of Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible, to express to the Kashmiri people directly the OIC’s support and solidarity, and to gain first-hand knowledge of the latest developments in the province.

Amb. Alim reiterated also the OIC’s firm belief that a permanent solution to the conflict around this province would provide a boost for regional and international peace and security.

19th Anniversary of Khogali genocide observed Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - On the occasion of the nineteenth anniversary of the genocide against civilians in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh region, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has renewed his strong condemnation of this criminal act.

The Secretary General reiterated the stance of the OIC 24

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towards the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh, which is the call for immediate withdrawal of the Armenian forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories and for negotiations in the light of resolutions of the OIC, the United Nations Security Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Council of Europe-OIC cooperation Mevlut Cavusoglu Chair of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

There is nothing more natural than the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states, and the Council of Europe, the oldest and largest European organisation, uniting 47 countries of the European continent –- practically all but Belarus, to cooperate.

Not only because some of our member countries are the same. And not only because we are close neighbours and share geographical, cultural, spiritual and historic references.

It is, above all, that we are all concerned by the challenges of our modern world and we need to face them together on the basis of shared values and principles. Under the OIC Charter, Member States committed themselves to uphold and promote good governance, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. On the other hand, the Council of Europe is built on three pillars which are democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

They are at the core of the European Convention on Human Rights. They are equally the basis of an impressive corpus of legal instruments, standards, monitoring mechanisms, good practices and means of international cooperation which have been put in place in order to allow European countries to face challenges together, in conversation and dialogue, rather than in conflict.

Despite difficulties, setbacks and some tragic and deplorable moments in the history of Europe after the Second World War, the 61 years of existence of the Council of Europe have proven that long-lasting peace and stability can only be guaranteed by these principles. The recent revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt have also given a marvellous illustration of the power and the potential for change of the principles that defend fundamental human rights.

This is why the Parliamentary Assembly is actively involved in bringing non-member states of the Council of Europe and, in particular, our closest neighbours, closer to our standards through a newly created status of partner for democracy. We believe that we can jointly promote democracy, the rule of law and human rights beyond our current geographic borders and, in particular, in the southern Mediterranean region through dialogue and cooperation.

Working together is an imperative of our time. We are at a particular moment in history when the world is shaken by economic crisis, erosion of the social protection

mechanisms, confrontation between communities and nations, international terrorism and organised crime, climate change, to name but a few. Even without going on a global scale, we can see in ordinary, everyday life, how all forms of intolerance towards those considered “different” are on the rise again – be it anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism and xenophobia in general. Ethnic, religious or cultural differences between people are being artificially exacerbated and manipulated in the political discourse, to divert attention from the real problems and real solutions.

The Parliamentary Assembly which I have the honour to chair has recently devoted great attention to Islamophobia, as well as to the issue of extremism. For us, in combating Islamophobia, as well as any other form of intolerance based on religious principle, the key to success lies in the active and constructive cooperation within societies. Governments have to address the root causes which create a fertile ground for extremism, such as poverty, discrimination and social exclusion. They have to encourage immigrants and citizens of immigrant descent to participate in public life. A huge work remains to be done in eliminating stereotypes, from schoolbooks, the media and public discourse.

On the other hand, Muslims and Muslim communities should be the first ones to condemn and combat any form of political extremism under the cover of Islam. As the Parliamentary Assembly pointed out in its recently adopted Recommendation 1957 (2011) on “Violence against Christians in the Middle East”, “the loss of Christian communities in the Middle East would also endanger Islam as it would signal the victory of fundamentalism.”

Inter-cultural dialogue and its inter-religious dimension are a major area in which OIC and the Council of Europe have been cooperating. During the April 2011 part-session, the Parliamentary Assembly will hold a debate on this issue.

We have invited religious personalities to participate in this debate in order to have a comprehensive exchange of views.

I am confident that this debate will offer us an opportunity to have a fresh look at the problems we are facing and come up with concrete initiatives which will help make our societies more tolerant, respectful of differences and, ultimately, more democratic.

As the Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed in his address before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2005: “With all these elements of rapprochement, the Islamic world and the West are destined to co-exist and to prosper together. That is a strong basis on which we can build a better future. For that, we need an open and critical dialogue to take place between us that should include intellectuals and representatives of civil society. Together, we need to address the root causes of the misunderstandings and conflicts, to assess them and then come up with a realistic approach that might lead to a convergence of views, and thus try to build an historic reconciliation pact. This would be an immense achievement from which all humanity would stand to benefit.”

I cannot but fully subscribe to these words and we should redouble our efforts in order to give them specific substance.

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World Affairs

Expert Group drafts the rules for OIC Observer Status

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - An Expert Group meeting was held at OIC Headquarters on 18 January 2011 agreed on a draft of the rules for obtaining observer status at the OIC, which will be presented to the upcoming Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) for adoption.

In his address to the meeting, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), called for an early adoption of draft rules for OIC Observer Status. He noted that the Group had started its study of the draft rules five years ago, that this was its fourth meeting on the matter, and that the past three meetings had indeed undertaken exhaustive reviews of the said rules, which aim at defining the terms and conditions for access to OIC observer status.

Ihsanoglu affirmed that many states have been waiting their turn to be granted observer status. He laid emphasis on the importance of approving this issue of observer status for

states and international organizations.

The states that have requested OIC observer status are as follows: Republic of South Africa (since 2002), Republic of Sri Lanka (since 2008), Republic of the Philippines (since 2008), Republic of Serbia (since 2008) Republic of Nepal (2008), and Democratic Republic of Congo (since 2008).

States standing in line for full membership are as follows: The Republic of Mauritius (since 2002) and the Republic of Central Africa (since 2002).

The Secretary General drew the Expert Group’s attention to the fact that the OIC’s key guiding instrument is the new Charter, which affords the Organization a system agreed by the leaders of the Islamic Ummah as to the granting of observer status. The Secretary General recalled also the Charter’s stipulation that consensus is the only path through which observer status can be granted and that this, in itself, provides ample guarantees in this respect.

Former German Chancellor Dr. Gerhard Schröder visits the OIC

Kyrgyz President and Secretary General discuss advancing bilateral relations

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, has received in his office on 19 January H.E. Dr. Gerhard Schröder, Former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and his accompanying delegation.

During the audience Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu briefed Dr. Schröder about the current activities of the Organization in political, economic, cultural and other areas. Following the briefing, two sides had useful and extensive exchange of views on international and regional issues of common interest.

In particular, they touched upon the rising phenomenon of Islamophobia in Europe, the interfaith dialogue, situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, OIC-Germany relations as well as latest developments in certain OIC countries.

It was also underscored that within the framework of joint efforts of the two sides, this visit would yield positive results and move OIC-Germany relations forward. At the end of the audience, Dr. Schröder has invited Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to visit Berlin to further discuss the issues of mutual interest.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu paid an official visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on 25 March 2011 and met with Kyrgyz high authorities.

During the Secretary General’s meeting with the Kyrgyz President, both sides discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest including ways of advancing bilateral relations, the OIC Plan of Action for Central Asia, the latest developments in Kyrgyzstan specifically after last year’s unrest in the country, OIC’s programs to assist Kyrgyzstan and the situation in Afghanistan.

In separate meetings with the speaker of Kyrgyz Parliament and the Foreign Minister, OIC-Kyrgyz relations in addition to other regional and international issues were reviewed. During the visit, the Secretary General also interacted with the academic community in Bishkek.

He was also conferred upon an Honorary Doctorate degree by Bishkek Humanities University.

President of Bashkortostan commends growing cooperation between the Russian Federation and OIC Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - H. E. Mr. Rustem Khamitov, the President of the Republic of Bashkortostan of the Russian Federation, paid a courtesy call to Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), on 20 March 2011. Both leaders cited the remarkable progress achieved in bilateral relations between OIC and the Russian Federation since the latter obtained the observer status at the 26

Organization. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and confirmed their commitment to actively promote cooperation between the OIC and the Russian Federation in various domains such as technology, innovation, culture and trade. While confirming the desire of his region to develop a mutually rewarding partnership with OIC Member States in various domains, President Khamitov lauded the growing cooperation between OIC

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and the Russian Federation, including its autonomous regions, such as Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. He also commended OIC Secretary General’s efforts to facilitate the development of relations between Bashkortostan and OIC Member States in different areas.

On his part, Secretary General emphasized that OIC is keen to further strengthen relations with the Russian Federation and its autonomous regions in the various fields.

OIC to present a draft resolution on Islamophobia in the UN General Assembly in September

Geneva, Switzerland - The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has initiated moves to present a new draft resolution on the issue of Islamophobia at the General Assembly of the United Nations in a campaign which will continue until September. The move comes in the wake of the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 24 March 2011 on the elimination of discrimination and violence based on religion and belief. The new resolution is not a substitute for the previous resolution presented by the OIC on anti-defamation of religions, which was adopted by a clear majority during the last couple of years and continues to be valid.

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had invited the OIC to lead the efforts with both Washington and the European Union to draft the new resolution to ensure the foundations adopted by the previous resolution, while giving a wider range of freedom of expression.

Clinton valued what it called the "leading role" of the OIC and its Member States, which enabled everyone to have access to the decision, expressing confidence that the efforts made over the last few days confirm the readiness of all parties to move in a constructive discussion about the challenges, and to bridge gaps by presenting all the views to reach common ground.

Clinton stressed that the adoption of the resolution by the Human Rights Council represents a clear stand by the Council to abide by its content, at a time where violence and discrimination against religious minorities is escalating.

Meanwhile, the OIC is coordinating with the Office of Democratic Organizations and Human Rights in Europe and the European Council in order to counter the phenomenon of Islamophobia, with possible efforts to be made in the future to cooperate with the European Union in this context.

Guinean Minister of International Cooperation lauds closer cooperation between the OIC and Guinea

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Minister of International Cooperation, of the Republic of Guinea has expressed his country’s desire to deepen and consolidate existing relations between his country and the OIC in all sectors, particularly in the socio-economic domain.

The Guinean Minister was received in audience at the OIC General

Secretariat on 16 March 2011, on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, by both Ambassador Abdul Moiz Bokhari, Assistant Secretary General (Science and Technology), and Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary General (Economic Affairs).

While confirming the preoccupation of his country with socioeconomic rehabilitation in Guinea, with a view to providing the people

of Guinea with the dividend of the new democratic experiment in the country, the Minister expressed that the various programs underway within the OIC had enormous potentials for the promotion of external trade, employment generation, education, science and technology, as well as food security among OIC Member States, of which Guinea is a founding member.

OIC welcomes the re-election of the Bulgarian Grand Mufti

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu congratulated the Grand Mufti of Bulgaria His Eminence Mustafa Alish Hadji on successful conduct of the Extraordinary Muslim National Conference held on 12 February 2011 in Sofia as well as on his re-election as the Grand Mufti with the votes of the majority of over a thousand delegates.

In his message to the Conference, the Secretary General reiterated the OIC’s commitment to offer its assistance and contribute to the settlement of the problems encountered by the Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC countries in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries to which they belong in close cooperation with their governments.

Australian Foreign Minister Rudd meets with the OIC Secretary General

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, has received in his office on 7 March 2011 the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, and his accompanying delegation.

Both sides had useful and extensive exchange of views on the international and regional issues of common interest.

In particular, they discussed the OICAustralia relations, Middle East Peace Process, latest developments in Libya, rising phenomenon of Islamophobia and interfaith dialogue.

At the end of the audience, H. E. Mr. Kevin Rudd has invited Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to visit Australia at a mutually convenient time to further discuss the issues of common interest.

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World Affairs

Afghan-led national reconciliation stressed at

Soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) attend a graduation ceremony in Herat, Afghanistan, on 9 March 2011. (epa)

by Maha Akeel Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The participants of the International Contact Group meeting on Afghanistan held at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah on 3 March 2011 unanimously agreed on the need for Afghans themselves to lead the process of political reconciliation.

About 120 participants representing fifty countries and international organizations including the United Nations and the European Union took part in the meeting. They welcomed the growing role of the OIC in Afghanistan, referring to the formulation of a lucid cooperation between the international community and the Muslim world about a foreseeable peaceful solution in Afghanistan.

The Chairman of the International Contact Group, Michael Steiner said at the press conference held immediately after the concluding of the meeting that the Group seeks to develop a consensual international strategy on Afghanistan which aims to realize balance between military action and political efforts, on the grounds that a military solution in Afghanistan is not enough, pointing to the need to focus on administrative and civilian aspects.

Steiner stressed that the Contact Group agreed that the Afghan national forces are to lead the efforts of the international community about the political reconciliation.

The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu emphasized that the OIC is ready to work with all concerned parties in Afghanistan to contribute to the process of national reconciliation in the country. He mentioned that the OIC has already begun cooperating with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to help 28

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Afghanistan in various areas, including assistance to the High Peace Council in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rassoul said that 2011 will be a decisive year but expressed confidence that things will progress faster.

On the other hand, Michael Steiner stressed that the issue of dialogue with the Taliban is left for the Afghan High Peace Council for reconciliation but emphasized that this does not negate the existence of red lines.

Marc Grossman, the US Special Envoy to Afghanistan, said that there are three requirements for those wishing to have dialogue and join the Afghan government: end of violence, cut ties with Al-Qaeda, and live under Afghan constitution.

Steiner said that the meeting discussed the transitional period for the transfer of powers to the security authorities of Afghanistan, which is expected to begin by an announcement from the Afghan President Hamid Karzai on 21 March 2011.

Steiner also welcomed the engagement of fifteen OIC Member States in the International Contact Group, believing that this would be a boost to the Group's work, especially with the development efforts made by the OIC in Afghanistan.

A point also emphasized by Grossman who said that the Group should increase its focus on the diplomatic surge and that it is fitting to hold the ICG meeting in Jeddah at the OIC to convey the message that it is a global effort against extremism and not a clash of civilizations.

On the other hand, informed sources said that during the meeting Grossman noted that holding the International Contact Group at the OIC headquarters could be considered

the International Contact Group on Afghanistan At the ICG meeting in OIC (from R-L): Steiner, Ihsanoglu, Rabbani and Rasul

as a result of the speech of President Barack Obama in Cairo, pointing out that his predecessor, the late Richard Holbrooke had said earlier that the decision to convene the meeting in the OIC headquarters is a breakthrough in itself. In addition, Grossman said US commitment to Afghanistan would not end with the transition or reconciliation; instead there will be a strategic partnership for the future.

The sources said that Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, President of the High Peace Council of National Reconciliation of Afghanistan had confirmed at the meeting that the Council has taken steps at the national level to gain support for the process of reconciliation from the different groups in Afghanistan, especially since more than 28 provinces in Afghanistan had established local Peace Councils to support the settlement process and that many opposition groups had turned in favor of political efforts. The sources also added that Rabbani called for the establishment of an internal Contact Group in Kabul to follow-up diplomatic efforts.

Speaking to the OIC Journal, Rabbani said that gaining the confidence of the Afghan people is improving dayby-day through practical steps. He said that six months ago there were many problems in most of the provinces even in the north and the situation was very bad, but the Council managed to act and get in contact, and so things has improved and thousands of the Taliban have joined them.

However, he pointed out that the security issue remains very difficult. Meanwhile, he called on the foreign forces to be very careful in their targets because killing civilians is affecting the reconciliation efforts.

OIC committed to national reconciliation:

In his address at the opening session of the ICG meeting in Jeddah, Ihsanoglu said the OIC has a strong commitment to national reconciliation in Afghanistan. "For restoring durable peace in Afghanistan, there is a need to look beyond the military option, which is not the way out, and there is a need for an Afghan-led reconciliation process towards a comprehensive solution."

He noted that the OIC is ready to maintain its role in helping the country restore peace, security and development, adding that "with the presence of an OIC Permanent Representative

in Kabul, the OIC will hopefully be more deeply engaged and more closely involved with the people and Government of Afghanistan and in cooperation with other regional and international stakeholders in Afghanistan."

The Secretary General emphasized on the need to develop regional cooperation on issues such as fighting narcotics, cross-border crimes, terrorism, tackling the problem of refugees, development of infrastructure and trade, which would benefit regional security and development. For instance, he stated, the OIC Assistance Fund for Afghanistan has so far undertaken important steps in providing humanitarian assistance particularly in health and education sectors, and the OIC has also provided assistance to Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, securing drinking water for some Afghan villages and contributing to international efforts in the field of reconstruction. He underlined that the countries in the region have clearly showed their political will to bring peace, security and lasting stability to Afghanistan and the region through a collective strategy and joint action.

Ihsanoglu announced that the OIC intends to co-organize a conference of Muslim Ulemas and scholars to shed light on the challenges to peace and security in Afghanistan emanating from unfounded interpretations of religious views and values. He also expressed his hope that the international community and the OIC Member States would increase their share in socio-economic assistance to Afghanistan, particularly as the process of national reconciliation is gaining greater momentum.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Zalmay Rasul who led his country's delegation, told the OIC Journal that the role of the regional countries and the OIC is extremely important because they do not want the fight against extremism and terrorism to be a fight of non-Muslims against Muslims.

“What the terrorists are doing is in the name of our religion and it is our duty first to protect the name of our religion,” he said. “Terrorism is like a disease, a virus, if you don’t contain it, it will spread. That recognition is very important,” he added. Therefore, “to have a meeting on Afghanistan, its future and security held in Jeddah at the OIC, is one of the most important steps towards peace in Afghanistan and the region.”

On the issue of NATO forces killing civilians, Rasul said that it is very counterproductive, and civilian casualty must be reduced and eliminated, not only by NATO but also by the other side.

As for the issue of corruption, he said that Afghanistan has been in war for thirty years and there was no constitution, no government and no law, but the government now is very committed to combating corruption. It has established a commission and put a law in place, but to implement the law it needs a law enforcement system, which it still does not have; they are just beginning to have a judicial system, a police force and other institutions. “We need capacity building, especially in the judicial system and the police force. Slowly we are putting these institutions in place.”

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World Affairs The problem of drug trafficking is a very serious challenge said Rasul to the OIC Journal, but the government is making progress in fighting it. However, again, it needs institutions, police force and law enforcement. He claims that now 24 provinces are free of drugs compared to only two in 2002. Also, poppy production is reduced in the areas where it is usually grown. He said that there is direct correlation between security and poppy production where the mafia is profiting from the regions lacking security.

However, there is no correlation between poverty and drug production; the poorest areas in Afghanistan are free of drugs whereas the areas rich in water and fertile land have high poppy production. There is also direct correlation between level of education and drug abuse, said Rasul. Knowing all these factors is helping the government make progress in combating narcotics.

Moving forward with the solution:

The ICG Chair as well as Germany’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Michael Steiner also spoke to the OIC Journal. He was impressed by the OIC’s proposal for having a meeting in Kabul on the cultural question because that is an aspect mostly forgotten. He also commended its role in mobilizing the capacities of the region and in talking to the Afghans through its special representative, which he considered an added value to the OIC. On the issue of dialogue and reconciliation, Steiner said that what is necessary is to find an inclusive solution for governance which has to be Afghan-led, but all the groups have to cut links to international terrorism, stop the fighting and accept the constitution as a framework. The solution also has to be supported by the neighboring countries, he said, adding that the international community needs to have continued engagement in Afghanistan after the combat troops leave in 2014.

