OIC Journal Issue 14 by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

About OIC The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various peoples of the world. The Organization was established pursuant a decision adopted by the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12th Rajab 1389 AH/ 25 September 1969 AD, following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. In 1970, the first ever meeting of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah. It adopted the decision to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization's secretary general. Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is the 9th Secretary General who assumed office in January 2005 after being elected by the 31st ICFM Session. The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. The Charter was amended to keep pace with the developments that have unraveled recently across the world. The 11th Islamic Summit held in Dakar in March 2008 endorsed the new Charter, which has become the pillar of the OIC future Islamic action in line with the requirements of the 21st century. The new Charter provides for the dissemination and safeguard of Islamic teachings and values based on moderation and tolerance, as well as the need to strive for the projection and defense of the true image of Islam. The ne Charter also called for encouraging inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue. Over the last 40 years, the OIC membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states.

Flash Appeal for Emergency Assistance to the Floods Victims in Pakistan In view of the vital need for effective action to alleviate the ordeal faced by the Pakistani people, the OIC Secretary General launched a Flash Appeal to the Member States of the OIC, their citizens, philanthropists, civil society organizations, and to all people of good will in the international community at large to generously partake in the relief effort and contribute towards the alleviation of the plight of floods victims in Pakistan.

To this end, donations in cash and kind are all welcome. In terms of medicine, anti-typhoid, anti-cholera, anti-malaria, anti-tetanus, anti-diarrhea, anti-snake venom are urgently required. Additionally, food and non-food items such as dried milk for children and families, dates, high nutrition biscuits, food packets consisting of tea, sugar, milk, vegetable oil as well as water coolers, mosquito nets, blankets, floor mattresses are in urgent need. The government of Pakistan has entrusted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to coordinate the relief efforts nationwide, whose contacts are as follows: Fax numbers (0092519202518//0092519224205//0092519206140) Website: www.ndma.gov.pk

The OIC General Secretariat has also opened a special account as indicated below for any cash assistance: Name of Account: OIC Pakistan Floods Assistance Fund Dollar Account No: 5600758 Swift Code: SAMBSARI Samba Financial Group Main Branch, Al-Andalous Street Jeddah - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

The Organization has the singular honor of galvanizing the Ummah into a unified voice and representing Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and have strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations. It has also engaged in fighting Islamophobia by setting up a dedicated observatory to track and monitor the phenomenon and its disturbing manifestations The Member States of the OIC face many challenges in the 21st century. To address these challenges, the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit held in Makkah in December 2005, laid down a blue print called the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) which envisages joint action by the Member States, promotion of tolerance and moderation, modernization, extensive reforms in all spheres of activities including science and technology, education, and development of trade. It also emphasizes good governance and the promotion of human rights in the Muslim world, especially with regard to the children's and women's rights as well as family values enshrined in Islamic Shariah [law]. One of the outstanding achievements since the adoption of the Ten-Year Programme of Action (TYPOA) has been the recent reinvigoration and restructuring of the various OIC bodies. Among the OIC's key bodies the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the General Secretariat, in addition to the Al-Quds Committee chaired by the king of the Kingdom of Morocco, as Al-Quds remains the paramount issue on the OIC's agenda, and three permanent committees, one of which is concerned with science and technology (COMSTECH) that is chaired by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the second committee is concerned with economy and trade (COMCEC) which is chaired by the President of the Republic of Turkey, while the third one is concerned with information and culture (COMIAC) which is chaired by the President of Senegal. The OIC has subsidiary organs, notably Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for the Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and the Islamic Center for the development of Trade (ICDT). Other specialized organs operating under the OIC include the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). There are also affiliated organs such as the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS). The OIC subsidiary, affiliated and specialized organs play a vital role in boosting cooperation in various fields among the OIC Member States. For more details, visit the OIC website at www.oic-oci.org

Our Message

Viewpoint

In a few months time, it will be five years since the adoption of the historic OIC Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) during the 3rd Extra-ordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah on 7-8 December 2005. TYPOA symbolizes a new vision by the leaders of the Muslim World on tackling the daunting challenges facing the Islamic Ummah in the 21st century. It also outlines priority areas that need to be addressed in all spheres of life - political, economic, social and cultural. It is time to take stock of what has been done by way of implementation of the Program during the past five years since its adoption with a view to identifying strengths and weaknesses of the mechanisms put in place and chart a way for effective implementation of the Program during the remaining period. The basis for the Mid-term review is found in the preamble to the Program itself where it says “…To achieve this new vision and mission for a brighter, more prosperous and dignified future for the Ummah, We, the Kings, Heads of State and Heads of Government of the OIC Member States, decide to adopt the following Ten-Year Program of Action, with a mid-term review, for immediate implementation”. This was further reiterated in two OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) resolutions, No. 1/36- POA and No. POA 37/1 adopted by the 36th and 37th Sessions of CFM respectively. These resolutions call on the three OIC Standing Committees i.e. the Standing Committee on Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), the Standing Committee on Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC) and the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) to carry out the Mid-term review process in their respective domains and present a report to the 12th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference scheduled to take place in Sharm AlSheikh, Egypt in March 2011, for consideration and guidance on the implementation of TYPOA during the next five years. It is against this background that a meeting bringing together all OIC institutions operating in the economic domain was convened in Istanbul, Turkey on 28-30 July 2010. This meeting, presided over by the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, examined the implementation of TYPOA in the economic domain during the past five years