UN Secretary General’s Special representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Staffan de Mistura also participated in this important round of the International Contact Group (ICG). He told the OIC Journal that the meeting was very positive and appreciated OIC’s hosting of it. He emphasized that what is beyond this meeting is the political surge, which means no military solution and accelerating the initiatives on the political side. As for fears that with the military withdrawal there could be a return of chaos and violence, he agreed and stressed the need to have military activity along with political diplomatic discussion. He said security would take place when political dialogue begins, which normally brings a calm down.

Karen Pierce, UK head of delegation, commended the strong expressions of support and engagement from the OIC and the countries on the regional side, particularly Pakistan and Turkey. She said to the OIC Journal that what is needed now is boosting and injecting momentum into the peace process by calling on the Taliban to reconcile with the government and support the High Peace Council in its work.

Insurgencies remain a big challenge and Pierce said that everybody recognizes the need to have political incentives while continuing military pressure. Civilian casualties 30

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caused by NATO attacks are always deeply regretted, but she said that by far the greatest number of civilian casualties is caused by the insurgencies that deliberately target civilians.

She pointed out that since the surge happened the number of feelers from Taliban showing interest in reconciliation has increased, which suggests they are looking for a way forward. “Now we need the political incentives to capitalize on that, which is why we have the High Peace Council and the ICG supports it,” she said.

Pierce stressed on the importance of economic and social development. A critical part of economic reform is having the rule of law to protect investments. The international community can help by working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to encourage the Afghan government put the right conditions and reforms in place, provide mentoring and funding for Afghan officials, skills training, and perhaps organize a public debate in Afghanistan so that people can see a future where jobs can be created, companies can prosper and factories can be built.

Civilian deaths hit new high

Kabul, Afghanistan – Targeted killings of civilians in Afghanistan doubled last year, according to the United Nations. In an annual report, the UN said 2010 marked the most lethal year for noncombatants in the nearly decade-old war, with a 15 percent increase in the number of civilians killed to 2777 – continuing a steady rise over the past four years. Insurgents were responsible for 75 percent of those deaths.

Abductions rose 83 percent, and violence continued to spread from the south to the north, east and west, the report said. Civilian deaths in the north, in particular, rose 76 percent. But the most alarming trend, it said, was a 105 percent increase in the targeted killing of government officials, aid workers and civilians perceived to be supportive of the Afghan government or NATO-led foreign forces.

Of 462 assassinations in 2010, half occurred in Taliban strongholds in the south, where the US says it has made most gains from a 30,000-strong troop surge aimed at turning the tide of the war. The report noted a 26 percent decline in the number of civilian deaths caused by coalition and Afghan forces. Yet killing of civilians in NATO operations has reemerged as a major source of friction between Kabul and its Western backers.

Japan Devastated Hit by a powerful magnitude-9.0 quake followed by a tsunami The disaster raises concern over nuclear power safety

Tokyo, Japan (agencies) – A magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 overturned ships, mangled cars and destroyed houses as they crushed through the disasterhit streets of Japanese coastal towns that were turned into black rivers.

A huge surge of muddy seawater filled with rubble and debris – some of it on fire and belching with smoke – raced through neighborhoods and across rice fields. The world looked on in shocked disbelief at the scale of the horror kept unfolding on the television screens. Completing the apocalyptic scenes, elsewhere in Japan scores of fires broke out as gas mains were severed.

As aftershocks kept rocking Japan, the army sent thousands of troops and hundreds of ships and planes to help those in need. Search and rescue teams mobilized under a UN disaster response network from around the world rallied to help Japan. The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu offered his heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Japan. He said that the Muslim World is shocked and saddened and would stand by the devastated country and its brotherly people during their difficult times.

The quake brought Tokyo to a standstill, paralyzing trains and stranding hordes of commuters. The quake left millions of homes across Japan without electricity, shut down the mobile phone network and severely disrupted landline telephone service. The tsunami waves reached neighboring countries in the Pacific and all the way to California and Mexico.

The following day the Japanese government announced that radiation leaked from one of its nuclear plants, but it calmed fears that a huge explosion had not ruptured the container surrounding the reactor. An evacuation order of

tens of thousands of residents was expanded to 20km around the Fukushima plan, where authorities scrambled to control rising temperatures and pressure inside several reactors.

However, Japan continued to struggle to avert a nuclear disaster and care for millions of people without power or water and an estimated death toll of more than 20,000 people. Prime Minister Naoto Kan described the crisis as Japan’s worst since 1945, as officials confirmed that three nuclear reactors were at risk of overheating, raising fears of an uncontrolled radiation leak.

The nuclear crisis intensified as authorities raced to combat the threat of multiple reactor meltdowns and more than 170,000 people evacuated the quake- and tsunamisavaged northeastern coast where fears spread over possible radioactive contamination.

An explosion and a fire on March 15 dramatically escalated the crisis. The situation continued to be dangerous until the printing of this OIC Journal issue.

The nuclear crisis prompted some European countries to rethink their nuclear energy policy. Germany announced the temporary shutdown of its seven oldest nuclear reactors while it conducts a safety probe of all its nuclear reactors.

However, France, the world’s most nuclear-dependent nation, acknowledged that lessons should be drawn from the crisis in Japan and suggested opening a national debate on how it generates its power.

A Japanese woman being checked for radiation exposure. (epa)

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World Affairs

First high-level Chinese delegation to the OIC discusses communication mechanism for political consultation

S.G. Ihsanoglu, V.M. Jun and A.S.G. Alim at the press conference after the meeting.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The first high-level Chinese delegation to visit the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) agreed to promote relations with the Islamic world and discussed communication mechanism for political consultation between the two sides.

The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu received at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah on 18 December 2010, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Zhai Jun, who headed the delegation.

The visit of the Chinese delegation comes following a previous visit paid by the Secretary General to China last June, which was described by observers as ‘historical’ as it was the first visit of an OIC Secretary General to China since the OIC’s establishment forty years ago and given that most of OIC’s 57 Member States have excellent relations with the People’s Republic of China.

The visit intended to vitalize the relations of the OIC, whose Member States have a total population of over 1.5

billion people, with China, which has a population of 1.3 billion people; together accounting for about half the world population. In addition, the two parties’ joint relations are based on an interrelated history between the two civilizations and on uninterrupted cooperation throughout history.

It was agreed during the visit to promote relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic world, represented by the OIC. The two parties welcomed the establishment of a communication mechanism for political consultation on the problems facing them, hampering cooperation and impeding mutual understanding.

The visit was an opportunity to obtain further information on the situation of Muslims in China. The Secretary General pointed to his previous visit to the regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and applauded the development programs aimed at raising the standard of living of the Muslim population. The two parties agreed that many actions are still to be taken in different fields.

On another vein, the two parties discussed important political issues, mainly the issue of the Middle East and the Palestinian cause, which represents the central issue in the Middle East, in addition to the situation in Afghanistan, the Sudan and Cote d’Ivoire.

The two parties also discussed economic cooperation between Islamic countries in Central Asia and China, as well as some economic projects in Africa.

The meeting further reviewed the steps made in preparation for the organization of the academic symposium on the Islamic and Chinese civilizations and their historical ties, and an agreement was reached to hold the symposium in Istanbul and to organize successive editions addressing other dimensions of the Islamic-Chinese relations.

Thai delegation to OIC discusses Muslims in Southern Thailand

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - A delegation from the Royal Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Ambassador Sorapong, Special Advisor to the Thai Foreign Minister, met with members of the OIC Department of Minorities and Communities on 16 February 2011 at OIC Headquarters in Jeddah to discuss the situation of Muslims in Southern Thailand and the plans of the Thai Government to implement the reforms

it previously promised.

They also discussed the possibility of holding a workshop that would bring together experts and academics both Thai and international as well as OIC representatives, policymakers, local commanders, religious leaders, human rights advocates and civil society organizations. The purpose of the workshop would be to obtain an accurate picture of what is happening

on the ground in Southern Thailand and come up with a “common strategy” to solve the long standing conflict in the South through enabling the population to have greater say in managing their own affairs, have control over their natural resources, and be able to assert their cultural and religious characteristics, which would create sustainable peace and security in the region.

OIC discusses improving the conditions of Muslim minority in Vietnam

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs of the OIC, Ambassador Abdullah Alim, met on 6 March 2011 with the Director of the International Cooperation Division of the State Committee for Religions in Vietnam during the visit of the Vietnamese delegation to the OIC headquarters in Jeddah.

The Vietnamese delegation discussed with Ambassador 32

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Alim ways and means of strengthening bilateral relations between the OIC and Vietnam in general and issues of concern to Muslims who live in Vietnam, in particular, where the percentage of Vietnamese Muslims is about 2.5% of the total population of 82 million. The two sides agreed to exchange information and visits in order to improve the conditions of Muslim minority in Vietnam.

The Government of the Philippines agrees to hold a referendum in the south of the country to define the Autonomous Region

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Fourth session of the Tripartite Meeting between the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), held under the auspices of the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, concluded its works on 23 February 2011 with a joint communiqué that addressed key issues.

The delegation of the Government of the Philippines was led by the Secretary of State and Advisor to the President of the Philippines on the Peace Process in Southern Philippines Mrs. Terisita Q. Deles, whereas the MNLF delegation was led by Professor Nur Misuari. The Meeting was chaired

by Ambassador Rezlan Genie, Head of the Indonesian Delegation and Chairman of the OIC Committee for Peace in Southern Philippines. Ambassador Sayed Kassim Al Masri, the Secretary General’s Representative for peace in Southern Philippines, also attended the meeting.

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said in an opening statement that peace to become a reality for the local community it needs to be accompanied by economic and infrastructural development, through reconstruction, redress of injustices, appropriate resettlement of the displaced and a fair and equitable distribution of the resources of Southern Philippines. He stressed that the achievement of agreement should be accompanied by a comprehensive developmental process so that the community in Southern Philippines may have tangible evidence of the positive changes brought about by the achieved peace, which will consolidate and further entrench peace itself.

Ihsanoglu noted that the Peace Agreement in Southern Philippines has opened up new horizons filled with hopes and great expectations and the OIC, which has sponsored the Agreement and held a number of meetings in Jeddah, Istanbul and Manila, and have put in great efforts to break the stalemate on the full implementation of the Peace Agreement emphasizing that the OIC will do its level best to bring closer together the views of the two parties. He urged them to work out ways to overcome the difficulties and

obstacles that stood in the way of the full implementation of the Peace process.

Ihsanoglu invited both parties to reach common grounds and engage into an in-depth, fully transparent and sincere discussion of the issue of the delineation of the autonomous region which is meant to be defined through a transparent and integral referendum, in addition to the transition arrangements including the formation of a transitional government and agreement on the sharing of the natural resources and mineral wealth.

At the end of the deliberations, a Joint Communiqué was issued on the key issues discussed, namely the holding of the referendum, the sharing of natural wealth, and the administrative borders of the Autonomous Region of Mindanao in Southern Philippines. It was agreed to form a high commission with broad terms of reference to address the issue of wealth-sharing and re-define the term of strategic minerals and percentages of their revenue distribution between the central government and the government of the province. A timetable was fixed for the committee to complete its work and to submit its report prior to the 38th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan at the end of June.

The Joint Communiqué stipulated that the Committee shall finalize its work before 30 May 2011. The Government of the Philippines agreed in principle to the convening of a referendum to canvass views from the population about joining the Autonomous Region with a view to defining the area and borders of the autonomous province.

Regarding the other issues agreed upon which were resolved through technical committees, it was agreed to amend the republican law on autonomy to encompass the agreements reached between the two parties.

The Final Communiqué commended the efforts exerted by the Secretary General to bring about security, peace and stability in Southern Philippines. It expressed thanks to the two parties for the hard work, patience and perspicacity they demonstrated which enabled them to reach this agreement, and urged them to intensify their efforts to resolve all pending issues.

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Humanitarian Affairs International Humanitarian Law workshop draws comparison to Sharia

Amb. Bakhiet at the opening of the workshop.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - In coordination with the International Red Cross Organization and a number of OIC partners in humanitarian action, the Organization of the Islamic Conference concluded on 19 January 2011, a threeday seminar which was held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, on the subject of International Humanitarian Law and how it compares to Islamic Sharia.

The Seminar reviewed the subject of international law, its genesis, its historical development and its positive impact on human rights action, particularly in times of war and crises.

During the seminar, Dr. Mohamed Zamali, Senior advisor for Islamic World Affairs at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and keynote speaker, outlined the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in disseminating international humanitarian law. The second part of the seminar was devoted to a comparative study between Islamic Sharia and International Humanitarian Law, given that Islam has indeed laid rules for international humanitarian law many centuries before the rise of learning and knowledge in 19th century Europe.

There was also a presentation by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Amb. Atta AlMannan Bakhiet on the activities of the OIC Humanitarian Affairs Department (ICHAD). The final sessions included an exchange of views on humanitarian operational context of common interests with a discussion of real cases such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Palestine and Yemen, as well as discussion on areas of common interest and future interaction between OIC/ICHAD and ICRC. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference received at the end of the seminar, the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which consisted of Dr. Zamali and the regional director of ICRC as well as its director of operations.

The Secretary General expressed appreciation for their attendance and participation in the seminar whose studies will have practical results in the future such as to consolidate fruitful cooperation between the two organizations in the humanitarian area.

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He also expressed his heartfelt thanks to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Action (UTCHA) for the technical assistance and on-site support it has extended to ICHAD in organizing the OIC three humanitarian conferences.

Lastly, in the area of developing cooperative relations and coordination with international humanitarian organizations, the Secretary General said that the OIC humanitarian affairs department has managed, despite its budding experience, to establish a close connection with the other international humanitarian organizations.

Speaking to the OIC Journal after the meeting with the Secretary General, Dr. Zamali said that the workshop came within the framework of cooperation, coordination and consultation between the Geneva-based ICRC and OIC, which resulted in adopting a proposal for developing the cooperation process.

The two sides agreed to hold an annual meeting alternately in Jeddah and Geneva and on holding joint seminars, perhaps based on the Africa, Asia and Arab regional groupings of the OIC, to discuss the humanitarian affairs in these regions.

The seminars would be scientific and practical focusing on International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian work and options in the humanitarian activities as well as on exchanging expertise and capacity building, especially considering that ICRC has 150 years of accumulated experience from which ICHAD can benefit.

Regarding some of the misconceptions in the West about Sharia and its compatibility with international laws, Dr. Zamali emphasized that there is no conflict between the two because in Sharia the best interest of human beings and human values is the basis for it. In the case of disasters whether manmade such as wars or natural, Islamic Sharia has laid down rules and procedures for conduct and treatment, which has to be followed, and the essence of the modern International Law agrees with Islamic Sharia.

Another issue that has been raised by western media is the sometimes slow and inadequate response of the Muslim world to disasters even those happening in it. On that matter, Dr. Zamali said that perhaps the reason is the conditions of societies in the Muslim world itself do not lend it to be more organized and responsive. “Our societies suffer from many problems and our states are relatively new as a concept of state.

The humanitarian work in the Muslim states need be better coordinated and developed, but the humanitarian instinct and love for doing good is there in our societies and part of our ancient traditions, it is just a matter of progress.” He said that it was a combination of legislations, implementation and coordination. “The overall humanitarian work needs a comprehensive culture, a targeted legislative foundation and practical implementation because sometimes you have the legislations but lack implementation mechanism.”

Inauguration of housing units for flood victims in Pakistan

Ihsanoglu and Prime Minister Gilani designate Haq as OIC Humanitarian Ambassador.

Islamabad, Pakistan – The OIC organized a special ceremony in Islamabad attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the OIC Secretary General to inaugurate the construction of 100 housing units in D

G Khan Village in the Punjab province being the first phase of a project totaling 600 housing units funded by the OIC in six provinces in the country. The event was held on the sidelines of the 14th General Assembly meeting of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), which was held from 11 to 13 January 2011 in Islamabad.

The housing units were sponsored using funds contributed by the staff of the OIC General Secretariat and OIC organs in addition to assistance from Cameroon and Guyana. This project comes in support of the Secretary General's efforts to rally assistance from the Member States and civil

society institutions to assist the people of Pakistan affected by the devastating floods. Assistance and pledges solicited to this effect amounted to US$ 1 billion, out of which a total of US$ 680 million has been committed by some OIC Member States.

During the event, the Secretary General honored the renowned Pakistani artist Abrar Ul Haq by designating him the first OIC Humanitarian Ambassador in recognition of his philanthropic and social work in his country and abroad to support needy people. This designation will enable him to promote the OIC humanitarian cause in his country and in other OIC Member States.

OIC, Muslim Aid sign MoU for the implementation of humanitarian and development programs

Jeddah,Saudi Arabia - The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) signed on February 21, 2011 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK-based Muslim Aid to enhance cooperation in the fields of humanitarian assistance and sustainable development. The MoU was signed by the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the Chairman of Muslim Aid Sir Iqbal Sacranie. The memorandum aims to achieve the common goal of alleviating the suffering of peoples in the Muslim world during natural disasters and emergency situations.

The two parties agreed to implement long-term sustainable

Ihsanoglu, Sacranie after signing MoU

development programs with a view to accelerating economic growth and social progress based on the principle of partnership and equality between people. They also agreed to exchange information on issues of mutual concern in terms of developments and progress in activities and programs,

and the mutual benefit from available expertise in areas of relevant relief and humanitarian assistance.

The two sides pledged to cooperate in providing humanitarian assistance and advisory services to reduce damage caused by disasters and to respond to requests from OIC Member States after taking into consideration the available resources and adopted programs.

Ihsanoglu said that, starting from the February, the British Muslim Aid Organization will start cooperating with the OIC Department of Humanitarian Affairs in implementing the OIC humanitarian assistance program to help the Somali people.

Preparations for Conference of Darfur Development Bank underway

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Follow-up Committee on the Establishment of Darfur Development Bank has decided to adopt the feasibility study on the establishment of the Bank presented by Qatar National Bank. The Committee’s meeting was held on 19 March 2011 at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah, to review three preliminary offers for the feasibility studies carried out by three specialized entities for the purpose. The committee decided to communicate with the Government of Qatar to approve the offer made by the Qatar National Bank and sign agreement with the Bank to complete the study.

Meanwhile the Committee requested the Republic of the Sudan and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to

commence necessary preparations for holding a conference of the Darfur Development Bank’s founders in Khartoum, to officially announce the Bank’s take off and stakeholders.

The Bank is expected to start work at the end of the first half of this year.

The Darfur Development Bank is an initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, announced during the international donors’ conference on the development and reconstruction of Darfur, sponsored by the OIC in Cairo in March 2010. The State of Qatar has made a $ 200 million as a contribution to the capital of the bank which is supposed to achieve the amount of two billion dollars.

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Media OIC chief emphasizes need for strong Islamic media

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia- The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) emphasized the need for a strong media to confront the smear campaign against Islam and Muslims.

“There is big negligence from the part of Islamic media organizations in keeping with the fast developments in the media world,” he told the General Assembly of the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU), a specialized organ of OIC, during its meeting on 22 December 2010 at OIC Headquarters in Jeddah.