OIC mid-term review of its Ten-Year Program of Action: Increased ownership and financing of projects under focus

Amb. Nabika Diallo, Advisor in the cabinet of the Secretary General

and compiled a report, which will be submitted to the 26th Session of COMCEC scheduled to take place in Istanbul in October 2010, for further deliberation by representatives of the Member States. In its report, the meeting underlined the dynamic leadership provided by the Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in spearheading the reforms in the General Secretariat as well as overall execution of TYPOA. The meeting further noted that, on the whole, significant progress had been made in the implementation of the Program in important areas such as increasing intra-OIC trade, poverty alleviation and enhancing the role of private sector in the OIC economic cooperation. It was observed that since the inception of TYPOA a significant number of OIC Member States have signed and ratified various agreements aimed at enhancing economic and commercial cooperation, including the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme (PRETAS) and the OIC Rules of Origin. Trade fi-

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

nancing has also remarkably improved following the establishment of the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). Equally remarkable were the efforts made in fighting poverty among OIC Member States through the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and the Special Program for the Development of Africa (SPDA), both of which are meant to address issues of poverty alleviation and development among OIC Member States. The meeting also made several recommendations and pointed out areas where improvement is needed for the smooth implementation of the Program. Among the recommendations made was the need for better inter and intra coordination among the OIC institutions in the implementation of the Program. The meeting further recommended the establishment of national committees by Member States in order to take ownership of the various projects designed under TYPOA. Cooperation initiatives were highly recommended in sectors such as environment preservation, energy, communication, industry and investment and joint venture. Another area that was found to be crucial in the next phase of the implementation of TYPOA was food security and agricultural development in light of the fact that the populations in the majority of OIC Member States depend on agriculture for their livelihood. COMIAC is expected to examine the implementation of the provisions of TYPOA under its purview -information and cultural affairs- during its annual meeting scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal on 11-13 October 2010. On its part, COMSTECH is to carry out a similar exercise on scientific and technological cooperation during its 14th Session of General Assembly scheduled for December 2010. It is also expected that the Secretary General would make special arrangements to have a mid-term review of other important themes of TYPOA that do not fall under the three Standing Committees mentioned above. These include issues in the Intellectual and Political fields such as the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shariff, Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States and terrorism. In addition, the issue of social solidarity in the face of natural disasters is not catered for in any of the Standing Committees. This calls for special arrangements to ensure that this vital field is also covered in the Mid-Term Review exercise.

Our brothers in Pakistan are facing a daunting challenge of unprecedented proportions in the aftermath of devastating floods that resulted in the loss of precious lives and the destruction of property, infrastructure and agricultural lands, which is expected to affect the economy and development of the country for years. The disaster will have ramifications on the efforts to combat poverty, disease, hunger and unemployment; and these consequences could possibly ripple beyond the borders of Pakistan. It is not the first time that an OIC Member State or other states were faced with a natural disaster of such gigantic magnitude although these floods in Pakistan are at a bigger scale. It is our duty and responsibility to stand by the government of Pakistan and its people and provide them with all the assistance and support they need, not only for immediate relief but also long-term humanitarian programs and developmental projects to reconstruct the country and help it regain its strength. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu OIC Secretary General

Preparing the OIC for humanitarian challenges in the Muslim world

However, we should also take this opportunity to seriously consider a more efficient strategy - as mandated by the newly adopted OIC Charter, the Ten-Year Program of Action and the 2005 Makkah and 2008 Dakar Summits declarations - that better equips the OIC to respond to emergencies, especially that it seems with climate change and global warming we would be facing more of these unfortunate calamities. We should not be caught unprepared or slow or meager in our response. We should be at the forefront of those extending their hands to help without being asked as our noble religion urges us to. Hence, it is time to look into setting up an OIC Emergency Disaster Response Fund that will be the first on the scene of an emergency crisis in our community. Individually, Member States are contributing magnanimously to countries and communities in need, but collectively we can do more in coordinating our efforts and pooling our resources to better serve the afflicted. Furthermore, it is vital that we promote sustainable systems and tools geared towards mitigating the impact of disasters on our people and communities. Of importance is implementing innovative policies by devising early warning systems, contingency and consequence management plans as well as financial mechanisms to address future catastrophes. The high-level meeting of OIC institutions, Red Crescent Societies and relevant NGOs held in Pakistan on 29 August 2010, focused on the grave humanitarian situation in Pakistan and underscored the need for coordinated efforts, transparency, advocacy and facilitation to streamline the task of providing emergency and long term assistance. I hope and pray, as I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Pakistan and express my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, that if and when another disaster strikes in any of our Member States - God forbid - that we will be better equipped and capable of providing adequate, timely and coordinated humanitarian assistance.