Ihsanoglu said the extraordinary OIC Summit, held in Makkah in 2005 at the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah

had called for strengthening OIC media agencies such as IBU and the International Islamic News Agency (IINA).

Saudi Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja, who presided over the meeting, emphasized the need to strengthen IBU in order to realize the hopes and aspirations of the Ummah.

The Saudi Minister called for greater cooperation among the OIC countries in producing world-class radio and television programs. “We should also highlight the developments taking place in our countries in a professional manner,” he said.

Khoja spoke about King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue initiative that has

won the applause of world leaders. “It is the duty of IBU to highlight such important initiatives to inform the world that the Islamic Ummah works for global peace and stability,” he said.

The meeting approved the appointment of Malaysia’s Zain AlAbidin Ibrahim as the new Director General of the Union. It also reshuffled the Union’s Executive Council.

The Secretary General earlier in his Office spoke with the new Director General Ibrahim, who took office in February 2010, about the need for modernization, development and performance of the IBU as soon as possible on reflected basis so that it fills with success the functions for which it had been created.

Social media connecting youth and politicians in the Arab world

by Hani Naim Beirut, Lebanon - In December 2010, the Online Collaborative Club of the American University of Beirut organized ‘Blogging Lebanon’, a conference for more than 150 Lebanese and Arab bloggers, e-activists, journalists, students, professors and others interested in social media. This convention demonstrated that social media is central to the Arab world today, and essential for positive change.

In the Arab world, many diplomats and politicians have started using social media tools to improve their relationships with citizens. Examples include Dubai monarch Muhammad bin Rashid, Jordan’s Queen Rania Al Abdullah, and the wife of Qatar’s emir, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser AlMissned. These high-profile people all have personal accounts on Facebook and Twitter, demonstrating how much social media has evolved. Now, even diplomats and politicians are discussing society’s problems and issues online.

But not everyone is finding it easy.

British Ambassador in Beirut Frances Guy spoke during the convention about difficulties that diplomats face when blogging. She herself came face-to-face with such difficulties when she blogged about

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the passing of spiritual Shiite leader Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah and praised him, only to apologize in another blog if the “praise” offended anyone since her posts sparked extensive controversy.

The rise of social media — and politicians using it — may be due to the fact that mainstream media in the Arab world has lost part of its credibility because media industries are usually run by political parties. In these media outlets the news is reported and interpreted in a way that serves the interest of the party, particularly in Lebanon.

Perhaps because of this, youth have started to use the internet and online tools as one of their main sources of news and information. Accordingly, politicians have begun to go online to connect with youth and build a direct relationship with them. In this way, social media is actually reshaping how politicians relate to constituents.

In addition to becoming a meeting space for officials and their constituents, blogging has also become a forum for resourceful creativity that can reshape social norms.

This is evident in Shankaboot, an online mini-series that examines social issues in the Middle East, focusing

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primarily on issues facing Beirutis that are not addressed by traditional Lebanese television dramas. It is the first of its kind in the Arab world.

The series highlights issues facing the marginalized and poor, which are rarely portrayed in media. In particular, Shankaboot reflects challenges facing youth like drugs, domestic violence and unemployment. The series depicts daily life in Beirut as well as the adventures of Suleiman, the main character, a young delivery boy who crosses the city on his motorcycle.

The most significant conclusion of the conference was that no one is immune to social media. Activists in Lebanon and the Arab world use it to protest human rights violations or support causes. Government officials use it to communicate and gain feedback from their constituents.

‘E-activists’ have used it to defend bloggers, journalists and activists who have been arrested for expressing their opinions. .................................................... * Hani Naim is a journalist, blogger and

civil society activist. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews). Copyright permission is granted for publication.

Dialogue has to take place at all levels urges Kalin

by Maha Akeel Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Associate Professor Ibrahim Kalin, Advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister, believes that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), as the largest intergovernmental organization in the Muslim world, has a big mandate. With the majority of world politics taking place either in the Islamic world or related to it, the OIC carries a large responsibility on its shoulder.

During a recent visit to the OIC, Prof. Kalin sat for a converse with the OIC Journal on his vision for Islam-West relations and the role of the OIC. He stressed that the Ten-Year Program of Action adopted by the OIC Member States in 2005 was a timely response to the challenges facing the Muslim world. He considers the goals of the TYPOA realistic, extremely relevant and to a large extent, implementable, but that depends on the commitment of the Member States because the OIC and the Secretary General alone cannot do it; it has to be a collective effort.

Differences and conflicts of interest among the members is found in all regional and international organizations, said Prof. Kalin when asked about how that hampers the OIC’s efforts, but he advised the Member States to create win-win situations. “Circumstances force us to think globally and act locally at the same time, some call it “glocal” age. The realities on the ground are such that no single country in the world can live in isolation from the rest of the world. There has to be consorted and combined effort.”

Examples of issues where such consorted efforts can be implemented include energy, environment, security, science and technology, infrastructure, and poverty. “For all these issues common strategies can be developed. When you empower others you empower yourself.”

For the OIC it is important to keep the lines of communication open between the Member States and with other countries, he said.

On the issue of Islam-West dialogue, which he is among the world’s known scholars and experts on, he said that there are multiple things happening. On the one hand, there is greater communication, closer relations and openness on both sides to have honest dialogue and conversation. On the other hand, there is a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding,

prejudice, distrust and sometimes hostilities on both sides.

He believes that all issues require regular contact and open, honest dialogue.

“This dialogue has to take place at all levels,” he stressed.

At the political level dialogue has to be engaged at the highest level. Then there is engaging opinion leaders such as scholars, academicians, and journalists so that ordinary people can understand the relations between Islam and the West within context because most of the time ordinary people do not have the context to interpret an event. Engaging religious leadership is also very important.

Then there is the business world. Businessmen and companies need to be involved because trade and business is very important in the 21st century world; most of the time the most stable long-term relations are established in the business world. “They have a moral responsibility and they have a constructive role to play. Investors on both sides would do business in places they can trust and feel secure,” said Prof. Kalin.

Lastly, the media has to play a more constructive role and mind the local sensitivities in their reports because they can shape opinions in a way no other agent can, he said.

“Most of the time you have lack of knowledge, but more importantly you have lack of sensitivity. The media must be free but that does not mean indifferent to sensitivities.”

He believes that media in the Muslim world suffer from different problems: freedom of the press, basics of reporting, the infrastructure is not there to convey the message, and they are not as well-networked as other global networks.

“Muslim media get their news from western media outlets. But it is not just a matter of getting the reports of what is happening but also acquiring your perspective, your terminology, and vocabulary from those agencies. We have to put things in context and with our input.”

Also, there is little coordination between Muslim media outlets, according to Prof. Kalin, and that causes problems.

“We can establish direct lines instead of relying on western media.”

There is also the problem of not being as well trained, qualified, and equipped; although there are qualified people and a few examples of successful media networks.

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Religion Ihsanoglu: Muslim-Christian Fraternity Conference a positive step towards establishing a culture of coexistence

Damascus, Syria – The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu considered the Muslim-Christian Fraternity Conference, held in Damascus on 15 December, a positive step towards establishing a culture of coexistence among the followers of the two religions for creating a world where the values of truth, justice, cooperation and mutual respect prevail.

He also noted in his address to the Conference, delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Salim Al-Honi, General Inspector and Supervisor of Advocacy Affairs, that the OIC has actually adopted a proposal based on dialogue among civilizations, in response to those propagating the prophecy of clash of civilizations. The OIC had also launched, seven years ago, an initiative for a historical reconciliation between Islam and Christianity in preparation for creating a more peaceful and prosperous universal environment, adding that the OIC had conveyed these ideas to a number of Western leaders and to the international fora, and is still working for the success of these efforts.

The OIC Secretary General underlined the need to unite the efforts of the followers of the two religions all over the world to stand as one against the incidents of intolerance, discrimination and defamation of religions and religious symbols, by approving well-planned programs agreed upon by the two sides for examining the issues that raise intolerance, racism, marginalization and violence, and to address them before they turned into international crises.

On the other hand, Ihsanoglu called for the need to revise the education curricula in order to make it a factor of coexistence and understanding between Islam and Christianity. He also called for emphasizing the importance of supporting the media so as to play a positive role, inviting governmental and non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations to play their role in promoting tolerance and preventing defamation of religions, and to work together for approving a binding international document in this respect.

The Future of the Global Muslim Population

The world's Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030, according to new population projections by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Globally, the Muslim population is forecast to grow at about twice the rate of the non-Muslim population over the next two decades - an average annual growth rate of 1.5% for Muslims, compared with 0.7% for non-Muslims.

If current trends continue, Muslims will make up 26.4% of the world's total projected population of 8.3 billion in 2030, up from 23.4% of the estimated 2010 world population of 6.9 billion.

While the global Muslim population is expected to grow at a faster rate than the non-Muslim population, the Muslim population nevertheless is expected to grow at a slower pace in the next two decades than it did in the previous two decades. From 1990 to 2010, the global Muslim population increased at an average annual rate of 2.2%, compared with the projected rate of 1.5% for the period from 2010 to 2030.

The projections are based both on past demographic trends and on assumptions about how these trends will play out in future years.

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A majority of the world's Muslims (about 60%) will continue to live in the Asia-Pacific region, while about 20% will live in the Middle East and North Africa, as is the case today. But Pakistan is expected to surpass Indonesia as the country with the single largest Muslim population. The portion of the world's Muslims living in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to rise; in 20 years, for example, more Muslims are likely to live in Nigeria than in Egypt. Muslims will remain relatively small minorities in Europe and the Americas, but they are expected to constitute a growing share of the total population in these regions.

In the United States, for example, the population projections show the number of Muslims more than doubling over the next two decades, rising from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030, in large part because of immigration and higher-thanaverage fertility among Muslims. The Muslim share of the U.S. population (adults and children) is projected to grow from 0.8% in 2010 to 1.7% in 2030, making Muslims roughly as numerous as Jews or Episcopalians are in the United States today. Although several European countries will have substantially higher percentages of

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Muslims, the United States is projected to have a larger number of Muslims by 2030 than any European country other than Russia and France.

In Europe as a whole, the Muslim share of the population is expected to grow by nearly one-third over the next 20 years, rising from 6% of the region's inhabitants in 2010 to 8% in 2030. The greatest increases - driven primarily by continued migration - are likely to occur in Western and Northern Europe, where Muslims will be approaching double-digit percentages of the population in several countries.

Several factors account for the faster projected growth among Muslims than non-Muslims worldwide. Generally, Muslim populations tend to have higher fertility rates (more children per woman) than non-Muslim populations.

In addition, a larger share of the Muslim population is in, or soon will enter, the prime reproductive years (ages 15 -29).

Also, improved health and economic conditions in Muslim-majority countries have led to greater-thanaverage declines in infant and child mortality rates, and life expectancy is rising even faster in Muslim-majority countries than in other less-developed countries.

The Role of Faith-based Organizations and Interfaith Initiatives in Development, Reconciliation and Peace building

The panel speakers at the event.

New York, USA - OIC Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York hosted a Special Event titled “The Role of the Faith-based Organizations and Interfaith Initiatives in Development, Reconciliation and Peace building” on the occasion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

The Special Event took place on 3 February at the ECOSOC Chamber (NLB). A panel of distinguished speakers addressed the impact between the faith-based organizations and interfaith initiatives on development, reconciliation and peace building by focusing on the practical examples and cases.

In his message to the participants, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that he takes particular pride that the initiative came from the Head of an OIC Member State, His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.

“The OIC is committed to engender a culture of harmony among peoples of diverse religious faiths, civilizations and cultural backgrounds,” said Ihsanoglu.

Ambassador Ufuk Gokcen, the Permanent Observer of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations, chaired the panel. In his opening remarks he said the event will try to highlight the best practices and potentials of the interfaith initiatives and relations and the role of religious leaders and faith based organization in socio-economic development, preventive action, reconciliation, conflict resolution and peace building in the service of world peace and UN principles.

Amb. Gokcen pointed out that from the OIC General Secretariat’s point of view, while there are many promising and praiseworthy examples of interfaith initiatives by religious leaders and interfaith institutions bringing together people from all religions in order to encourage reconciliation and against violence in different conflict regions, the OIC believes that there is a particular need for a framework of cooperation, mutual understanding and engagement at the global level between the Islamic and Christian institutions.

Therefore, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu since 2006 has been calling for a historic reconciliation between Islam and Christianity, in manner and dimension similar to the reconciliation took place between Christianity-

Judaism.

The panel included Warren Hoge, International Peace Institute; Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, UN Interagency Framework Team for Preventive Action; Dr. Azza Karam, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); The Rev. Chloe Breyer, Interfaith Center of New York; Dr. Qamar-ul Huda, US Institute of Peace (USIP); and Daisy Khan, American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA).

Warren Hoge, Vice President for External Relations, International Peace Institute, said that “religion can be a powerful tool for peace if it is used in a constructive manner.”

In a speech entitled “Faith: A Catalyst for Conflict Resolution,” Hoge told a gathering in the ECOSOC Room of dramatic instances in a number of countries where religious leaders and faith-based organizations intervened in conflict situations to help produce reconciliation.

Among the areas he discussed were Colombia, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the region of Central and South America at a time in the early 1980s when a number of its nations were victimized by dictatorships and guerrilla warfare.

Before listing these positive examples, he said, “It would be delinquent of me not to acknowledge the fact that religion can also be a cause of division, and religious diversity can become distorted into religious militancy, particularly in those situations where religion and nationality become entwined, and historical myths and cultural symbols associated with religions become elements that unify warring factions rather than pacify them.”

But he asserted, “Faith is a powerful force, and when different faiths come together for the cause of peace, their forces multiply.”

Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, Senior Secretary for the UN Interagency Framework Team for Preventative Action led by the UNDP discussed the importance of Interfaith Initiatives in Conflict Prevention from the perspective of the Preventive Action Team.

As for Dr. Azza Karam, who serves as Senior Advisor for Culture at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where she coordinates Fund-wide global activities on culture and religion, she discussed Interfaith Engagement developed within the UNFPA and the formation of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Faith based Organizations and the MDGS. Reverend Chloe Breyer presented her views on Conflict Prevention Role and Gender Equity Implications of the recent Roman Catholic-Muslim Service Partnerships in New York City.

She was followed by Dr. Qamar-ul Huda, who spoke on the Role of the Religions Leaders in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, particularly from the perspective and traditions of Islam.

And Daisy Khan, the Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, spoke on Muslim Women’s Strategy for Peace.

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Religion

Third Meeting of the Work Group to Develop Executive Programs on the Role of Islamic Organizations and Institutions in the Area of Dawa Cairo, Egypt – The Work Group formed by the Coordination Committee on Joint Islamic Action in the Field of Dawa held its third meeting in Cairo on 25- 26 January 2011 where they discussed the role of Islamic institutions and organizations in the field of Dawa and relief in implementation of the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA). The Group also discussed organizing joint projects in the medium to long term under the umbrella of the Coordination Committee on Joint Islamic Action (CCJIA) for developing Islamic societies, especially in the field of education, science and culture, in realization of the slogan “Solidarity in Action”. Furthermore, the Group assessed improvement of coordination mechanisms on joint Islamic action and the coordination among Islamic institutions to organize Dawa, humanitarian and relief work.

The Work Group consists of, in addition to the OIC Dawa Affairs Department, the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Sanctities Affairs, the World Muslim Dawa and Relief Council, the World Association of Muslim Youth, the Sudanese Islamic Dawa Organization, the Islamic Organizations’ Supreme Coordination Authority of the Muslim World League, the International Islamic Dawa Society, the European Islamic Conference, and the Committee for the Coordination of Islamic Action in the Field of Dawa.

Based on the discussions, the Group came up with some recommendations. It urged non-governmental organizations, in particular members of the CCJIA, to report on their contributions towards the implementation of the resolutions of the TYPOA preparatory to presenting them to the Council of Foreign Ministers in June 2011. It urged member organizations to present reports to the OIC on their views on handling the impediments to coordination and proposals on how to enhance coordination, preparatory to organizing a workshop to study those reports and utilize them in developing the Committee’s work.

The participants in the meeting stressed the importance of organizing joint programs among members of the CCJIA within the framework of the TYPOA and under the supervision of the OIC. This would be in line with the priorities determined by the nature of the challenges facing the Islamic Ummah. Islamophobia, improving media performance are perhaps the issues presently constituting those priorities.

Furthermore, they believed that scientific and political potentials in the West should be leveraged to contribute to those programs, which would define openness, simplicity and moderation of Islam. The participants also stressed the importance of effective participation in international activities organized in this regard, including the United 40

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Nations-sponsored ‘World Interfaith Harmony Week’.

The participants also underscored the importance of setting up a website on the internet for the CCJIA in order to publish its literature, create awareness about its competencies and facilitate communication among its members while documenting its contributions in its area of work.

Meanwhile, they considered that efforts should continue to be made at official and popular levels to confront extremist and isolationist ideas. The participants commended the programs executed in this direction and called for effective contribution to them and for the utilization of literatures on revisionist jurisprudence, which contributed to limiting that phenomenon, and of relevant by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.

The participants also called for necessary steps to be taken to operationalize the CCJIA and review its establishment so that it can play its role.

They also made a recommendation on endeavors for Islamic authorities, especially in the area of religious dialogue and cultural outreach, to formulate consistent positions on some of the negative sentiments about Islam. Those positions should be based on the constants of the religion and the fundamentals of the creed. This would include inviting Islamic bodies working in the area of dialogue to coordinate among themselves and form a global committee for that purpose, according to the recommendation.

The participants also called for studying what is available at the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia and at all other similar observatories in formulating a scientific program of action to confront that phenomenon. This should be circulated to universities and research centers concerned in order to prepare necessary studies and researches to confront and respond to the phenomenon. Those who take up the work, especially non-Muslims, should be encouraged, and those of them who excel, either through political positions or scientific studies, should be honored.

Emphasis was also placed on the importance of confronting trends in moral decadence, especially among the youth. Hence, coordination should be effected in implementing educational, social and religious programs, which would strengthen character, instill virtue, and develop citizenship feeling among generations.

The participants also emphasized the need to put the Islamic house in order and to avoid its fracture along sectarian lines by operationalizing activities and programs that encourage rapprochement among sects and shut out those who exploit some sectarian differences to divide the Islamic rank. They recommended utilizing and distributing to those concerned the plan developed by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy on this matter.

Culture

Tlemcen, Islamic Culture Capital for 2011

The city of Tlemcen was chosen as the “Islamic Culture Capital for 2011 for the Arab region” at the sixth session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (ICCM), held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 13 and 14 October 2009. The city will host the seventh session of the ICCM scheduled to be convened in 2011.

Located in northwestern Algeria, the province of Tlemcen is at the center of a region known for its olive plantations and fruits. Its name “Tala Imsane” (“dry spring” in Berber) highlights the Berber origins of this city whose population blended later on with Arab Muslims and other ethnicities from Andalusia, the Mediterranean islands, and other parts of Europe to make today’s Tlemcen. The city’s rich history and culture have made it a center of a unique blend of music and art. Its elegant blend of Arab, Berber and Andalucian cultures, its textiles and handicrafts, as well as its cool climate in the mountains have made it an important center of tourism in Algeria.