A word Half way there, are we? Emergency Meeting on the Floods in Pakistan

Issued by the Organization of the Islamic Conference

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OIC confronts the West with its obligations

This year, 2010, marks an important milestone for the OIC and the UN. It is the year of being half way towards achieving the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) adopted in 2005, and of coming close to the specific targets set by the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by the year 2015. The TYPOA covers a wider range of issues, including political and economic, but it intersects with the eight goals of the MDGs, namely to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.

Editor - in - Chief Isam Salim Shanti Dushanbe: A step towards restoring the Silk Road and Bridging Continents

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General Supervisor & Managing Editor

First International Conference on Urban Heritage in Islamic Countries

Maha Mostafa Akeel

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Editors

As the OIC General Secretariat and the Member States, who are also members of the UN, review the progress made in implementing the objectives of the TYPOA and consequently the MDGs, it becomes crucial to admit to the inadequacy of meeting some of those objectives in order to identify the reasons and tackle them vigorously, because at the end of the deadline they will not be judged by the successes but criticized for the failures.

Ahmed Salem Abdelhamid Salehi OIC, China agree to increase bilateral relations

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Layout & Design Mohammed Abdelqader Qalaba ________________

Advisory Board

Ali Abolhassani Shahreza Hasan Oker Gurler _________________ Address: Madinah Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah21411 Tel: 6515222 Fax: 6512288 Telx.: 601366 Islami SJ. Website: www.oic-oci.org E-mail: journal@oic-oci.org 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 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

Kyrgyz leader lauds role of OIC

OIC establishes Family

61 Affairs Department

48 68

OIC committed to pursue and reinforce its cooperation with UN 6th WIEF calls for OIC Economic Summit

OIC Related Links 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 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 OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat (ISESCO) www.isesco.org.ma 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

First meeting of stakeholders in Dakar-Port Sudan railway project

70 OIC Calendar September - November 2010 24 September: OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers - New York, USA. 26-27 September: 10th Meeting of Central Banks and Monetary Authorities - Istanbul, Turkey. 28-30 September: OIC Conference on Islam and Muslims in America American Islamic College, Chicago, USA. 29 September: 32nd Executive Committee and 24th General Assembly Meetings of the OISA - Dubai, UAE. 30 Sep. - 1 Oct.: 32nd Meeting of Board of Directors of SESRIC - Antalya, Turkey. 2-3 October: 4th Meeting of the OIC Stock Exchanges' Forum - Istanbul, Turkey. 5-7 October: 4th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers - Tunis, Tunisia.

5-8 October: 26th Session of the COMCEC - Istanbul, Turkey. 11-13 October: 9th Session of the COMIAC - Dakar, Senegal. 19-21 October: 5th Islamic Conference Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministers - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 26-28 October: 5th OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development - Khartoum, Sudan. 24-28 November: 1st Cotton and Textile Fair of Member States - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 28 November-1 December: 7th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM) - Tehran, Iran.

The TYPOA is a revolutionary and ambitious concept for the Muslim World, and some might have had their doubts about the probability of implementing it or at least a considerable proportion of it. However, the Muslim leaders would not have signed their names on it if they did not believe in it and the need for implementing it. Therefore, what is really required by those entrusted to make it a reality is to dedicate the energy and resources, and above all be absolutely committed. Failure should not be an option. The Muslim World has the potential and capability of achieving the TYPOA and beyond it. We can be the role model for others if we consolidate our efforts and advocate the spirit of solidarity. The views expressed by the writers/ authors of the articles published in The Journal do not necessarily represent the views of the OIC, but are the personal views of the authors themselves. However, OIC reserves the right/discretion to amend, revise, edit, delete or scrutinize any part or portion of the text as and wherever deemed necessary.

A word Half way there, are we? Emergency Meeting on the Floods in Pakistan

Issued by the Organization of the Islamic Conference

________________

OIC confronts the West with its obligations

Editor - in - Chief Isam Salim Shanti Dushanbe: A step towards restoring the Silk Road and Bridging Continents

________________

General Supervisor & Managing Editor

First International Conference on Urban Heritage in Islamic Countries

Maha Mostafa Akeel

________________

Editors

Ahmed Salem Abdelhamid Salehi OIC, China agree to increase bilateral relations

________________

Layout & Design Mohammed Abdelqader Qalaba ________________

Advisory Board

Kyrgyz leader lauds role of OIC

OIC establishes Family

61 Affairs Department

48 68

OIC committed to pursue and reinforce its cooperation with UN 6th WIEF calls for OIC Economic Summit

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

First meeting of stakeholders in Dakar-Port Sudan railway project

In Focus

Emergency Meeting on the Floods in Pakistan

OIC calls for setting up an emergency fund which have come forward and extended a helping hand to Pakistan starting with Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Oman, Malaysia, Indonesia, IDB and many others for extending relief assistance to Pakistan. “However, despite all these efforts and good intentions, we have to be frank with ourselves and strive towards promoting sustainable systems and tools geared towards mitigating the impact of disasters on our populations and countries as a whole,” said Ihsanoglu. To this end, the OIC has to be strategically equipped with the necessary means to carry out its humanitarian duty as provided for in the newly adopted Charter, the Ten-Year Program of Action and the 2005 Makkah and OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Pakistani Ambassa- 2008 Dakar Summit Declarations. “We must seriously dor to Saudi Arabia Umar Khan Alisherzai at the Emergency Meeting. consider setting up an OIC Emergency Disaster Response Fund which will be at the forefront, whenever an emerJeddah, Saudi Arabia - The OIC General Secretariat gency crisis occurs in our community,” Ihsnaoglu held an Emergency Meeting on the Floods in Pakistan in stressed. which the Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu In its final communiqué the OIC called upon the interstressed the pressing need for an Emergency Disaster Renational community at large and the Islamic world in parsponse Fund to deal with natural calamities in Member ticular to extend urgent support to Pakistan to alleviate its States. burden and help the country overcome the fallout from the Ihsanoglu opened the emergency meeting held on Audisaster. gust 18, 2010 at OIC headquarters to pledge support, soliIt urged OIC member states, the Islamic Development darity and sympathy for Pakistan in the aftermath of the Bank (IDB), the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), the Red devastating floods that have killed over 1,600 people and Crescent Societies in member countries, charitable and displaced thousands more. humanitarian organizations, and private financial institu“The OIC should consider seriously the establishment tions to urgently address the humanitarian needs of the of an emergency fund to address efficiently and urgently Pakistani people. natural disasters and catastrophes which might affect indiThe IDB had pledged an $11 million humanitarian vidual member states in the future, particularly in view of package for Pakistan. the phenomena of global warming and climate change,” The communiqué expressed its appreciation and gratihe said. tude to Member States and all organizations that contribThe OIC Secretary General, in his passionate address uted to the provision of emergency assistance to Pakistan, to a full house, expressed his deep sorrow over the death either directly or through the OIC. and devastation caused by the floods. He compared it to It called upon the OIC General Secretariat, in coordithe tsunami in Indonesia, the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, nation with the Government of Pakistan, to thoroughly coHurricane Katrina in the US and the Pakistan earthquake ordinate humanitarian developments to keep Member of 2005. States up-dated and to organize an Islamic philanthropic “It is high time to initiate collective efforts towards inand humanitarian organizations meeting on the humanitarnovative policies by devising early warning systems, conian situation in Pakistan. tingency and consequence management plans as well as fiIn a touching appeal, the Pakistani Ambassador to nancial mechanisms to address future calamities,” said Saudi Arabia Umar Khan Alisherzai reminded the MemIhsanoglu. ber States of the magnitude of the devastation and the misSince the beginning of the disaster in late July the OIC ery the disaster had brought to thousands of people. played a pivotal role in advocacy and awareness to mobi“I am sure you all must have seen the images of sufferlize resources of the Ummah both from Government and ing and misery that recent torrential rains and flash floods civil society. In this connection, the General Secretariat have caused in Pakistan. Unprecedented in living memohad made three appeals to the OIC Member States, its civry, the disaster continues to wreak havoc with lives and il society and the international community at large, to properties in our agricultural heartland,” he said. come forward to assist Pakistan and its people. “One-fifth of the country is inundated. More than 1.7 On August 4, all Member States were contacted and million acres of crops have been destroyed. It may lead to availed a list of humanitarian needs for the floods victims. a 10 to 15 percent decrease in agricultural production. The This action was followed by a flash appeal for financial impact of this disaster on the economy is huge. The initial and material contributions. assessment suggests that the loss to economy may be to The Secretary General announced that he will send a the tune of 1.3 percent of GDP.” joint fact finding mission comprising of OIC, Islamic DeHe added that the Pakistani government was working velopment Bank (IDB) and Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) hard to bring relief to those affected. to Pakistan, to assess the situation in the field and come up “The scale of this catastrophe is so huge that it is imwith a strategic plan, both in the areas of emergency delivpossible for Pakistan alone to deal with it,” Alisherzai ery and reconstruction following large scale destruction. said. The Secretary General thanked the OIC Member States 4