Tlemcen is home to the tomb of Sidi Boumédiène who was a Sufi teacher, scholar, writer and poet and also the single most important founder of Sufism in the Maghreb and Andalusia. The Great Mosque of Tlemcen, which is adjacent to the tomb, was first constructed in 1082 and reconstructed and enlarged in 1136; and is a remarkable remaining example

of Almoravid architecture.

In preparation for this one-year-long cultural event, the Algerian government has allocated a huge budget for renovating and building numerous projects to accommodate this event. A detailed and rich program has been prepared by the relevant authorities outlining the festivities and events which will be held in celebration of this event. The city of Tlemcen has constructed several projects and restored archaeological monuments and cultural facilities to host this event. The city will organize a series of conventions, symposia and exhibitions in the domains of art, music, hawzi (sufi singing), dance and many more in celebration of this event, the first of its kind to be held in Tlemcen.

The Minister of Culture of Algeria Khalida Toumi announced on 17 January 2011 the realization of 60 film projects in 2011 in celebration of this event. Moreover, the Director of Culture of Tlemcen province declared that 365 book titles will be published during the same year on the history, culture and civilization of Tlemcen and the role of the city in cultural, political and religious domains throughout the past centuries. Several other cultural and artistic activities will be organized including nine national and international festivals.

The miniature and decorative arts will also be exhibited in an international festival in May 2011. In July 2011, an international festival of dance and another on Diwan music, which is popular in the Maghreb region, will be organized. The Director of Culture also added that ten symposia involving experts and researchers from Algeria and participating countries in this event will be convened.

Today’s Tlemcen is one of the Arab Maghreb’s metropolitan cities. Many explorers and historians visited the city and devoted volumes to the description of its wonderful architecture, design and development. The convening of the activities of this event in Tlemcen will undoubtedly contribute to boosting cultural infrastructure development in this touristic province and attract more local and foreign tourists ultimately.

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Culture

Doha International Handicrafts Festival

Prof. Al-Khalifa and Dr. Eren inaugurate the Doha Festival

Doha, Qatar - Within the framework of celebrations of Doha, capital of Arab culture for 2010, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage in the State of Qatar and the Research Centre for History, Art and Islamic Culture (IRCICA) in Istanbul organized the Doha International Festival for Handicrafts.

An International Seminar on ‘Innovation and Creativity in Crafts‘, ’Doha International Award for Innovation and Creativity in Crafts’, and the ‘International Exhibition of Artisans-as at-work’ complemented the festival.

The works of the symposium and the festival were inaugurated by Prof. Mubarak bin Nasser AI-Khalifa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, and Dr. Halit Eren, Director General of IRCICA, in the presence of some OIC Ambassadors represented in Doha.

Prof. AI-Khalifa stated in his address that crafts are considered as a first priority within the Cultural Strategy of the State of Qatar. He added that crafts represent the national identity and contribute towards the introduction of the cultures of other people. This can easily be noticed in this international festival where artisans and experts from different places of the world came together to exchange expertise and work with the same spirit of giving love and creativity to this field. He also pointed out that crafts are a means to face unemployment and he called on the community to well recognize the important role of the artisans in the society.

Dr. Eren said the festival aimed to raise more awareness of the real role played by crafts towards contributing economically and culturally to our communities. He gave a brief about the various events IRCICA organized before with the same spirit and referred to the Craft books that were published on various specialized topics.

The Closing Ceremony was lead by Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Kawari, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage who honored the artisans and toured their stands and had talks with the paper presenters as well.

The festival aimed at gathering all the innovators and craftspeople in this field in pavilions forming a craft village where they displayed their works, their 42

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tools and the techniques used in their workshops.

International Seminar on In novation and Creativity in Crafts The seminar, held on 7 -9 December 2010, was organized in order to raise international awareness on the importance of crafts; to explore the economic role that these products can play; and to discuss ways of exploring job opportunities for citizens in this sector. It also tried to activate innovation and creativity spirit in this field; to examine the revenues that this sector can generate when linked with the touristic and economic sector; to examine the current situation of the crafts and the perspectives of their development; to preserve the originality of the traditional crafts; and to introduce the sector and make it known through the available channels.

The 12 papers presented in the symposium by selected craft specialists from around the world, including two from Qatar resulted in a number of recommendations that addressed opportunities to provide raw materials locally, consumer education, education programs, training, exchange of techniques and expertise used, innovation, documentation and studies, finance, role of the government for extending patronage for the crafts sector, participation in international exhibitions, new marketing opportunities, tourist market and the establishment of craft villages, legal protection, globalization and the role of media in awareness, and awards.

Program of Activities The program included ‘Live Presentations of Artisansas at-Work’ where artisans from various countries displayed their tools, skills and techniques in the fields of handicrafts in special pavilions.

Another program activity, the ‘Doha International Award for Innovation and Creativity in Crafts’, held 5- 9 December 2010, included a ceremony to award winning artisans with cash rewards and moral support, aimed at stimulating competition spirit, and thus ensuring renewable innovations leading to the emergence of new products in the handicrafts field.

Muscat International Festival for Arts, Heritage and Creativity

Muscat, Oman - The Muscat International Festival is one of the most significant and popular events celebrated in Oman. It is an impressive family celebration where culture and fun were experienced. The festival, which was from 27 January to 24 February 2011, has attracted a host of residents and visitors. This remarkable festival is distinguished for its joyful combination of cultural activities.

Muscat Festival is unique and has been considered as one of the attractive destinations in Oman for visitors from around the globe. The various events featured have been able to capture the imagination of visitors as they have successfully reflected the true essence of Omani culture and heritage.

The Omani Heritage Village at the Qurum Natural Park celebrates the different social aspects of life in Oman, such as the traditional handicrafts and folklore, which is a source of exciting activity and entertainment for both citizens and residents alike. This village catches the attention through striking events that highlight the tradition of various cultures of the globe.

At the Omani Heritage Village visitors enjoyed seeing first-hand experience of the traditional arts and crafts, some of which are still practiced. Visitors also watched Omani men and women artists at work weaving, making pottery just as they would in their natural surrounding.

The Muscat Festival is definitely a must-see tourist destination and plays a significant role in boosting Oman’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The Muscat Festival was opened on 27 January 2011.

It was organized jointly by the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), Istanbul, and Muscat Municipality, Sultanate of Oman. This wonderful event included the "Muscat International Festival of Arts, Heritage and Creativity", a seminar on "Innovation and Creativity in Arts and Crafts"; "Muscat International Award for Innovation and Creativity in the Crafts" (worth US$ 100,000); and the International Exhibition of Artisans-as at-work.

The Muscat International Festival for Arts, Heritage and

Creativity attracted artisans and art lovers from all over the world. The International Village was a focal point for the showcasing of artisan showpieces from across the world, as well as providing an opportunity to celebrate the work of traditional Omani artisans in the international arena for the first time.

It involved over 150 artisans representing 25 countries, including the host country Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, South Africa, Turkey, Mauritania, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Iran, India, Palestine, Morocco, Syria, Uzbekistan, Macedonia, Japan, Russia, Senegal, Mexico in addition to participants from Qatar and jury members from France.

The Muscat International Festival for Arts, Heritage and Creativity was inaugurated by Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, and in the presence of Ali bin Masoud Sunaidi, Minister of Sports Affairs, Engineer Sultan bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, and a number of foreign ambassadors and officials of the Muscat Municipality. With the presentation of the Omani Folklore Show, Al Busaidi officially cut the ribbon declaring the opening of the festival. After the opening ceremony, Al Busaidi along with the audience toured the participating countries’ pavilions.

The artisans from the various countries displayed their skills and products, which include handicraft, textile items, artworks, pottery, carpets, kilims, mosaic, traditional costumes, leather works, ceramics, paintings, silver works, wooden crafts, textiles, Ebru and paper making, illumination and ornamentation and much more fascinating arts. Ahmed al Badri, a visitor to the festival said that it is a unique opportunity to interact and know the various different cultures of different countries in one place.

The festival aimed at gathering the innovators and craftspeople in this field in pavilions forming a craft village where they displayed their works, their tools and the techniques used in their workshops on this occasion.

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IRCICA holds photograph exhibition in Sana’a

President Gul (L) and Dr. Eren touring the exhibition.

Sana’a, Yemen - On the occasion of the state visit of H.E. Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey, to Yemen, the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) organized an exhibition of historical photographs selected from its own archives under the theme of “Friendship between Turkey and Yemen throughout History”. President Gül opened the exhibition on 10 January 2011 in Sana’a within the program of his visit.

The exhibition comprised of the reproductions of 54 photographs selected from the “Albums of Sultan Abdulhamid II”, which constitute the basis of the archives of IRCICA. A catalogue containing 122 photographs was

published on the occasion. It features shared memories of the peoples of Turkey and Yemen.

President Gül, who was accompanied by IRCICA Director General Dr. Halit Eren as part of his entourage, presented the President of Yemen H.E. Ali Abdullah Saleh with the large-size catalogue of the exhibition. Previously IRCICA and the National Archives of Yemen organized the Congress on “Yemen during the Ottoman Period” under President Saleh’s patronage in December 2009.

The Prime Minister of Yemen Ali Muhammed Mujawir visited the exhibition after the Turkish-Yemeni Business Forum; Dr. Eren presented a copy of the catalogue to the Prime Minister.

The catalogue published by IRCICA is a valuable addition to the series of albums it publishes in order to render this documentary treasure accessible to all, such as the albums on Istanbul, Erzurum, Bursa in Turkey, Egypt, and Japan published earlier. It holds exhibitions on various occasions: from 1980 to 2011 IRCICA organized 231 exhibitions of historical documents, manuscript works and rare books, architectural projects and designs, works of fine arts and handicrafts as well as photographs. Some of these were displayed in its own halls at Yıldız Palace in Istanbul and others in various countries, including Algeria, Egypt, France, Germany, Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the UK, the USA, the UAE and Yemen.

Second International Congress of Islamic Archaeology held in Pakistan Islamabad, Pakistan - The Second International Congress of Islamic Archaeology was held in Islamabad on 2123January 2011 under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. The first such congress was organized in 2005 in Istanbul under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Second Congress was organized jointly by the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR) of Pakistan. Experts and scholars of archaeology and leading names from cultural and art centers participated in the conference where subjects such as the rich archaeological heritage of Islamic civilization, archeological research and excavations in Islamic geography and preservation of archaeological heritage were discussed.

With the participation of numerous scholars of history, art and architecture, a platform of mutual communion between various disciplines was established.

Although Islamic geography harbored numerous states, cultures and communities in its 1400-year history and its archaeological heritage reflected Islam’s characteristics and cultural interaction, studies and researches have not gone far until today except by institutions of limited scope and through some personal ventures, said IRCICA Director General Dr. Halit Eren. The decision to establish Islamic Archaeology 44

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as a discipline had been taken by the First Congress, which had been organized successfully in Istanbul in 2005. The First Congress had also approved the decision to hold the second session in Pakistan, where the region teemed with archaeological heritage and the level of education was high.

In his speech, the Pakistani Minister of Culture Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani said that Pakistan’s culture relied on the unity that arose from cultural diversity. The people of Pakistan speak different languages, wear different clothes and have different holidays and ceremonies, but they are enlightened with the Islamic understanding, thus respect humanity. The Minister emphasized that this Congress was of vital importance for Pakistan which occupied a special place in the history of Islam and concluded by saying that they were ready to support each and every step to discover and protect Islamic archaeological heritage and pass it on to future generations.

The Congress continued under the following session titles: Excavations, exploration, history of the protection of archaeological heritage, urbanism, marketplaces, caravanserais, madrasas, places of worship, cemeteries, archaeological and historical regional studies, plane ornamentation, coins, manuscripts and calligraphy, folklore and music.

OIC organizes cultural event highlighting Islamic art Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Adela bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the spouse of the OIC Secretary General Mrs. Fusun Ihsanoglu hosted a cultural event on 27 February at her residence in Jeddah, which was attended by princesses, spouses of members of the diplomatic corps, artists and distinguished guests.

The event featured an exhibition of calligraphy, gilding and marbling (Ebru) provided by the Istanbul-based Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA).

Ebru, or cloud-like or water surface, is an ancient Turkish art that originated in Central Asia. Using special pigments and thickeners, applying them on water with certain brushes and shaping the drops and lines with delicate skill, beautiful colored patterns and abstracts are created on the surface of the water, which are then imprinted on a paper carefully placed on top.

The exhibition also featured a display of traditional costumes from the OIC Member States, a fashion show of Turkish kaftans, Sufi customs and contemporary Turkish designs and a jewelry exhibition by Gilan of Istanbul. The festival concluded with an auction on selected masterpieces of calligraphy, the proceeds of which will go to children with special needs in Saudi Arabia.

In her statement at the opening ceremony Princess Adela said “It is part of our responsibility to promote cultural production in order to preserve our authentic heritage and seek its introduction in an attempt to blend civilizations and to benefit from the exchange of the cultural knowledge we inherited from our forefathers and developed by contemporary generations.”

“This cultural event of Islamic States is an investment of the ability of cultures to reinforce their ties and revive their

Secretary General Ihsanoglu and Dr. Eren looking at one of the caligraphy works on display

respective specificities, as well as to support benevolent and charitable activities which benefit people with special needs, to reflect the human dimensions of cultural activities,” said the Princess. For her part, Mrs. Ihsanoglu thanked Princess Adela for her support. She also appreciated all those who contributed to making the event a success. She highlighted the important role played by women in charitable activities and promoting culture.

The dinner was also a cultural array of traditional dishes from the OIC Member States.

To give the chance to more people to enjoy the exhibition, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu opened this Arabesque and Arabic calligraphy exhibition on 28 February at his residence. The exhibition continued for a week.The exhibition is part of the cultural and media activities staged by the OIC to create awareness about the components of the Arab and Islamic civilization.

IRCICA selected “Institution of the Year”

Kuwait - Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) was selected as the Institution of the Year by the monthly cultural journal Al-Arabi published by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information. IRCICA Director General Dr. Halit Eren received the award from Kuwaiti Minister of Petroleum and Information Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah AlAhmad Al-Sabah.

Kuwaiti Minister of Petroleum and Information Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the award ceremony that was held at the inauguration of the conference on “The Arabs are Heading towards the East” and thanked IRCICA for carrying on valuable studies. The Conference was organized under the patronage of the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Muhammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Minister Al-Sabah said that the Conference was organized on the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the State of Kuwait and stated that the historic ties between Kuwait and Asia were not left in the past but were renewed with every passing day. He stressed that the Arabic world was a part of

Asia and establishing strong ties between the Middle East and Asia was vital.

During the award ceremony organized within the program of the Conference, IRCICA received the Institution of the Year award for its contribution to the development of relations between Asia and the Arab world and for its studies and publications in the area of Islamic culture and civilization.

In turn, IRCICA Director General Dr. Eren congratulated Al-Arabi journal, which made great contributions to the Arabic world and the Islamic geography for more than fifty years, and said that IRCICA was following with admiration Al-Arabi’s efforts in uniting the Islamic world and strengthening the ties of friendship among the Muslims.

Dr. Eren thanked the journal and its editor Al-Askari who endeavored to establish tolerance and the spirit of dialogue between religions and civilizations. Dr. Eren said that at IRCICA they were elated to be found worthy of this award

by Al-Arabi and explained IRCICA’s activities, projects and contributions to the Islamic world.

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Service to Islam Prize awarded to Badawi

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Prince Naif, second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia, presented awards to this year’s winners of the prestigious King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) on March 13.

The awards were presented in four categories.

In the service to Islam category, Prince Naif presented the prize to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia. Badawi, nominated for the prize by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), was selected in recognition of his outstanding services to Islam, both within Malaysia and abroad. Badawi played a major role in reinforcing Malaysian economic development and encouraging Islamic studies.

In his acceptance speech, Badawi said: “I dedicate this Prince Naif (R) and Prince Khalid (L) at the KFIP 2011.

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prize to peace and stability.”

Badawi has supported Islamic legal administration, and strengthened endowment and Haj institutions in Malaysia. As Chairman of the OIC, Badawi waged a war against poverty in the Muslim world and sought to provide an economic face to the OIC by striving to enhance trade and business among member countries.

He is currently the chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM) and patron of the Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) in Kuala Lumpur.

Former Malaysian Badawi, who is also a founding PM Badawi patron of the World Islamic Economic Forum, thanked Prince Naif for the award.

Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also the Director General of the King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and Chair of the KFIP board, said that KFIP was one of the King Faisal Foundation’s main projects inspired by humanitarian zeal, peace and the noble values of Islam, which the late King Faisal held throughout his life.

“The prize seeks to realize some of his aspirations for the progress of mankind and particularly his desire to emphasize the role of Arabs and Muslims toward that progress,” said the Makkah governor. Abdullah Al-Othaimeen, KFIP secretarygeneral, read out individual citations for winners who then received their prizes from Prince Naif.

Each winner of the award received SR750,000 ($200,000) in cash, a certificate outlining the laureate’s work and a commemorative 22-carat gold medallion. In the Islamic studies category, Professor Halil Ibrahim Inalcik of Turkey and Professor Muhammad Adnan Bakhit Al-Sheyyab of Jordan, received prizes as co-winners.

In the category of medicine, James Alexander Thomson, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, joined the elite rank of 20 Americans who have won the KFIP. This year, the prize was shared by Shinya Yamanaka, a professor at Japan’s Kyoto University for his outstanding works on stem cell therapy. In the science category, a Harvard University Professor George M. Whitesides and a Stanford University Professor Richard Zare, both from the US, shared the prize.

The citation said that “Whitesides has revolutionized the field of self-assembly using molecular scale synthesis to control the macroscopic properties of surfaces.” The cowinner in the science category, Zare, has been recognized for his fundamental contribution in the understanding of molecular dynamics and chemical reactions.

After the awarding ceremony, topics for the 2012 King Faisal International Prize were also announced.

The King Faisal Awards were established in 1979. The Prize is considered the Arab Nobel Prize. Several winners of the King Faisal Prize have also won the Nobel Prize.

The OIC calls for legislations prohibiting violence against women

The 3rd Ministerial Conference on Women calls for a Universal Movement to Revive Women’s Rights

Tehran, Iran The women, stating that this important Organization of the Islamic measure requires cooperation and Conference (OIC) called for a consultation among the elite and universal movement aimed at thinkers from all countries. reviving human rights, declaring The Conference was highly its principled rejection of successful. Four OIC Member violence against women who States submitted requests to the constitute an essential component OIC to host the fourth session of society. The OIC called also of the Ministerial Conference on for the adoption of legislations women in 2012, reflecting thus in the Member States prohibiting an increase in the OIC Member violence against women and States’ confidence in the usefulness President Ahmadinajad speaking at the conference insisted on the need to involve and the concrete benefits of this women in political and social decision-making. forum.