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

He appealed to the IDB to work out long term programs, in consultation with the Government of Pakistan, for the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs of floodaffected areas in the country. Alisherzai also appealed to initiate a program for flood-affected children and urged OIC members and institutions to contribute generously to ensure the scheme is a success. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah said that Saudi Arabia would give SR300 million to Pakistan to alleviate the suffering of its flood victims. Alisherzai thanked the Kingdom on behalf of the Pakistani President, the Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan for the public fundraising campaign launched by King Abdullah and the generous contribution of SR300 million to boost the fundraising drive. With that, the total amount collected so far is SR400 million (more than $100 million), said the Ambassador. Saudi Arabia had already by then sent 21 planeloads of relief supplies to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia had also pledged $100 million relief for Pakistan, “We are coordinating with UN agencies to distribute the humanitarian and emergency relief supplies,” an official statement said. The World Bank said on August 18 it will redirect $900 million of its existing loans to Pakistan to help in flood recovery, as the UN warned that many of the 20 million people affected by the disaster have yet to receive any emergency aid. Local charities and international agencies have rushed food, water, shelter and medical treatment to the worst-hit areas in the northwest and Punjab and Sindh provinces. But aid agencies have complained that the international response to the disaster has not been generous enough. The UN had appealed for $459 million for immediate relief efforts, nearly half of it was secured by August 19. The World Bank said the funds it is offering are to help Pakistan recover from the floods and would be redirected from ongoing and planned projects in the country. With huge destruction of roads and bridges and crops wiped out

in many areas, authorities expect reconstruction to take years and cost billions. “The vast geographical extent of the floods and affected populations meant that many people have yet to be reached with the assistance they desperately need,” the UN said. It also said the number of children and breastfeeding mothers affected and rising diarrhea cases “point toward a clear risk of malnutrition among the affected population.” The floods have killed about 1,600 people and inundated 1.7 million acres of wheat, sugar cane and rice crops, raising the prospect of food shortages in the coming months in the already-poor nation. Prices of food have risen sharply since the floods began. Furthermore, the UN has voiced fears that disease in overcrowded and unsanitary relief camps may yet cause more deaths. It had earlier announced that the deadly, waterborne disease cholera has surfaced in the flood-ravaged Pakistan. By late August, the UN said that more than four million Pakistanis have been made homeless, making the critical task of securing greater amounts of aid more urgent. Aid agencies have been pushing for more funding as they try to tackle major problems such as food supplies, lack of clean water and shelter and outbreaks of disease. Economic costs of the floods are expected to run into the billions of dollars. Floods have ruined crops over an estimated area of more than 1.6 million acres, hammering the mainstay agriculture industry. Meanwhile, the number of Pakistani flood victims in need urgent humanitarian relief has risen from six million to eight million, the UN said. Only a small minority of the 8 million Pakistanis desperate for food and clean water have received help. “According to rough estimates, over 4 million people in Sindh and Punjab still do not have a roof on their head,” said Maurizio Giuliano, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, referring to southern and central provinces worst hit by the flood. “This situation is of high concern.”

OIC establishes unit to coordinate humanitarian operations in Pakistan An emergency meeting of OIC HumanitariKingdom of Saudi Arabia which topped the list an Partners on the Pakistan Floods endorsed the of donors from both the Islamic world and intersetting up of an OIC Humanitarian Coordinanational community. The Minister of Foreign Aftion Office in Pakistan. The OIC Secretary Genfairs of Pakistan also addressed the meeting and eral Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu co-chaired with the expressed his gratitude to the OIC for organizing Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Shah the meeting and to the Islamic countries for their Mahmood Qureshi the meeting, which was held massive contributions. He called upon the OIC in Islamabad on 29 August 2010. The meeting Member States, civil society and international underscoring the need for coordinated efforts, community to double their efforts in the emertransparency, advocacy and facilitation to gency and recovery phase. streamline the task of providing emergency and Pakistani Foreign AfThe participating delegations committed to long term assistance to the people adversely affairs Minister Qureshi continue providing assistance in all the three phasfected by the floods disaster. es of relief, recovery and rehabilitation. Pledges The Secretary General who toured some of the afflictfrom the Muslim world had reached at the time around $1 ed areas expressed his shock on the scale of damage the billion. The OIC institutions and representatives of relief floods disaster has caused to the infrastructure, agricultural organizations expressed their full support for the OIC Genland and livelihood of the people, stressing that a lot has to eral Secretariat's initiative of a program for children affectbe done. He assured the people of Pakistan that the OIC ed by the floods and committed themselves to its success. stands by their side in this time of need. Ihsanoglu pointed The participants agreed to a follow up meeting in Octoout the efforts made by the OIC Member States, led by the ber. 5

In Focus

Emergency Meeting on the Floods in Pakistan

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Opinion

Last month Pakistan was destined to face the worst monsoon rains in 80 years and many of Pakistan's regions still may undergo through monsoon season, with more rain forecast. "It is unprecedented floods in the history of Pakistan. Pakistan does not have the kind of resources to cope with a situation like this. The most immediate needs of the displaced people are tents, plastic sheets, food and medicines, according to official sources". More than twenty million people were affected by the disastrous floodings. Immediately, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, made several calls to all Muslims around the world as well as to member countries of the OIC and Muslim civil societies to quickly provide all kinds of helps to their brothers in Pakistan to alleviate their suffering until a well and organized emergency plan is put in place. He also appealed to the world at large to help the Pakistani authorities to encounter such unprecedented disaster and to provide the affected regions with all kinds of aides. In parallel to this, an emergency meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the OIC was held on 18 August 2010 at the OIC General Secretariat's Headquarters in Jeddah to discuss the means and ways to help Pakistan. In fact, the meeting came following a request made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to express support, solidarity and sympathy of the Muslim World to the Government and people of Pakistan. The meeting stressed that the situation in Pakistan is very precarious and unprecedented in modern history, compared to the Tsunami in Indonesia, the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, Hurricane Katrina in the US and even the Pakistan earthquake of 2005. Prof. Ihsanoglu stated that "we are faced with a disaster of gigantic proportions which requires colossal resources to be tackled and Pakistan alone is unable to overcome this challenge of great magnitude as indeed no other country would be able to face such calamity single-handedly". The emergency meeting emphasized that, despite the significant support provided by some Member States like Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Turkey to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the

Palestine File

OIC's appeal for helping Pakistan continues

Dr. Isam Salim Shanti Editor in Chief Pakistani people are still in a pressing need of further urgent relief support to be able to respond to its daily needs and overcome this plight. The OIC was called by the meeting to seriously consider the establishment of an emergency fund to address efficiently and urgently natural disasters and catastrophes which might affect individual Member States in the future, particularly in view of the phenomena of global warming and climate change. The meeting also called upon the international community at large and the Islamic World in particular at the level of States, institutions and individuals to extend urgent in-kind and financial support to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to alleviate its burden and help it overcome this humanitarian disaster. Over and above, the Secretary General called upon the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a specialized institution of the OIC and an international financing institution, in consultation with the government of Pakistan, to work out long-term programs for the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs of the flood affected areas in Pakistan. This call took place at the Emergency Meeting of OIC Humanitarian Partners on the Pakistani Flood Disaster in Islamabad on 29 August 2010.

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

The OIC stressed during this meeting that Plans for medium and longterm reconstruction and rehabilitation are as important as the humanitarian relief efforts. The OIC also emphasized on the need to establish an early warning, contingency planning and emergency response mechanisms within the OIC. In this regard, Prof. Ihsanoglu said that the fourth Meeting of the Islamic Environment Ministers which will be held in Tunis from 5-6 October 2010 has “Natural Disasters and Prevention Ways” as its central theme. The meeting took note of the scale of damage of land, various relief programmes, and the reconstruction plans proposed by the head of the National Disaster Management Authority, the official organ in charge of the followup and management of the current crisis. The meeting was also briefed by the director of the UN-OCHA on the relief efforts undertaken by his Office in Pakistan. In addition, the meeting endorsed the setting up of an OIC Humanitarian Coordination Office in Pakistan, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts, transparency, advocacy and facilitation to streamline the task of providing emergency and long term assistance to the people adversely affected by the floods disaster. In Jeddah, the Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference issued a statement supporting the appeal of the Secretary General, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, to all Muslim peoples in the world to direct their Zakat to the Pakistani people suffering from the effects of the floods. In spite of the efforts and helps provided by Muslim countries and the international community, the magnitude of the disaster which fell upon the Pakistani people is far beyond imagination, and the quantity of help that Pakistan shall need to overcome the material and non-material destruction requires collective OIC and international efforts to ensure a relatively quick come back to normal life to the peoples most affected by the floods, and to deal with the midterm and long term socio-economic implications. Therefore, OIC's appeal for helping Pakistani People remains valid until normal life is fully returned to a country we all respect and love.