The 3rd Session of the Ministerial Conference on the The Tehran Declaration also underscored the urgent Role of Women in the Development of OIC Member States, need to create opportunities for women to encourage their under the theme ‘Women, Economy and Family’, shed light participation in the process of decision-making in the field on the improvements brought to the legal framework on the of political and social progress. rights of women in the OIC Member States but admitted at The Declaration appreciated the endeavors of the Islamic the same time that there is still need for the achievement of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in holding further progress in legislation and implementation. special sessions, calling at the same time for the adoption In his message to the Conference, read on his behalf of executive policies to improve the position of Muslim

by Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Samir Bakr businesswomen as a necessary action for further enrichment Diyab, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of trade relations among Muslim states. stated: “Women have usually been victims of prejudices On the other hand, the Tehran Declaration denounced and misperceptions, traditions, customs and the negative all forms of violence against women at home, at work, and mindset dominant in our societies, whereas Islam upholds in society, considering them as being in contradiction with the rights and status of women in the society and strongly the rights recognized by the Islamic Declaration of Human supports their participation and involvement in various Rights, and emphasizing the respect for human dignity of fields of life.” women as well as the prevention of violence against them He pointed out that the Quran and Sunnah promote the in all its physical and mental dimensions through adopting cause of women, recognize their dignity, and respect and special legislation. appreciate their important role in the society as partners of men.

In the same vein, the Session adopted the report and He added that it is only through the increased participation recommendations of the 3rd Ministerial Conference on the of women in political, social and other spheres that the Role of Women in the Development of OIC Member States. society finds its way towards progress and development.

The report discussed the status of implementation of the Cairo The session held in Tehran, Iran on 19- 21 December Action Plan for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW).

2010 under the patronage of the President of Iran H.E. The representatives of the Member States reviewed the Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinajad, adopted a mechanism for contributions of their countries to the implementation of the implementation of the OIC Plan of Action for the this plan and in raising awareness of the issue of women Advancement of Women (OPAAW), which was adopted at empowerment and development, highlighting the need to the Second Ministerial Conference on Women held in Cairo, elaborate national plan and strategies in this regard.

Egypt in 2008. The Tehran Declaration recommended that The report called for the acceleration of the signing the OIC Member States work together on establishing a road and ratification of the statutes of the Women Development map with a view to helping initiate a universal movement Organization in the Member States, based on the proposal seeking to revive the rights of human beings, in particular submitted by Egypt.

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A Reading in the OIC’s Plan for the Advancement of Women Dr. Leila Rami

Algerian researcher on women and family-related issues. Ph.D in Islamic studies and comparative religion from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

The issue of women in the Islamic countries witnessed a growing attention in light of the foreign use of this issue within the continued distortion and defamation campaigns against Islam and Muslims. Realizing the importance of the issue, the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) adopted at the Third Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah in 2005 and represented a roadmap for the Ummah to face various challenges, has focused on promoting legislations aimed at promoting women in all fields and protecting her against all forms of violence and discrimination. It also emphasized respect of the ‘Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women’ (CEDAW) according to the Islamic principles of justice and equality.

During the term of office of the incumbent Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, women’s development in the societies of all Member States has gained a special attention reflecting the keenness of the OIC leadership to treat the issue with the seriousness and care it deserves. Pursuing the issue of women development, the Organization has established a special department concerned with family affairs. It held three conferences on women: the first was in Istanbul in 2006, the second in Cairo in 2008 and the third in Tehran in December 2010.

More importantly is the decision to set up a special organization for the development of women to be based in Cairo, which will focus on woman and child and will soon commence its activities.

OIC’s Plan for the Advancement of Women The plan, formulated by the OIC to advance women, aims at achieving equality of the two genders, promoting the status of women and enabling them to participate in the process of comprehensive development. The plan has set a number of objectives to develop women, enable them to participate in the process of decision-making at all levels, provide them with equal opportunities in all fields and combat violence against them.

The plan stipulates that Governments of Member States be committed to taking measures to improve the condition of women in the fields of education, health, political participation, economic sustainability, social justice, prosperity and balance between family life and work.

To implement and evaluate the plan, the OIC drafted special mechanisms to be jointly implemented by the Member States and the Department of Cultural and Social Affairs at the OIC General Secretariat, its subsidiary 48

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organs and its affiliated and specialized institutions. The plan came out with important recommendations, some of which were implemented including the convening of a Ministerial Conference once every two years. The plan, however, needs legal support for its execution.

Women Education A common cause between all countries of the Islamic world, which is considered of top priority, is the question of women education whether in towns or villages. It represents the first step towards the advancement of woman. The execution of the measures called for by the OIC requires a serious political will and the formation of a joint committee to follow up their implementation. The encouragement of obligatory education from the elementary to the secondary level is worthy of attention as the education of women will not only benefit them and their family but will extend to the entire society and to the country at large. Education will enable women to be aware of their rights and duties particularly that all Governments are trying to spread this awareness.

Preserving the Family Institution The measures called for by Tehran Conference included the necessity of “preserving the family institution so that children are brought up according to Islamic values and ethics” through giving special significance to the child upbringing.

It is, therefore, paramount to make use of the social researches in the developed countries which identified the serious social consequences that resulted from marginalizing the role of the family and the need to foster women’s role in that regard.

Violence against Women The size and seriousness of violence against women can be assessed through social and statistical studies. One of the most important features of violence against women is murdering her under the pretext of “defending the family’s honor”, which necessitates the drafting of firm laws against this corrupt norm which is not at all commensurate with Islamic Shariah in any way. Fornication is Haram (against Islam) for both men and women, and punishment is at the same degree and at the same level for both.

Excessiveness in the use of Divorce Right An example of abuse against women is the excessiveness in the use of the right to divorce by the husband. The divorce has become an ugly act which has many reasons including the misunderstanding of the right to divorce. Here we need many parties to correct this phenomenon at the intellectual and legal levels through spreading the culture of the correct picture of women in Islam and through setting up special centers to rehabilitate and prepare the youth for marriage. The media has a big role to play in spreading the correct culture and information about marriage relationship. The male and female scholars and thinkers have a big role to play in inculcating a new culture about the pattern of the relationship between the woman and man in society. The deliberate excessiveness in the use of the right to divorce requires the drafting of laws to punish men using it and to make legislations that would ensure the rights of the divorced women.

Third Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood (ICMCC):

Meeting the Challenge of Early Childhood Promotion in the Islamic World Tripoli, Libya-The Third Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood (ICMCC) was held in Tripoli, Libya on February 7- 11, 2011 under the theme ‘Reinforcing Development: Meeting the Challenge of Early Childhood Promotion in the Islamic World’. The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), a specialized institution of the OIC, organized the conference in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat and the Libyan General People’s Committee for Social Affairs.

The large number of participants – 22 ministers from 43 member countries and representatives of 21 international organizations present – enriched the Conference’s discussion of the document bill on the status of the child in the Islamic world.

The opening session was addressed by Ibrahim Abdulsalam Ibrahim, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Conference, Amira Al-Fadil Mohamed, Sudanese Social Welfare Minister and President of the 2nd ICMCC, Ambassador Samir Bakr, OIC Assistant Secretary General representing the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO Director General.

The protection of children has started to receive considerable attention from Muslim societies, affirmed Ihsanoglu in his statement, delivered on his behalf by Amb. Bakr, drawing attention to the fact that most of the OIC Member States are suffering from chronic problems in terms of human development and millions of children live in poverty and destitution.

Ihsanoglu announced the launch of a joint project with the US administration on “Reaching Every Mother and Baby in OIC with Emergency Care” in Bangladesh in May 2011. This project has reached its second phase after the first phase, which was implemented in Mali in November 2010.

He stressed that the OIC has proceeded in its new

approach from the provisions of the Ten-Year Program of Action adopted by the Extraordinary Islamic Summit held in Makkah Al Mukarramah in 2005. The Program attaches special importance to children and recommends that good quality and free education should be provided to all children in the Muslim world. It also demands the promotion of the laws aimed at safeguarding children and their health, and appeals to the Member States to sign and ratify the OIC Covenant on the Rights of the Child in Islam.

The Conference issued the ‘Tripoli Declaration on Accelerating Early Childhood Development in the Islamic World’. The Declaration expressed the commitment of the Member States to accelerate pace of development of early childhood in the Islamic world on the level of national policies, healthcare, nutrition, pre-school education, supporting the local community, improving parenting programs, and the protection of the early childhood in emergency cases. It also addressed enhancing Islamic solidarity and international cooperation for financing early childhood development and fostering the role of civil society and the media.

The Declaration touched upon the necessity of enacting binding legislations and setting up tangible strategies and national plans for benefiting from social care and the health care services. It also called for making the initiatives for early childhood development an integral part of the national policies and educational systems of the Member States.

The Conference also adopted the Preliminary Document of the ‘Law on the Protection of Child Rights and their Enforcement Mechanisms in the Islamic World’ as well as the Legal Framework for the Establishment of ISESCO Forum for Children of the Islamic World, which aims to heighten the awareness of children in the Member States about the values of dialogue, solidarity, democracy and citizenship, and the necessity of their involvement in discussing their issues and promoting their rights and situation.

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Education Call for libraries’ e-networking in the Islamic World’s universities Cairo, Egypt - At the close of their meeting at Cairo University on 20 December, the heads of universities’ central libraries called for the electronic networking of the member universities of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), an ISESCO-affiliate.

The first Regional Conference of the heads of the central libraries of the universities of the Islamic world was held under the theme “Towards a Strategic Alliance for Building Knowledge Societies”. It was held within the framework of ISESCO Chair at Cairo University, in cooperation with the Central Library of the Cairo University, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and FUIW. The meeting recommended that university libraries play an active role

in the promotion of ethics in scientific research and teaching, and in advancing computer literacy among students and teachers.

They also called for setting cooperation priorities, particularly through the development of standardized bibliographical databases and indexes, ensuring the downloading of manuscripts and rare books, and providing technical services (inter-library borrowing, exchange, photocopying).

The Conference brought together over 125 heads of libraries and their representatives thereof from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, Syria and Yemen, in addition to the representative of ISESCO and the FUIW. The agenda of the conference

featured four working sessions during which sixteen papers were submitted on such topics as relations between university libraries and basics and models of their management; university libraries and the promotion of ethics in scientific research and teaching; the role of university libraries in advancing computer literacy and human rights; and university libraries and the provision of an environment favoring freedom of expression and creativity.

In the same vein, a roundtable was held to discuss a document on a potential alliance between the central libraries of the universities of the Islamic world.

On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition was staged with the participation of publishers and providers of software, and information and communication technologies (ICT) applications.

IDB funds teacher training facility in Cape Town

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamia College Cape Town Trust (ICCTT) on 25 December 2010 signed an agreement at IDB Headquarters in Jeddah for funding a new teacher training facility in Cape Town, South Africa. The granting of US$ 350,000 by the IDB, as per the agreement, comes in as continuation of the Bank’s efforts in implementing its

mandate for promoting human development in its member countries as well as Muslim communities in non-member countries. The facility will provide access to Undergraduate Teacher Training for 360 students, including Ulema, and to research and production of teaching and learning material in Arabic Language for Islamic Studies of Muslim Schools.

IDB, IFC address need for job-oriented education for Arab youth Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed on 16 January 2011 an agreement to lead an initiative that will engage the private sector to create new opportunities for employment-based education and enhance job market skills for Arab youth.

Due in part to an imbalance between high regional population growth and poor economic performance, Arab youth faces the highest unemployment rate compared to other developing regions. According to the International Labor Organization’s 2010 report,

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Arab countries must create more than 50 million jobs in the next decade to stabilize employment.

Birama Sidibe, Vice President Operations, IDB, said, “Education for Employment will provide a roadmap to governments, multilateral organizations, and other key players and help improve the private sector’s ability to finance and provide affordable, highquality, employment-driven education, and prevent the outward migration of highly skilled graduates.”

Jyrki Koskelo, IFC Vice President for Global Industries, said, “The IFCIslamic Development Bank initiative will demonstrate how private education

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can address the gaps between labor needs and education outcomes and identify regulatory issues and areas for policy change – thereby increasing job opportunities and spurring economic growth.”

In addition to regional analysis, country-specific case studies examining a range of issues, including labor market needs, education service provision, and barriers to private sector engagement, will be produced. A report on the initiative, to be released in April 2011, will include existing research and new regional studies.

Health Steering Committee on Health finalizes Terms of Reference for a Strategic Health Program of Action

Afghani child receiving polio vaccination. (epa)

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Third Meeting of the Steering Committee on Health finalized the Terms of Reference for the preparation of a Strategic Health Program of Action of the OIC Member States for 2012- 2022. This Strategic Health Program of Action will be presented for adoption to the Third Islamic Conference of Health Ministers in Astana in September 2011.

The Steering Committee on Health held its third meeting at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah on 22- 23 January 2011. The meeting reviewed the status of implementation of the decisions of the Islamic Conferences of Health Ministers (ICHM). Members of the Steering Committee presented reports on actions taken by them in regard to polio eradication, combating malaria and communicable diseases in the OIC countries, tobacco control, vaccine and drug production, mother and child health issues as well as cooperation with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and other international partners.

In his speech at the inauguration of the meeting, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has appealed to leaders of OIC Member States to intervene and lend support to ensure success of the national polio eradication programs.

The Secretary General noted that the progress recorded in combating diseases and epidemics in the OIC Member States remained slow and varied, especially with regard to polio, one of the most critical issues that Member States must tackle seriously.

He said that while 54 out of 57 OIC Member States have been able to stop polio outbreak, the spread of the disease is yet to be arrested in some regions of three Member States, namely Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. These countries are among the four in the world that are yet to eradicate polio. Additionally, ten OIC Member States are among the fifteen countries in the world that have reported a return of this disease.

The OIC General Secretariat is cooperating with the Geneva-based Secretariat of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to overcome this disease. The OIC is also stepping

up its advocacy and mobilization of high-level political support for the polio eradication programs.

The Secretary General pointed that the religious edict issued by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) at the behest of the OIC went a long way in mobilizing the support of religious scholars to encourage local communities to vaccinate their children.

The Secretary General also urged that attention should be focused on other epidemics and diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. He assured that the OIC continues to follow up on the cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in pursuance of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the OIC General Secretariat and the Fund, noting however that Member States’ contributions to the Fund have not achieved the desired objective.

Concerning maternal and child care, Ihsanoglu unveiled the fact that 50% of the world’s maternal deaths occur in OIC Member States. There are 5 countries in the OIC Member States where recorded maternal mortality rate was close to or exceeded 1000 deaths in every 100,000 cases of child birth, a rate that is about 70 times more than the 14 deaths in every 100,000 cases in the advanced countries. Similarly, OIC Member States recorded a disproportionately high level of child mortality in 14 countries out of 21 with the highest rates of child mortality in 2008, with four Member States in the group of the top five. This situation calls for immediate action in order to change the trend.

The Meeting recommended the ICHM to consider further the issue of establishment of a fully functional ICHM Secretariat and to facilitate better coordination of OIC positions at different international/UN health-related fora through OIC’s Geneva and New York Offices.

The meeting also recommended initiation of cooperation in the area of health education, exchange of faculty, scholarships, cooperation and linkages between health centers of excellence, combating drug addiction, cooperation to produce vaccines and drugs and cooperation with regional organizations.

The Steering Committee finalized the Terms of Reference for the preparation of a Strategic Health Program of Action of the OIC Member States for 2012- 2022 and reviewed arrangements for the Third Islamic Conference of Health Ministers to be hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan in September 2011.

A 3-year-old plays under an insecticide treated mosquito net. Over 3000 children die each day in Sub-Saharan Africa from malaria which is caused by mosquito bites. (epa)

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Environment WFES 2011: Need for global clean energy revolution

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The fourth World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2011 concluded in Abu Dhabi on 20 January following four days of high level summit debate from international leaders and experts, and two exhibitions showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in renewable energy and environment.

This year’s summit attracted record levels of attendance, with over 26,000 attendees from 137 countries over the course of the four days.

The attendees included 3,150 international dignitaries, delegates, members of media and participants who attended the Opening Ceremony, which was opened with a keynote address by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations.

Ban called for a clean energy revolution that would reduce climate risks, cut poverty and improve global health. “Our challenge is transformation. We need a global clean energy revolution – a revolution that makes energy available and affordable for all.” He added: “This is essential 52

for minimizing climate risks, for reducing poverty and improving global health, for empowering women and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, for global economic growth, peace and security, and the health of the planet.” Meanwhile, Ban praised the international meeting on climate change held in Cancun in December 2010 for the progress made on financing the fight against global warming and deforestation “which accounts for nearly one-fifth of global warming.”

“Taken together, these outcomes give us important tools. Yet of course, we have much farther travel,” he said.

He stressed the need to strengthen efforts on national fronts, noting Abu Dhabi’s initiative to create a city powered solely by renewable energy as “just one of a growing number of initiatives in developed and developing countries that are bringing life to our vision of green, sustainable societies.”

The United Arab Emirates in 2009 won the right to be home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Sultan Al-Jaber, the chief executive officer of Masdar, a body created by Abu Dhabi to champion the cause of promoting clean energy, stressed the need to use a mix of energy resources.

“Energy must come from a mix of sources…Solar energy is clean, efficient and cost-effective. A mix should also include peaceful nuclear energy, and, of course, renewable energy,” he said.

He also called for greater competition in the production of renewable energy, which would result in technological gains. “Competition drives innovation,” he added.

WFES has been held in the UAE Capital for the past four years, bringing together some of the world’s key international policy makers, thought leaders and renewable energy experts to discuss the challenges of providing safe, secure and sustainable energy.

This year’s event included a host of additional features held alongside the summit and exhibition, including the ‘Young Future Energy Leaders’ program, round table discussions,

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technology showcases and ‘The Project Village’.

Speaking during the Finance and Investment Forum on the final day of WFES, Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics, UK, and author of the acclaimed 2006 Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change, suggested the scale of the opportunity for renewable energy is high. He said, “In order that climate change targets can be achieved, we face the need for a new industrial revolution.

That industrial revolution needs policy change as a driver to reach the scale of change required. With fundamentally strong policy, we can also increase the pace of that change.”

Exhibitors have also recognized the role the event plays in helping facilitate networking and investment opportunities. Sectors most represented include solar, wind, environment, green building and carbon capture, while national pavilions were hosted by countries, including Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and the UK. One of the key exhibition highlights this year was the inaugural Project Village, which provided project developers with real opportunities to garner interest in their latest innovations from world leading technology and finance solution providers.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and hosted

by Masdar, the Abu Dhabi based Mubadala company focused on developing commercially scalable sustainable energy solutions, the World Future Energy Summit is a unique business platform aiding the global development and commercialization of renewable energy solutions.

Source: www.worldfutureenergysummit.com

Natural hazards addressed in an OIC seminar in New York:

States should build a culture of prevention to mitigate negative effects

Amb. Gokcen speaking at the seminar

New York, USA - The OIC-UNISDR-World Bank organized a joint seminar on the theme of 'Natural Hazards, Unnatural Disasters: Building Resilience throughout the Islamic World' in New York on 8 February 2011.

HRH Prince Turki bin Nasser Bin Abduaziz, President of Meteorology and Environment of Saudi Arabia, and Chair of the Executive Bureau of Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers, delivered the opening statement during the panel, which was moderated by Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Ambassadors of several OIC Member States were in attendance and many other participants.

Prince Turki presented in detail the OIC's perspectives and actions with regard to the disaster risk reduction.

Reminding that the natural disasters are increasing in number and frequency, and consequently the number of victims is also increasing (6 percent annually), he stressed that the states should work to build a culture of prevention in order to mitigate the negative effects of the natural disasters. The Prince said that while it was important to improve the local and national capacities, it was also important to develop mechanisms for the OIC Member States to work together in the field of disaster risk reduction.