The OIC participates in the UN Istanbul Meeting in Support of the Peace Process The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) participated in the United Nations meeting to support the PalestinianIsraeli peace process. The meeting was organized in Istanbul on 25-26 May 2010 by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Ambassador Samir Bakr, the OIC Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif Affairs, addressed the meeting on behalf of the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The meeting, which was attended by diplomats, politicians and experts, aimed at pro-

viding a forum for exchange of views on the current status of the peace process and encouraging constructive dialogue among the parties concerned on ways and means of promoting the Palestinian State building agenda.

Ambassador Samir Bakr

The meeting also addressed a number of issues, including the prospects of peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and the ways of creating a political environment to push the peace process forward and to reach international consensus on how to support the Palestinian Authority in order to put an end to occupation and to establish the Palestinian State.

The OIC condemns Israel's deportation of Palestinian MPs from their home city Jerusalem OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned Israel's decision to deport four Palestinian MPs from Al-Quds city. He stressed that this serious decision constituted an aggression against the freedom and rights of the elected deputies of the people, and came within the framework of the continued systematic and escalating Israeli policy of evacuating Al-Quds city of its indigenous population with a view to judaizing the city and altering its char-

acter and demographic reality. It also represents a flagrant violation of the international law and Geneva Fourth Convention, which prohibits the occupation authorities from deporting citizens form territories under occupation. The Secretary General addressed urgent messages to a number of international officials urging them to intervene to dissuade Israel from its decision and preventing it from persisting in its continued violations of the international law.

UN faults Israel on human rights Geneva, Switzerland (agencies) A panel of experts called on Israel to fall in line with international norms on civil rights and to take action against targeted killings, torture and impunity for security forces. The UN Human Rights Committee on July 30, 2010 also called for an end to the blockade of Gaza and questioned the independence of Israel's own inquiry into a naval raid on a Gaza-bound relief supply ship in which nine Turkish nationals

died. In conclusions on its review of Israel's application of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the committee also urged a halt to restrictions on Palestinians and raised concerns about discrimination. “The state party should ensure that all alleged cases of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials, including police, personnel of the security service and

the armed forces, are thoroughly and promptly investigated by an authority independent of any of these organs,” the committee said. It also reiterated concern that since 2003, the Israeli armed forces “have targeted and extrajudicially executed 184 individuals in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the collateral unintended death of 155 additional individuals” despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2006 imposing safeguards.

OIC Secretary General condemns Israel's demolition of Palestinian houses in East Al-Quds The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned Israel's construction of 32 settlement units in East Al-Quds and its demolition of six Palestinian houses in the occupied city of Al-Quds. The OIC Secretary General considered this Israeli action an attempt to alter the urban and demographic character of the

City and tamper with its Arab and Islamic identity towards its Judaisation. Such practices represent a serious threat to the future of Al-Quds and lead to undesirable repercussions. They are also flagrant violations of the International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which do not allow the Occupation State to tamper with or change the demographic and urban sit-

uation in the territories it occupies. Ihsanoglu called on the OIC Member States to act urgently at the level of the international organizations and with international parties to stop this blatant aggression on the city of AlQuds and to compel Israel to stop the implementation of its illegitimate plans against the holy City.

Opinion

Palestine File

OIC's appeal for helping Pakistan continues

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Ambassador Samir Bakr

Palestine File

Worldwide Condemnations of Israel’s Criminal Attack on Relief Convoy for Gaza OIC Foreign Ministers hold Emergency Meeting

(L-R) Griet Deknopper, Inge Neefs, Fatima El Mourabiti and Kenza Isnasni pictured during a press conference of the Belgian committee 'Gaza Freedom Flotilla' in Brussels, on 11 June 2010. They were activists on the Freedom Flotilla when the ships were raided by the Israeli army, on 31 May 2010. Ten activists were killed and several more were injured (epa).

Maha Akeel Israeli marines stormed aid ships bound to Gaza on May 31 killing ten rights activists, triggering a diplomatic crisis and an emergency session of the UN Security Council. European nations as well as the United Nations and Turkey, voiced shock and outrage at the bloody end to the international campaigners' bid to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli navy stopped six ships ferrying 700 people, including members of non-government organizations, European parliamentarians, religious figures, writers and journalists, from 32 countries. The 'Freedom Flotilla', led by the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, was carrying 10,000 tons of supplies, but the unprecedented raid on ships in international waters and the massacre of unarmed civilians left Israel isolated and condemned internationally and spurred protests against it worldwide demanding it to lift the blockade. “A state that committed these crimes has lost all legitimacy in the international community,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the Security Council at an emergency session on June 1 called to discuss the raid. “It is murder committed by a state. It has no justification whatsoever.” After marathon negotiations that lasted nearly 12 hours, the 15 Security Council members finally agreed on a presidential statement. It was weaker that what was initially demanded by the Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Turkey because of objections by the United States. Muslim countries had called for condemnation of the attack “in the strongest terms” and “an independent international investigation.” But the presidential statement that was finally agreed to and read at a formal Council meeting instead called for “a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards.” And it only condemned “those acts” that resulted in deaths, without naming Israel. The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had issued a strong condemnation of the crime perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against the defenseless citizens participating in the Freedom Flotilla headed for Gaza in support for the Palestinian people under siege there. The Secretary General further considered this crime as a grave escalation and blatant violation of international law, and human norms and standards, and held Israel fully 8