Anna Bjerde, Sector Manager of the Middle East and North Africa region at the World Bank made a very comprehensive presentation outlining the World Bank’s modes of engagement with the States in developing their disaster risk management capabilities. In addition, the representatives from Indonesia, Pakistan and Tajikistan made presentations on their respective countries’ national perspectives, strategies and efforts. Consequently, a fruitful exchange of view took place.

The Ambassador of Tajikistan, Chair of the OIC Group, utilized the inputs by the OIC Geneva Office, which pointed out that in January 2005, 168 Governments, of which 40 OIC member states, adopted a ten-year plan to make the world safer from natural hazards at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. That plan, the Hyogo Framework for Action, is a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts during the next decade. Its goal is to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 - in lives, and in the social, economic, and environmental assets of communities and countries. The Hyogo Framework offers guiding principles, priorities for action, and practical means for achieving disaster resilience for vulnerable communities and nations.

UNISDR is the UN interagency Secretariat with the mandate to coordinate, promote and strengthen disaster risk reduction on a global, regional, national and local level. Its work focuses on promoting links and synergies between, and the coordination of, disaster reduction activities in: the socio-economic, humanitarian and development fields, as well as to support policy integration.

As a big organization representing 57 Islamic Countries, the OIC would play a major role by integrating the ISDR System that is composed of a broad range of partners all of which have essential roles to play in supporting nations and communities to reduce disaster risk. With that view, theOIC and UNISDR Offices in Geneva have conjointly prepared a draft MOU to better raise awareness on DRR among the Member States.

Ambassador Ufuk Gokcen, OIC Permanent Observer at the UN in New York highlighted the new enhanced vision and mission of the OIC based on the new Charter and the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA), both of which give priority to efforts in the field of environment and natural disaster. He appealed to all the Missions to support the noble services of Prince Turki as the Chair of the Executive Bureau of the Islamic Conference of the Environment Ministers, and also the efforts aiming at capacity building for the OIC Department of Humanitarian Affairs (ICHAD), the new but already very active member of the OIC family, by providing their good-offices with their capitals in this regard. He expressed his conviction that in the implementation of the new vision of the OIC, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Risk Reduction should be important aspects bringing together all 57-Member States under the cause of Islamic solidarity. He added that establishment of a special emergency fund was expected to be in the agenda of the next OIC ministerial conference.

The conclusions of the event would be brought to the attention of the UN and the OIC Secretariats for circulation to UN and OIC membership and with a view to providing insights to the relevant OIC institutions: the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

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Science & Technology

More funds for promotion of Science and Technology in the OIC Member States

Islamabad, Pakistan - The 14th General Assembly meeting of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), which was held from 11 to 13 January 2011 in Islamabad, Pakistan, reached some encouraging decisions for the promotion of science and technology in the OIC Member States. The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani, OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, ministers, high level representatives from OIC Member States, OIC institutions, and international organizations, and special invitees.

Speaking at the opening session, Ihsanoglu urged the OIC Member States to strive for excellence in science, technology and innovation as requisite to socio-economic development and political empowerment. He pointed out that concerted efforts of the Member States, the OIC General Secretariat and OIC institutions in the last 5 years have moved them closer to the targets set by the ‘Vision 1441H for Science and Technology’ and the ‘Ten-Year Program of Action’. For example, the average spending of OIC Member States on research and development (R&D) has now doubled from an average of 0.2% of the GDP in 2005 to 0.41%.

A continuation of the trend will help achieve the target of R&D expenditure of 1% of the GDP specified by the Ten Year Program of Action.

Furthermore, though the number of scientific publications in OIC Member States continues to be below the world average, it has nonetheless increased to 63,342 publications in 2009 from just 54

18,391 publications in the year 2000.

And, on average, OIC Member States produced only 15 articles per million people in 2000 while this number increased to 42 in 2009.

In 2003, the number of researchers, scientists and engineers in the OIC countries engaged in R&D was around 250 per million, i.e. one-tenth of the world average of 2532 per million.

This number has now risen to 649, which is around one-fourth of the world average.

“These figures provide a reason for hope while at the same time underscore the need for more concerted efforts to reach our targets as spelt out in the Vision 1441H and the Ten Year Program of Action,” said Ihsanoglu.

The meeting approved COMSTECH program and budget for 2010- 2011 and underscored the need to mobilize necessary political will, allocation of financial and other requisite resources.

Saudi Arabia announced a contribution of US$ 0.5 million for COMSTECH during the meeting, which requested the Prime Minister of Pakistan and CoChairman of COMSTECH to consider the request of Pakistan's Federal Minister for Science and Technology to enhance COMSTECH annual grant from US$ one million to US$ four million. Moreover, the meeting welcomed the establishment of the Science, Technology and Innovation Organization (STIO) as a specialized organ of OIC in accordance with chapter XIII Article 24 of the OIC Charter. The delegates took note of pledges made by Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Syria to make available US$ 5 million each for the programs of STIO for 2011.

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The meeting also endorsed the recommendations contained in the report of the Mid-Term Review of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action and OIC Vision 1441H for Science and Technology held in Dubai in December 2010. The participants appreciated the announcement made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to call for a meeting of OIC Member States' science and technology organizations by August 2011 in Islamabad so that the policies and programs can be coordinated under the unified policy of COMSTECH. In this context, the General Assembly acknowledged the activities and programs of the OIC Member States and relevant OIC institutions for promotion of science, technology and innovation and stressed the central role of COMSTECH to develop a coordinated strategy in collaboration with the General Secretariat of OIC and its relevant institutions. The Assembly also welcomed the interest of Member States to promote Green Technology programs to combat climate change and called for preparation of proposals for consideration by COMSTECH. At a sideline meeting, the OIC Secretary General held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko, an OIC Observer country. They agreed on expanding and strengthening relations between Russia and the OIC, and explored possibilities of deepening institutionalized cooperation in the fields of science, technology and education. They also agreed that Russia and OIC General Secretariat would hold technical meetings to work on pilot projects.

Green IT Environment

Wajdi Al-Quliti

Director of IT Departement, OIC

Green computing or green IT, refers to environmentally sustainable computing or IT. In the article Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices, San Murugesan defines the field of green computing as "the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment.�

The concept of green technology emerged as an application of technical protection of the environment, and the contribution of technical solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming. Many conferences, exhibitions and workshops are held on this issue. A large group of global corporations in the field of information technology tries to provide solutions and IT products that take into account the environmental dimension to reducing costs and reduce energy resources, as a step to activate the concept of green technology.

With the increase in emissions of greenhouse gases, which is one of the key factors that contribute to global warming, it is the duty of institutions, governments, and society as a whole to put a new agenda that focuses on addressing environmental issues and the adoption of environmentally sound practices. These practices include the greening of information technology products, applications, and services.

Therefore, an increasing number of users, manufacturers and vendors of information technology are moving towards green IT, which helps in building a green economy and society. Green economy means all economic activities that are related to reducing fuel use, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency, recycling of materials and develop new sources of energy.

The Green IT objectives include green information technology to reduce use of hazardous materials, and increase the efficiency of energy use by increasing the lifetime of the product, and encourage the recycling of factory waste. Scientists of green information technology and researchers look for important issues and topics related to energy efficiency in the field of computing and development of techniques and systems for computerfriendly environment, including energy efficiency of computing, and designing algorithms and computer

systems that are environment-friendly, and a wide range of relevant topics.

The method to green IT To effectively address the environmental impacts of computing and information technology in a comprehensive manner, we must adopt the policy of community computing and make the lifecycle of information a technology-friendly environment by addressing the environmental stability of four complementary paths as follows: Use Green Focuses on reducing the power consumption of computers and other information systems, as well as its use in an environmentally sound manner.

Green Disposal Includes the renovation and reuse of old computer equipment and recycling them properly just like any other electronic equipment.

Green Design Focuses on the design of components of computers, servers, cooling equipment and data centers to be energy efficient and environmental safety.

Green Manufacturing Focuses on the manufacturing of electronic components, computers, and other related sub-systems without any impact on the environment.

Furthermore, Green IT nowadays is optional and considered a privilege for companies that implement Green IT, but in some countries especially in Europe and industrial countries it becomes more imperative than optional to green the business.

Lately, the Australian Government announced a plan to introduce a carbon tax. It was proposed by the MultiParty Climate Change Committee (MPCCC) and agreed by the Government and Greens members of the Committee (Australia has a coalition government, with the Labor party supported by Greens and Independents who broadly support climate change legislation).

Moreover, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published a survey of over 90 government and industry initiatives on "Green ICTs", for example, information and communication technologies, the environment and climate change. The report concludes that initiatives tend to concentrate on the greening ICTs themselves rather than on their actual implementation to tackle global warming and environmental degradation. In general, only 20% of initiatives have measurable targets, with government programs tending to include targets more frequently than business associations.

Finally, organizations will soon have no choice but to comply with green IT principles because of market forces.

Therefore, it would be a very clear message for the decisionmakers, CEO’s and businessmen that Green IT in the shortrun be taken into account to be connected with IT enterprise structuring , strategic planning and system designing to be well-matched with Green Environment conditions .

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Science & Technology

The OIC in the footsteps of two Muslim thinkers Abdülhamit Bilici

General manager of the Cihan

news agency and a columnist at both the Zaman and Today's Zaman Turkish dailies

The Muslim world, the cradle of one of the most splendid civilizations of all time, has for more than a century been discussing why it has remained backward. If what intellectuals, academics, journalists and politicians in Indonesia, Morocco, Kazan, Yemen or other parts of the Muslim world have written in an effort to answer this question had been brought together, they would certainly have amply supplied a huge library.

In this huge imaginary library, one can obviously hear the elegiac voices in several dozen languages from hundreds of people coming from various parts of the Muslim world.

Pricking up one's ears, one will certainly find that two specific voices stand out from all the rest. One of them comes from Muslim thinker Said Nursi (1878- 1960), who loudly described the problems facing the Muslim world as well as the ways to solve them in a sermon he gave at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus exactly 100 years ago.

And the second voice belongs to Muslim thinker Malek Bennabi (1905- 1973), an Algerian who felt to the bone that colonialism, born at the turn of the last century, had oppressed many parts of the Muslim world.

These two great figures certainly have many aspects that we can focus on and discuss. But, in my opinion, what distinguishes these two intellectuals, who tried to find the cause of the fall of the Muslim world, is that they draw attention to the internal problems among Muslims rather than to external enemies or the colonialist policies of the Western countries.

Like everyone else, they could not turn a blind eye to the developments external to the Muslim world, the brutality of its enemies and the conspiratorial policies of the West. They condemned and fought against these.

These two intellectuals did not manifest the slightest hesitation in rushing to the war front to defend their countries.

When Ottoman territories were occupied by Czarist Russia, we saw Nursi and his students fighting against the enemy.

Similarly, when the navies of the Western states occupied İstanbul at the end of World War I, he wrote strongly worded articles in the newspapers of the time, urging people to "spit on the face of the cruel British"; he also lent full support to the War of Independence led by Mustafa Kemal.

Despite French colonialists' obstructions, Bennabi worked with a never-ending energy and an incredible courage to raise awareness among the youth. He left France to join the National 56

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Liberation Front for the independence of Algeria.

What makes these two figures, both of whom fought directly against the enemy and never flinched in the face of the enemy, original in their approach is that they opt to focus on the inside rather than searching for scapegoats outside the Muslim world.

According to observations Nursi voiced at the Umayyad Mosque 100 years ago, there are two causes of the problem, and without addressing them, it is futile to put blame on others. In his works, Nursi constantly underlines the crisis of civilization and faith. "Our enemies are ignorance, dissension and poverty. We will fight against these three enemies with art, knowledge and alliance," he says.

Similarly, Bennabi, as a person who personally witnessed occupation and colonialism, sees that the problem is an internal one. For him, the historical decline of the Muslim world started before its encounter with the West, and the Muslim world was already ready to "be exploited" when it came in contact with the West. This is the internal reason for our backwardness. As these internal causes combined with external ones -- i.e., colonialism and its adverse effects -- the Muslim world found itself in an inextricable vicious circle. That is, colonialism came to being as a result of internal diseases. Therefore, what must be done is to stick to knowledge and learning so that we can no longer be open to exploitation.

A speech Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu delivered at the 14th General Assembly of the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) held in Islamabad in January of this year is a sign that the 57-member OIC has come closer to the perspective of looking inside for the source of the problem, as noted in the views of Nursi and Bennabi.

The organization was established upon a decision of a historical summit which took place in Rabat, Morocco, on Rajab 12, 1389 Hijri (Sept. 25, 1969) as a result of the criminal arson of the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. This reactivity is at the heart of it. Moreover, as many parts of the Muslim world, and especially Palestine, are occupied and oppressed, and as Islamophobia is gaining traction in the West, no one can expect the OIC to just sit and watch. Actually, it should not sit and watch.

A Ten-Year Action Plan adopted in 2005 in light of principles set forth by the wise men of the Muslim world who came together in Mecca signifies a new era. This era urges the organization, in addition to being reactionary, to take action and develop and implement concrete targets in many critical areas, including the economy, culture, education, research and development projects, human rights and food security. In other words, it seeks to combat, in Nursi's words, ignorance and poverty and to make the Muslim world no longer prone to be exploited, as noted by Bennabi.

The facts discussed at the COMSTECH meeting in Islamabad not only indicate that the fundamental problems in the Muslim world have not changed much over the past 100 years, but also promise that a different target has been set ahead in comparison to the past. According to the world average, there are 2,500 scientists for every 1 million people. This average is only 650 in OIC countries -- that is, only a quarter of the world average.

One of the major targets included in the OIC's action plan is to ensure that each member allocates 1 percent of its gross national product (GNP) to research and development (R&D) activities. In 2005, when this target was set forth, the OIC's

average was 0.2 percent. The results of the five-year review are promising as this figure doubled to become 0.42 percent.

In Turkey, this rate increased from 0.48 percent in 2003 to 0.73 in 2008. It aims to boost it to 2 percent by 2013. The progress made during the last five years is impressive. Pakistan's rate for 2008 was 0.68 percent while Tunisia, currently in the news for its Jasmine revolution, is one of the few countries that attained the 1 percent target.

One of the indicators monitored by the OIC in the same context is the number of scientific and academic articles published in Muslim countries. Although these countries are behind the world average, there is a promising upward trend in this field as well. According to the OIC's statistics, in 2000, 18,391 articles were published in Muslim countries while this figure rose threefold to 63,342 in 2009. A notable fact is that Turkey and Iran play a dominant role in this field. A total of 20,000 and 13,400 scientific articles were published in Turkey

and Iran, respectively, accounting for more than half of the articles published in the rest of the Muslim countries.

I was only able to analyze one field here. For instance, I wish we could only analyze developments in boosting trade or cooperation in strategic products among OIC members. If we could only examine the monthly and periodical reports issued by the Islamophobia Observatory, which reports concrete incidents in each country, instead of uttering empty rhetoric against this dangerous movement which is on the rise in the West, it would be possible to better understand the OIC's new direction. But don't worry. Even if we cannot examine them, the OIC will conduct a five-year performance assessment of all targets specified in the action plan and the results will be forwarded to foreign ministers and heads of state. Let us hope that these results would be positive and the new vision of the OIC, one that focuses on the actual or real diseases of the Muslim community, is pursued with a stronger will.

OIC participates in Meeting on Combating Terrorism and Extremism

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) participated in the Meeting on the Role of the Internet in Combating Terrorism and Extremism, held in Riyadh from 24 – 26 January 2011 under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad Ibn Nayef Ibn Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs.

The Head of the Department of Information Technology at the OIC General Secretariat, Wajdi Al-Quliti, represented the OIC in the meeting and presented a working paper. In his paper, he said that the OIC had a firm position on combating terrorism anchored on Islamic teachings, which encourages peace and tolerance and considers terrorism in all its forms and manifestations one of the most dangerous crimes. He added that the OIC was working to nip terrorism in the

bud through several means -political, economic, social and technological. He recalled that the OIC marshaled its efforts throughout the past decades and, in July 1999, was able to adopt a convention on combating terrorism, signed by all Member States.

The Conference was organized by the Nayef Arab University for Security Studies in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Counter-Terrorism Group at the United Nations, the International Counter-Terrorism Center, the USA and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The significance of the meeting lies in the major and influential role of the Internet being a cheap and widely spread means of conveying messages and information.

S&T delegation discusses proposals on emerging technologies

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - A delegation of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South Asia (COMSATS) Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) met OIC Secretary General Prof.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on 5 March 2011 at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah. The CIIT delegation included Federal Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan Irfan Nadeem, Rector COMSATS Dr. Junaid Zaidi, and Registrar CIIT Dr. Arshad Malik.

The visiting delegation briefed the OIC Secretary General about COMSATS and the work of the CIIT for the promotion of science and technology among COMSATS Member States and shared with the Secretary General concrete proposals for establishing OIC-CIIT collaboration in the areas of higher education, and science and technology with particular emphasis on emerging technologies, such as information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and environmental sciences.

CIIT offered 50 scholarships for students from the OIC Member States in masters degree programs being conducted

by CIIT in different disciplines. The scholarship program

will be processed through the OIC General Secretariat.

Moreover, the CIIT will offer 5 research fellowships of 8 weeks duration to post doctoral research fellows from OIC Member States in subjects such as physics, mathematics, nanotechnology, environmental sciences etc. The CIIT requested the OIC Secretary General to patronize the establishment of chaired professorships in selected fields by CIIT. CIIT will also institute an OIC Gold Medal, which will be awarded to outstanding students.

The OIC Secretary General thanked the delegation for its generous offers and underscored the significance of science and technology for the socio-economic progress of the Muslim world. He agreed to partner with CIIT for the establishment of a world-class center in telecommunications engineering.

The OIC General Secretariat and CIIT will be working closely for the early implementation of the scholarship and fellowship programs offered by the CIIT and the establishment of the ‘Telecommunications Engineering Center of Excellence’.

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Economy IDB and AfDB Groups sign new US$ 1 billion partnership MOU

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group Vice-President Dr. Birama Boubacar Sidibe and the Vice-President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Dr. Kamal El Kheshen signed on December 21, 2010 a billion dollar worth Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Under the MOU, the AfDB and IDB will each earmark an amount equivalent to US $500 million over a period of three years starting with 2011, for co-financing of sovereign projects in their common member countries.

The sectors of intervention are drawn from the AfDB Medium Term Strategy and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Special Program for the Development of Africa focusing on priority areas, namely: infrastructure, water and sanitation, regional integration, education, social infrastructure as well as agriculture and food security, institutional capacity building, training and statistics.

“The objective of this co-financing MOU will be to foster economic development and social progress in order to

coordinate co-financing projects and to promote economic development and technical cooperation in common member countries, said AfDB Vice-President Kamal El Kheshen, adding; “This is aimed at reducing poverty level in the African continent and uplifting the level of revenues.”

The MOU between the IDB and the AfDB is expected to reinforce the ongoing cooperation and open up avenues for increasing the effectiveness of development policies through real partnerships between the two institutions. The two will also share their respective strengths, knowledge and resources to promote economic development in Africa.

Both the AfDB and the IDB established in 1963 and 1975, respectively, have been seeking similar agendas of tackling poverty, promoting of economic development and spearheading human development and social progress within their member countries while IDB reaches out for the realization of the same mandates in Muslim communities in non-member countries as well.

OIC hails the increasing cooperation with ECO

Istanbul, Turkey - The burgeoning collaboration between the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) came under focus in the message of the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to the 11th Summit of the ECO, which concluded its proceedings in Istanbul, Turkey on 23 December 2010.

Recalling that the total ECO Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 30% of the total OIC GDP, the Secretary General, represented by Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, enumerated

the latest OIC programs aimed at the socio-economic development of the ECO member countries. He specifically mentioned the Special Program for the Development of Central Asia, the implementation of the TurkmenistanKazakhstan-Iran Railway Project, and the proposed construction of the Dushanbe-MazariSharif-Herat railway as examples of the recent areas of collaboration with member states of ECO. On the global partnership for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Secretary General reiterated the commitment of the OIC, in its capacity

as member of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan, to scale up its participation in the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA).

Heads of State and Government of eight ECO member states attended the Summit, while Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were represented at the level of Deputy Minister and Ambassador, respectively. The Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and representatives of the Syrian President and the Emir of Qatar attended as special guests.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The 3rd Meeting of the OIC Statistical Working Group (OIC-SWG), which took place in January 2011 at the IDB Headquarters in Jeddah, acknowledged the unprecedented challenges posed by the economic and financial crisis, which requires high quality data to gauge its impact on the economies of OIC Member States and the need for new statistical indicators to address the development challenges facing Member States in the post-crisis world.

The aim of the OIC-SWG is to strengthen coordination, harmonization

and standardization of statistical activities among the OIC institutions with a view to avoiding duplication of efforts and reporting conflicting figures in their publications.

The participants expressed their determination to work together to advance and strengthen partnership through coordination, collaboration, and cooperation in all areas of statistical activities needed to support various initiatives of OIC, its subsidiaries, and Member States as well as the OIC Tenyear Program of Action.

Underscoring the vital role played by statistics in socio-economic

development of OIC Member States, the meeting called on governments of the OIC Member States to provide more resources and create enabling environment for National Statistical Organizations (NSOs) to discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently. Acknowledging the progress made by OIC-SWG members in implementing statistical activities so far, the meeting recognized that more work needs to be done to complete the activities that need urgent attention and recommended IDB to follow-up with members on the deadlines to complete the assignments.

Quality data needed to gauge impact of economic crisis on OIC States

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Challenges and future prospects of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) held a two-day Expert Group Meeting (on 28- 29 December 2010), comprising experts from member countries. The meeting reviewed the progress made so far by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and discussed the way forward. The meeting also discussed the challenges facing the Fund and considered ways and means of enhancing its capacity to combat poverty in OIC member countries.

The President of the IDB Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali addressed the meeting and the Fund’s Director Dr. Bashir Omar Fadlalla made a presentation on the ISFD. The ISFD was established by the OIC Extraordinary Summit, held in Makkah in December 2005 and became operational in 2007. The Fund’s objective is to fight poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and diseases, such as malaria and HIV-AIDS in OIC member countries. The Fund’s target capital has been set at US$10 billion, of which so far US$2.63 billion has been committed by member countries and the IDB. The ISFD’s total approvals have thus far reached US$ 515

million covering infrastructural, agricultural, educational, professional training and SME projects. The Fund has two 5-year thematic programs for Micro-Financing and Vocational Training worth a total of US$ 500 million each over the plan period.

The Meeting has called on the current chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to continue with efforts urging the international body’s Member States to further speed up fulfilling their pledges to the capital of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD). The Meeting came up with a number of recommendations, including establishment of a group of eminent figures to act as a high-level advocacy and resource mobilization vehicle for the ISFD, which will be mandated to undertake road shows for mobilizing resources for the Fund. Expressing gratitude to member countries that have already contributed to the capital of the Fund, the Experts urged for completion of the partly accomplished pledges as well as scaling up of the said contributions commensurate with their financial capabilities in order to speed up achievement of the noble objectives of the Fund.

IDB hosts the Fifth Conference on Development Finance Institutions Corporate Governance

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) hosted on 24- 26 January 2011 the Fifth Annual Conference on Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

Representatives from 30 Development Finance Institutions (DFI) discussed a number of issues concerning corporate governance and the role that these institutions play to face the global economic crisis.

Corporate governance is a process for the direction and control of companies and its relationship with the management.

In his keynote speech Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB President, underlined the importance of efforts exerted

by DFIs for fostering corporate governance, noting that shortcomings in this arena world wide played a major role in creating the roots of the international financial crisis which hit the world in 2007 and exacerbated in 2008 and 2009, and that the world is still suffering from its compounded repercussions.

He added that in 2007 most DFIs represented in the conference have signed the “DFI Approach Statement” on corporate governance, which reflected the increasing need of DFIs to help investment companies in improving their structures and practices pertaining to corporate governance, which would help improve their performance and facilitate their access to capital resources in local and international

markets, in addition to stepping up transparency, information disclosure and improving these companies’ decision making.

Dr. Ali stated that corporate governance would improve capital markets, expand its range and improve the security of its trading bonds.

DFIs have signed the ‘Toolkit of Corporate Governance’ in 2007. Since that time, four DFIs annual conferences were held in Washington, Paris, Tunisia, and Rio de Janeiro.

The Multilateral Committee consisting of those institutions aims at evaluating the commitment of the DFIs towards the governance principles, enhancing the cooperation between the institutions, and conducting annual conferences to keep eyes on the development achieved by those institutions.

The DFIs give a big consideration to the corporate governance to achieve many objectives such as reducing investment risks, improving performance, and developing capital markets.

The Toolkit, which has been approved by DFIs, includes instruction sheet that introduces the concept of corporate governance and its significance. It also includes five areas of governance. This is in addition to a questionnaire establishing the basis for corporate governance review.

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Closer Cooperation between OIC and the WAEMU explored Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu received in audience the President of the Commission of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Soumaila Cisse at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on 12 March 2011.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the current level of bilateral relations existing between their two organizations while reviewing the progress realized on the implementation of the various joint projects, aimed at rapid socioeconomic transformation of the economies of their common members.

They also agreed to work

expeditiously on the accession of WAEMU member states to the OIC Trade Preferential System (TPS-OIC), including the effective participation of these countries in the various OIC economic programs in the domain of poverty eradication, cotton rehabilitation, infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, among others.

The two sides directed their joint technical team to commence elaboration of a time table for the examination and implementation of the agreed priorities between the OIC General Secretariat and the Commission of WAEMU. Back in January 22, 2011 at the

15th Summit of WAEMU, the OIC Secretary General has urged Heads of State and Government of West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) to increase the participation of its Member States in the OIC Preferential Trade System (TPS-OIC).

In his address at the summit in Bamako, Mali, Ihsanoglu expressing optimism that the promotion and harmonization of trade policies would stimulate growth of the economies of WAEMU Member States, he expressed satisfaction that the OIC trade financing activities in the eight Member States of the Union reached US$3.135 billion in 2010.

$90 million from IDB for the development of an indigenous fuel based power project in Pakistan Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Vice President (Operations) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Birama Boubacar Sidibe has signed an agreement to extend long term lease finance (Ijara) facility of up to US$90 million for the development of the Uch-II combined cycle independent power plant project in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan. The project will be sponsored by International Power plc of UK. The project shall add a net generation capacity of 375MW to the national grid under a 25-year contract with the National Transmission and Distribution Company (NTDC) of Pakistan

and thereby make a significant contribution to improving the power supply situation of the country. The project shall use indigenous low BTU (British thermal unit) natural gas from the Uch gas field and thereby shall reduce dependency on expensive imported fuel. Uch II Power project is expected to supply power at a very competitive price.

Besides IDB, the project is also expected to receive long-term debt finance from the Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Increased role of the private sector in the economic development of OIC countries urged

Sharjah, UAE - “The OIC attaches great importance to strengthening economic partnership with all stakeholders to enhance the welfare of peoples living in OIC Member States,” emphasized the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. In his speech at the opening ceremony of the First Sharjah Business Forum held in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates on 27 February 2011, the Secretary General stated that the OIC would reach out to the various national and regional business associations to encourage their robust participation in OIC programs and projects.

The First Sharjah Business Forum was inaugurated by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. The Forum 60

was organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the theme ‘Complementarity between the GCC Market and the Business Sector’.

Illustrating the increasing business opportunities in OIC Member States, the OIC Secretary General indicated that trade activities in OIC countries constituted about 10% of the entire world trade with the overall value of merchandise trade exchanges between the OIC Member States and other countries of the world amounting in 2009 to US$2.56 trillion.

On the need for people-topeople partnership in the economic development of OIC countries, the Secretary General also enjoined the Private Sector in OIC countries to work towards unlocking the capacities of OIC citizens, encourage projects that

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would enhance employment generation and develop the technological knowhow of workers in small and medium scale enterprises.

About 25 enterprises from 10 countries and 250 local businesspeople participated in the First Sharjah Business Forum 2011. The Forum highlighted the new opportunities for economic cooperation and trade exchange between the GCC countries, activating the role of the Gulf Common Market in promoting the economic dynamics and accelerating the development motion in the region. It also helped promote the business environment of the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular, attracting new capitals to the region, as well as addressing the challenges facing investments and investors in the GCC countries.

The Lord Mayor of London discusses cooperation with IDB President

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali met on 12 February 2011 at the IDB Headquarters in Jeddah with the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of the City of London Alderman Michael Bear and his accompanying delegation.

Dr. Ali who stressed the importance of the annual coordination meetings between the two parties commended the tangible development of IDB relations with the business community in London, which poses an international hub for Islamic finance industry.

For his part, the Lord Mayor of London expressed his keenness on developing relations with IDB in fields of mutual concerns especially Islamic finance, and he reviewed their projects geared towards the development of Islamic community in London.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Hinai, IDB VicePresident provided a review on the IDB’s Sukuk issuance program, noting that London has presented a very important road show center for these programs, and discussed the Bank’s plan for issuing Sterling denominated Sukuk.

The two parties expressed desire

Dr. Ali with Lord Mayor Bear

to coordinate respective activities in fields of education and poverty alleviation. They also touched on IDB relations with the Princesses Trust Mosaic Charity Program, Department for International Development and cooperation with British universities.

Hundreds of thousands of Hajj sacrificial meat distributed among poor

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Within the framework of the Saudi Project for Utilizing of Hajj Meat, managed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), meat was distributed among poor in the Muslim world. It was distributed through charitable organizations in Makkah, Madinah and the rest of cities and regions in Saudi Arabia according to the distribution plan approved in 1431H, which requires distributing 700 thousand sacrificial Hajj meat among poor in Makkah and to about 270 charitable organizations in all regions of Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the President of IDB, stated that based on the above-mentioned plan, 231 thousand quantities of Hajj meat would be distributed among poor and needy in 24 countries in Asia and Africa.

In this context, several ships sailed in January and February from Jeddah Islamic Port to ports of Muslim countries in Africa and Asia to deliver the meat.

Missions from the IDB were present at each of these countries to oversee the distribution process.

Youth employment efforts in Arab countries is supported by IDB Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors, during its meeting on 28 February 2011 stressed its support for the efforts being undertaken through the IDB programs aimed at combating unemployment and providing employment opportunities for youth through the establishment of small and medium scale business projects in a number of Arab countries that have recently experienced change.

Within this framework, the IDB Board decided to allocate an amount of US$250 million to enable those countries to support investments aimed at alleviating poverty and

creating new employment opportunities for youth.

This assistance will enhance building institutional capacity of those countries either by supporting training programs that meet labor market needs, or by supporting micro finance institutions (MFIs), vocational training, and lines of financing for small and medium scale enterprises.

The Board went further to stress on the importance of following-up of the new developments to decide what is to be done in order to enhance the role of these institutions.

This assistance is to be added to the 2011 IDB ordinary operations programmed for those affected countries.

ITFC, Gambia sign $12 million agreement for purchasing groundnuts

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the Republic of Gambia signed US$12 million Murabaha agreement on 7 March 2011 in Jeddah for purchasing groundnuts for the benefit of Gambia’s Groundnuts Corporation. The Agreement was

signed by Mamburi Njie, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, the IDB Governor for the Republic of Gambia, and Hani Sunbul, Deputy CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). Njie met also with IDB President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali and discusses his country's relations

with the Bank. The IDB is engaged in many development projects in Gambia, and participated in the construction of more than 70% of its road network as part of its efforts to alleviate poverty, unemployment, and promote economic and social development in member countries.

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Agreement on Draft OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Second Meeting of OIC Working Group on Cooperation with Central Asia, which aims to increase cooperation and coordination between countries of Central Asia and the rest of the OIC members, was held at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah on 2 February 2011. The first such meeting was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 28 June 2010.

The Meeting agreed on a draft ‘OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia’. The plan includes a proposal for an OIC regional conference on Central Asia and it consists of eight components: i) Agro-Industrial Development, ii) Transport Sector Development, iii) Trade Promotion, iv) Poverty Alleviation, Vocational Training and Capacity Building, v) Research, Education, Science and Technology, vi) Cultural Tourism, vii) Health Sector

Cooperation and viii) the General Principle.

The Meeting also agreed on the issues that should be considered for the implementation of Plan of Action, including the timeframe of three years and an OIC Economic Forum to publicize, create awareness and mobilize resources for various activities in this Plan.

The report of OIC Working Group on Cooperation with Central Asia will be submitted to the Senior Officials Meeting of High Level Regional Conference on Central Asia, which will hold its first session during the forthcoming Session of the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs (ICECS) to be held in Jeddah in April 2011. The Ministerial segment of the Conference will be held on the sideline of the 38th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Astana, Kazakhstan.

FAO warns of another global food crisis Milan, Italy - Global food prices hit a record high in February, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said, warning that fresh oil price hikes and stockpiling by importers keen to head off popular unrest would hit already volatile cereal markets.

The Food Price Index of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hit its second straight record in February, further passing peaks seen in 2008 when prices sparked riots in several countries, driven by rising grain costs and tighter supply.

Oil prices recently hit 2 and half year highs, nearing

records set in 2008, with markets spooked on concern that North African and Middle East unrest would choke key supplies. Farmers depend on fuel to run agricultural machinery, while dry bulk shippers are heavy oil users, costs which are passed on to food buyers.

FAO in a statement on March 3 said it expected a tightening of the global cereal supply and demand balance in 2010/ 11. “In the face of growing demand and decline in world cereal production in 2010, global cereal stocks this year are expected to fall sharply because of a decline in inventories of wheat and coarse grains,” the agency said.

G20 agree on economic indicators

Paris, France – Finance ministers of the world’s major economies reached an agreement on how to measure global economic imbalances after China prevented the use of exchange rates and currency reserve as indicators.

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who chaired the Group of 20 talks, said the deal represented a significant step towards better coordination of economic policies worldwide to help prevent another financial crisis.

Ministers and central bank governors agreed on a list of indicators, including public debts and fiscal deficits, private

savings and private debt, trade balance and other components of the balance of payments, such as net investment flows.

Lagarde said the indicators were not binding targets but would lead to the drafting of guidelines for coordinated economic policies to reduce distortions and then to a mutual assessment process.

The G20 Communiqué said ministers agreed to work on strengthening the international monetary system to help avoid disruptive fluctuations in capital flows and disorderly movements in exchange rates.

More than 80 countries sign new IEF charter

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Oil ministers and delegates from 87 countries signed on February 22, 2011 the new International Energy Forum (IEF) Charter, which aims to bring new stability to global oil markets for the benefit of both consumers and producers.

The Agreement, signed in Riyadh at the International Energy Forum extraordinary ministerial meeting, clears the

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way for more dialogue between parties on either side of the energy equation and expands the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), which tracks supply-and-demand issues to minimize price spikes in either direction. The Meeting also spotlights new levels of international cooperation designed to increase transparency and access to information on both the supply and demand sides of the energy equation.

An Analysis of the OIC Budget for 2011 and Financial Management Dr. Mustafa Deniz

Director General of Administration and Finance, OIC

The OIC budget for the fiscal year of 2011 has been adopted by the 39th Permanent Finance Committee (PFC), held on 27 - 29 December 2010 in Jeddah, with an increase of 28.4 % as of the contributions from the 57 Member States’ national budgets and 8 % from the previous year’s budget of the General Secretariat. This increase demonstrates the trust of the Member States in the present administration and the immense enthusiasm for more contributions and commitments to enhance the involvement of the OIC General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs in world affairs to emerge as an effective, active, sound and credible intergovernmental organization. Moreover, the PFC has adopted all submitted increases in budgets of the subsidiary organs of the OIC, namely of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) based in Jeddah, the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) also based in Jeddah, the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) based in Istanbul, the Statistical, Economic, and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) based in Ankara, the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) based in Dhaka and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) based in Casablanca. These approvals have revealed budgetary increases of 23.5 % for SESRIC, 21.9 % for IRCICA, 17 % for ICDT, 12.8 % for IUT, and 10 % for IIFA respectively, while ISF wished to remain in the same level of 2010.

As the OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stated in his inaugural speech to the PFC that the new reality of the OIC is revealed in the growing confidence shown by its Member States, which was reflected by sharp increase in honouring the commitments to the mandatory contributions by Member States - the number of Member States not paying their financial obligations was reduced from 21 in 2005 to only 5 in 2010 – and the successful financial administration running under his management.

The collection rate of the budgetary commitments has reached 80 % of the approved budget, which constitutes a great ratio as compared to those of similar international institutions.

Ihsanoglu also said the Organization has emerged as effective, credible and respected as well as leading

prestigious international organization, consequently an increasing number of non-member States wish to join into it or develop work relations with it.

The OIC is currently entering in other new areas, with great prospects opened by the Extraordinary Summit of Makkah and the adoption of the Ten-year programme of action (TYPOA), which entrusted the Organization with the duty to carry out its implementation, in cooperation with Member States. The Summit is considered a renaissance for a nation, the Islamic Ummah, which represents almost a quarter of the world population. Clearly it is a huge responsibility requiring exceptional efforts and resources for the construction process of the great Islamic entity. With the budget of 2011, the OIC entered into the second phase of TYPOA, in which many programs are to be implemented.

To achieve these aims outlined in the TYPOA and create a sustainable, sophisticated knowledge-based professional society at the organizational level, the Ihsanoglu administration has endeavoured to recruit highly qualified and distinguished specialists. This aim yielded not only an increase in the number of staff at the General Secretariat and its overseas offices from 156 in 2005 to 196 by the end of 2010, but also in staff composition where among the staff there are 17 PhD holders, 55 MA and 50 BA who are distinctively positioned. Thus, OIC staff members with high university degrees have reached 122, which represent 62% of the total staff members.

During 2010, the OIC General Directorate of Administration and Finance has achieved two important relocations. First, the New York office has moved to its new premises owned by the OIC, which was achieved by the usage of extraordinary financial resources and its savings from the budget allocations by effective cash flow management, and second, the Secretariat has settled in its new premises in Jeddah which has almost three times larger space than the previous one. Both movements were ventured with the individual efforts of the Secretary General and his dedicated staff members. Similar effort is projected to inaugurate Brussels Office as a mission to the European Union in 2011. These will help improve the institutional building and corporate image of the Organization.

Through developing its overall financial structure, the OIC General Secretariat aims at improving its managerial skills and digitalize the organizational management and to raise the financial and administrative standards of the OIC to those levels of similar intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations. The Financial management of the OIC included this issue on its agenda and aims to finalize this important task in a reasonable timeframe. One of the major aims in addition to the digitalization is to make gradual shift of financial management system into a program-based budgeting and financial management, which will provide an accountable, transparent and measurable management with performance indicators. To this end, the Department is planning programming and budgeting a system which will be the beginning of a new era for the OIC. 63

Reports Mid-Term Review of OIC Ten-Year Program of Action The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) commemorated in December 2010 the fifth anniversary of the historic Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit, held in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia on 7 and 8 December 2005.

The Makkah Declaration issued by the Summit highlighted the challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah and called for addressing them through a strategic vision, which plans for the future just as it maintains a responsive pulse to international developments, so as to gradually refine itself into a forward-looking vision that enables the Muslim world to tackle these challenges by leveraging the collective will and joint Islamic action of the Member States.

The Summit also adopted a blueprint called the OIC TenYear Program of Action (TYPOA) to face the Challenges of the Muslim Ummah in the 21st century for the period running from 2005 to 2015. This reference document called for reviving the Muslim Ummah's pioneering role as a fine example of tolerance and enlightened moderation and a force for international peace and harmony.

In implementing the new vision and goals for the Muslim world, the role of the OIC is central. Since the beginning of implementation of the TYPOA, the OIC has managed to make some tangible achievements, which, among others, include the adoption of a new Charter for the OIC at the 11th Session of the OIC Islamic Summit held in Dakar, Senegal on 13 and 14 March 2008.

The OIC Secretary General, as mandated by the Islamic Summit, has embarked on reforming the OIC General Secretariat and the OIC institutions starting with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) to enable it to coordinate religious rulings (fatwas) authorities in the Muslim world, an objective that has been successfully met. Similarly, great efforts have been made to reform the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU), whose restructuring processes have been finalized. Likewise, establishment of a permanent secretariat for the Standing Committee on Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC) in Dakar was announced during the eighth session of COMIAC. The Secretariat is expected to coordinate programs and activities in the information and cultural fields and harmonize OIC institutions' work in these two fields.

The OIC has achieved encouraging progress with regard to other vital issues such as combating terrorism and promoting human rights. A number of OIC Member States have adopted the OIC Convention on Combating Terrorism; and an OIC Observatory on Islamophobia has been established at the OIC General Secretariat. The OIC has also endorsed establishment of an Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights, which will be established in due course.

In the political domain, the OIC has established an office

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in Baghdad in addition to the existing offices in New York and Geneva. More offices will be established in a number of capitals of some OIC Member States. Due to the efforts of the Secretary General and his active participation in events organized by regional and international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the African Union and other organizations, the OIC has gained presence and more international visibility.

It has become a strategic partner of the United Nations and brokered peace agreements concerning many troubled areas in the Middle East such as in the case of Chad and Sudan as well as southern Philippines.

On the issue of Palestine, the OIC has made continuous efforts which, among others, culminated in the OIC group in Geneva calling for a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on 2 June 2010 to discuss the Israeli aggression on the Freedom Flotilla and to form an independent investigation committee. Besides supporting educational and health institutions in Al-Quds city, the Secretary General has contacted many international parties, including the USA, EU, UN and UNESCO, urging them to take necessary action to make Israel abide by the international law and stop its aggressions on the city of Al-Quds.

Since the adoption of the Ten Year Program of Action, which also called for an increase in intra-OIC trade to the level of 20% in 2015, various trade promotion, trade facilitation and trade-financing strategies have resulted in an increase in intra-OIC trade from 14.5% in 2004 to a recent figure of 16.6% in 2009. In a related domain, the ‘OIC Framework for Development and Cooperation in the domain of Tourism between the OIC Member States’ has proved that the OIC is ready to pool the vast tourism resources and potentials for collective development. Cooperation of the OIC Member States in the domain of cotton and textile has also been expanded.

The OIC has embarked on a number of programs and joint projects in the health sector and has made encouraging progress. Example of such joint projects includes the OICUS cooperation on mother and child health, polio eradication, vaccines and drugs production and elimination of malaria.

In this context, the OIC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In the humanitarian sphere, the OIC has established a Humanitarian Department to oversee the OIC's programs and activities related to humanitarian affairs to improve the conditions of people in areas and countries affected by natural or man-made calamities. The Department has helped affected people in Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, Niger, Sudan, and Somalia. Field offices have been established in many of these countries to coordinate humanitarian assistance for the affected people.

Prospects and Challenges of International Tourism in OIC Countries Ankara, Turkey - As a group, the OIC member countries have a high potential for the development of a sustainable international tourism sector because of their rich and diverse natural, geographical, historical, and cultural heritage assets, asserts a recent report issued by The Statistical, Economic and Social Research Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).

Therefore, international tourism is a very important sector that could, if properly planned and managed, play a significant role in the economic development of the OIC countries.

Tourism has been identified in 1994 as one of the ten priority areas of cooperation in the Plan of Action to Strengthen Economic and Commercial Cooperation among the Member Countries of the OIC. Recently tourism assumed a greater importance on the agenda of the OIC, considering that seven Islamic conferences of tourism ministers and a number of expert group meetings and seminars on tourism development were held since the 1st Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers was held in Iran in October 2000. In these conferences and meetings, the OIC member countries adopted a number of declarations, programs and plans of action for the development and promotion of tourism, in which they decided, among other things, to boost cooperation in tourism through the promotion of public awareness, education, training, investment opportunities, and the involvement of the private sectors. However, according to the SESRIC report, it seems that the desirable levels of tourism development and cooperation in many OIC countries, and in the OIC region as a whole, have not yet been achieved. Therefore, albeit a crucial factor, the inherent natural tourism resources cannot, by itself, make a successful tourism industry unless properly planned and managed.

The challenges facing tourism and the development of a sustainable international tourism sector in the OIC countries are diverse as each country has its own tourism features, level of development, and national development priorities and policies. According to the report, in the case of many OIC countries, these challenges still include: • The lack of technical know-how and the weak promotional activity.

• Lack of sufficient infrastructures necessary for the development of a sustainable tourism industry.

• Shortage in tourism investments.

• Developing consistent tourism strategies and policies.

• Lack of effective administration, regulation and institutional frameworks of the tourism activity.

• Lack of tourism diversification • Lack of tourism safety in some member countries.

However, despite all these challenges and the modest share of the OIC countries in the world tourism market, there still is a wide scope for the development of a sustainable international tourism industry in those countries. Overall, this necessitates the adoption of articulate long-term strategies as well as medium to short-term coherent plans and programs at the national level that would be accompanied by a process

of creating a supportive OIC cooperation environment at the regional level. The report makes recommendations at both the national and the OIC cooperation level to serve as policy guidelines for decision makers.

At the national level: • The promotion of sustainable tourism development should be an integral part of the national development plans and strategies.

• The quality and efficiency of the basic tourismrelated infrastructures and services such as hotels, roads, public amenities, transportation and communication, tourism information, and visa regulations should be improved based on international standards to provide world-class services to visitors and tourists.

• Efforts should be made to encourage and promote extensive private sector involvement in tourism development • Tourism-oriented education should be promoted and developed.

At the OIC cooperation level: • Joint programs and promotional materials on tourism in the OIC member countries should be developed and made available to the member countries as well as to other countries around the world.

• The establishment of alliances between tourism stakeholders in the OIC countries should be encouraged.

• Linkages in air, land, rail, and sea transportation should be facilitated and established.

• Tourism visa and other legal and administrative travel procedures should be simplified.

• Efforts should be made to promote and encourage public and/or private joint venture investments in tourism projects through providing special facilities and preferential treatments for investors from the OIC countries.

• Joint training/vocational programs on various aspects of the tourism industry should also be developed and organized.

International Tourism by Region (% of World Total)

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Chefchaouen: History meets serenity in Morocco Chefchaouen, Morocco (dpa) - Visitors of the bustling streets in the biggest Moroccan cities may become overwhelmed by the waves of heat, white pollution and the feverish rush of businesses in the crowded alleys typical of large cities around the world.

The smells from side-street stalls selling food and spices penetrate the air and conquer all senses while different forms of transportation manuever through the streets.

This active, energetic and crowded nature in many parts of Morocco can cause stress and tension after a little while, but the city of Chefchaouen, located in the northwestern part, offers tourist the opportunity to experience something different and to recharge their energy for a couple of days.

Being in the middle of the mountains in the Moroccan countryside Chefchaouen, or Chaouen as Moroccans call it, offers an excellent alternative of an environment of relaxation and a rich culture of Arabic and Andalusia heritage. There, one can enjoy the pure mountains breeze and observe the city's old buildings with it's blue skycolored walls and background of the city's scenery of green mountain edges covered by rice, oak and pine trees.

An enchanting historical sensation radiates from the Chefchaouen's downtown where Place Uta Hammam is sheltered by trees and paved with stones making it the prefect gathering point for the city's elderly. They come wearing their colorful customs and sit gazing at the busy cafes and restaurants while the waiters serve the crowd local dishes that consist of spiced cooked meat with vegetables called tajin, the Arabic word for the pottery pots the meal is cooked in.

The clear lights break out form the mountains making the red fences of the historical Kasbah building and the 66

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grand mosque looks even more magnificent and glamorous. The city’s founder Ali Bin Moussa Bin Rashed Al Alami built the mosque in 1471 when he came to Morocco from Andalusia.

From afar distance the mosque minaret can be seen and the two sides of the mountains above the city resembles the horns of a goat.

Indeed the name of the city Chefchaouen is originated from a Berber word that translates to horns.

Many of the Muslims who departed Andalusia at the end of the fifteenth century landed in Chefchaouen and influenced the city's unique architecture. For centuries Chefchaouen remained a holy city and non-Muslims were not allowed to enter the city, but that changed since 1920.

The city's exceptional beauty is revealed at night during the call for prayer. Visitors who wish to stay in the city will not have a problem in finding rooms in a variety of many hotels. The night rate in one double-bed room covered with mosaic is 150 dirham (around $18). Most of the city's hotels have a rooftop that allows its visitors to enjoy the spectacular priceless view of the star filled sky. Travelers with limited budgets can easily find a place to stay in at least during the summer season.

They can also have breakfast in the city's many downtown cafes that consist of fresh peppermint, baguette, and citrus jams and start their tour from there all the way through the tiny alleys and hills.

Traveling from Chefchaouen towards the north, tourists quickly find themselves surrounded by mountains, but walking from there for an extra half an hour the scenery opens up showing the blue and white fences of Chefchaouen surrounded by greenery. Chefchaouen is truly the destination of those who seek a refuge form daily lives’ stress.

C O U N T R Y

KUWAIT Full Name: State of Kuwait Capital: Kuwait City Population: 3,566,437 (2010 estimate) Area: 17,818 square kilometers Official Language: Arabic Monetary Unit: Kuwaiti Dinar Geography: The State of Kuwait is situated in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. The country is divided into six governorates which are subdivided into districts. Kuwait is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north.

The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. The country is generally low lying, with the highest point being 306 m above sea-level. It has nine islands, all of which with the exception of Failaka Island are uninhabited. With an area of 860 km2, the Bubiyan is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a 2,380 m long bridge.

The land area is considered arable and sparse vegetation is found along its 499 km long coastline.

Kuwait City: Kuwait City is the capital with numerous high-rise office buildings, luxury hotels, wide boulevards and well-tended parks with lush green gardens. The charm of Kuwait City invites visitors and residents alike to spend hours exploring historical and cultural points of interest, all of which are situated within short driving distances from each other. An oasis in the desert, the city offers a fascinating blend of the old Arab world with clear evidence of a modernized Gulf state. Beginning in the 1930s, slowly at first, the city began to develop from a nomadic port town into a booming Middle Eastern metropolis.

With prosperity well in hand, the city of a large urban area has expanded its downtown area into a network of residential and commercial communities. An infrastructure, including multilevel highways, facile movement of goods and services, and international airline connections arose in parallel conjunction with skyscrapers, homes, and population. Today a non-stop expansion continues, accommodating Kuwaitis with foreign residents to enhance the growth of Kuwait.

Economy: Being tax-free country Kuwait's revenue is mainly from the oil industry which accounts for about 80% of government revenue. Petroleum and petrochemicals account for nearly half of GDP and 95% of export revenues. Increase in oil prices since 2003 resulted in a surge in Kuwait's economy.

Kuwait's current oil production is expected to increase to 4 million barrel per day by 2020. To realize this production target, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation planed to spend US$51 billion between 2007 and 2012 to upgrade and expand the country's existing refineries. The country has one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Other major industries include shipping, construction, cement, water desalination, construction materials and financial services. Kuwait has a well developed banking system and several banks in the country date back to the time before oil was discovered. The government is keen on decreasing Kuwait's dependence on oil by transforming it into a regional trading and tourism hub.

Culture: The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent.

The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture are dewaniya, which involves large reception rooms used for male social gatherings attended mostly by family members and close friends. Many of the older Kuwaiti men prefer wearing dishdasha, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton while many women wear 'abaya, black over-garment covering most parts of the body. This attire is particularly wellsuited for Kuwait's hot and dry climate. Western style clothing is very popular among the youth of Kuwait. Seafood has been the mainstay of the Kuwaiti diet for centuries. Traditional Kuwaiti cuisine includes Machboos dajaj, machboos laham, maraq dajaj laham, imawash which borrows heavily from South Asian cuisine and Persian cuisine.

Tourism: From a nation of pearl divers and spice merchants to one of the worlds' largest oil exporters, Kuwait has undergone many exciting transformations. Kuwaiti society is truly a cosmopolitan and modern and yet it remains true to its heritage and traditions.

A highly urbanized state, Kuwait offers a host of attractions and services to tourists and visitors to the country. It offers a world class experience in hospitality through its small yet strong hotel industry. Kuwait has a very rich cultural tradition and heritage. The shopping experience in Kuwait, too, is very rewarding. From ancient souks to sprawling malls selling the latest consumer goods, the range and variety is huge. The transport system is ultramodern with all the latest features and facilities. Kuwaitis are warm, hospitable, friendly and helpful.

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P R O F I L E

Viewpoint Israel and ‘legalized’ impunity Ambassador Saadeddin Taib Advisor to the OIC Secretary General, OIC

Amid the deafening noises and uproar surrounding the protracted debates and disputation over the “Arab-Israeli conflict” a very important development took place recently but, regrettably passed away almost unnoticed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethin Pillay, delivered a landmark speech on 11 February 2011 in Jerusalem, expressing her views and findings after her first visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (POT). Her major policy speech can be considered as an important milestone in exposing the Palestinian people’s usurped rights and depicting the life of misery and destitution from which they endure and suffer since 1967 under Israeli occupation.

The speech bears clear testimony to the flagrant violations perpetrated daily and on large scale against the Palestinian people and it should be considered as an important record which documents the myths and falsehoods used by the Israeli occupiers to conceal the piles of war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated against the Palestinian people since 1967.

At the outset Pillay made it crystal clear to her audience in Jerusalem when she said: “My mandate is independent and impartial. My comments, reports and actions are always firmly rooted in international human rights law. I do not do politics; I do law”. She decidedly added: “International human rights law and international humanitarian law are not negotiable. No individual or state can be considered exempt, if they violate the law”.

She started her speech with the issue of building Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and laid forth the views of international law and international humanitarian law, on this issue. She emphatically declared that all activities related to settlements are prohibited, adding that all state actions in support of the establishment or maintaining of the settlements including incentives to create them and building infrastructure to support them are illegal under international law.

She was sarcastic when speaking about Israeli attempts to use terms such as “partial or temporary halt of building settlements”, by saying: “the idea that a partial or temporary halt (of building settlements) is a valuable concession in the course of the peace process to be traded for something else, is turning the law on its head”.

High Commissioner Pillay declared that all Israeli practices in East Jerusalem are illegal. She made it clear that the annexation of East Jerusalem contravenes customary international law, as confirmed by the Security Council and the UN General Assembly resolutions and the International Court of Justice. She added: “Because the annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal, no state has recognized this annexation. Under International law East Jerusalem remains part of the West Bank and is an occupied 68

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territory”. She could not be more explicit when she declared that all settlements’ related activities, legal or administrative decision or practice that directly or indirectly coerce Palestinians to leave East Jerusalem, including eviction, demolition, forced displacements and cancellation of residence permits on a discriminatory basis, should be halted. Restrictions on access to East Jerusalem by other West Bank inhabitants should be lifted.

In its Advisory Opinion in 2004, the International Court of Justice stated that establishing the Separation Wall or barrier inside preoccupied territories is prohibited under international law. Pillay also underscored that “the combined effects of the illegal settlements and the wall have been devastating on the social, economic and cultural rights of the Palestinians. Families are divided from each other, from their farming land and other sources of income, from their water sources and from other important infrastructure and services. The notorious hostility, contempt, physical violence often resorted to by the Israelis and of settlers in the West Bank toward the Palestinians, are daily occurrence, and well-documented”.

In her speech/report the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, goes on at length to describe her pain to know about the cruelly cramped and circumscribed situation imposed on Palestinians and to see the full-frontal assault on their dignity from abominable policies that are stifling their social, cultural and economic prospects and crippling their morale. She also lamented the prevalence of an Israeli culture of impunity in the Palestinian Occupied Territories which results in the destruction of property such as olive trees and mosques.

She also expressed her resentment at the contortions of the Wall as it snakes around settlements dividing lands and villages, scarring the landscape and the lives of thousands, or to see the fragmentation of the West Bank by walls and settlements, or to witness the humiliation suffered everyday by the Palestinians as they pass by the numerous Israel checkpoints. Moreover, the UN High Commissioner admits that she has been struck by the complacency with which the entirely avoidable predicament of Palestinians affected by the wall and settlements is treated

by Israel authorities as they tend to brush them aside as minor matters. And she continue to say, “No, those actions are, in fact, clear-cut violations of human rights on a very large scale”.

On the situation in Gaza, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights did not mince her word. She stated clearly that the blockade of Gaza is illegal and is not warranted by Israel’s legitimate concerns and it must be lifted. She punctuated the fact the Gazzans are still feeling the tragic impact of “Operation Cast Lead” on their daily lives, and indicated that accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during that operation will be addressed by all parties. She did not forget the suffering of the Palestinian detainees and prisoners in Israel who have not been able to see their loved ones for long years.

Neither did she ignore to expresses her concerns at the range of discrimination including the bad treatment of Palestinian citizens of Israel, or the ongoing demolition of “unrecognized” Bedouin villages in the Negav Desert, some of them have been demolished fifteen times. Looking to the future the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights voiced her concern and worry as she witnesses “a dramatic increase in inflammatory rhetoric aiming to discredit Israel’s human right defenders, and undermining their work”.

It must be emphasized here again that all this is not politics as UN High Commissioner on Human Rights pointed out at the beginning of her intervention. It is pure law that the Israeli officials are violating daily in the context of the culture of impunity to which the Israeli have become addicted and accustomed.

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