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responsible for the health and security of all those participating in this humanitarian convoy. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and his sincere wishes of prompt recovery for the wounded. The Secretary General reiterated the OIC's call for the immediate lifting of the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip for the last four years, which has caused severe deterioration of the humanitarian and economic situation there. Also, the Secretary General called upon the OIC Ambassadorial Groups both in Geneva and New York to move towards convening an emergency meeting and to initiate action at the level of the Security Council and the Human Rights Commission to examine the fallouts of this brutal attack. The Secretary General demanded an investigation into the Israeli attack against the Freedom Flotilla, and to call for the prosecution of Israeli officials for their crimes against humanity.

UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel's attack, adopts OIC proposed resolution Geneva, Switzerland - Upon the request of the Member States of the OIC Ambassadorial Group in Geneva, Human Rights Council convened special session on June 2 for considering the human tragedy caused by Israeli attack on the international convey carrying humanitarian aids to Gaza. The council after two days deliberation adopted the OIC proposed resolution (A/HRC/14/L.1) by voting. 32 members of council voted in favor, while the USA, Netherlands and Italy voted against and abstention countries were France, the UK, Belgium, Japan, Ukraine, Slovakia, South Korea, Burkina Faso, and Hungary. Cameron, Madagascar and Zambia did not participate. The adopted resolution under the guidance of the purposes and the principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as by the provisions of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, express grave concern also at the deepening humanitarian crisis in Occupied Gaza. While adopting this resolution, Human Rights Council: a) condemns in the strongest terms possible the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces against the humanitarian flotilla of ships which resulted in the killing and injuring of many innocent civilians from different countries; b) Deeply deplores the loss of life of innocent civilians and expresses its deepest sympathy

and condolences to the victims and their families; c) Calls upon the occupying power to fully cooperate with the International Committee of Red Cross ( ICRC) to seek and provide information on the whereabouts status and condition of the detained and injured persons d) Demands the Occupying Power Israel to immediately release all detained men and material and facilitate their safe return to their homelands and calls upon occupying Power Israel to immediately lift the siege on Occupied Gaza and other Occupied Territories. Human Rights Council in its adopted resolution also welcomed the statements of the Secretary General of the UN and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning the Israeli attacks and calls for the full accountability and credible independent inquiries into these attacks. The Council finally decided to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including international Humanitarian and Human rights Law, resulting from the Israeli attack on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance; and decided to authorize the President of the Council to appoint members of this independent international fact-finding mission, who should report to the Council on their finding in its 15th session.

Ihsanoglu calls for setting up a legal experts group to prosecute Israeli officials Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - In the aftermath of Israel's criminal attack on the relief flotilla that was heading to Gaza on 31 May 2010, the OIC General Secretariat invited the OIC Expanded Extraordinary Executive Committee Meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers for an emergency meeting on 6 June 2010 at its Headquarters in Jeddah to discuss the situation. The invitation came upon the request of a number of Member States to hold the meeting. The Member States of the Executive Committee consist of Tajikistan, Syria, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Senegal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Palestine. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called on the participants in the meeting to consider setting up a legal experts group as soon as possible with a view to working out legal concepts and course by which to bring to justice the Israeli officials who planned this odious crime and the individuals who participated in its execution. He said: “The legal course needs to be duly explored in our endeavor to achieve justice and ensure the lifting of the oppression imposed upon our brothers in the blockaded Gaza Strip”. The Secretary General also called on the OIC Member States to rally and work together with friendly regional groups and other UN Member States to convene a meeting of the UN General Assembly within the framework of “Uniting for Peace” in order to ensure that the UN shoulders its responsibility in lifting the oppressive blockade on the Gaza Strip, insisting on the immediate lifting of the blockade. The Secretary General paid special tribute to Turkey for its stand in the defense of the causes of the Islamic Ummah through a large and effective participation in the Freedom Flotilla, and through the positions expressed by its Government after Israel committed its crime. He also paid tribute to all those who participated in staging this maritime convoy, both individuals and institutions, as well as to all those who volunteered to sail on these ships in this noble mission. He stated that the recent aggression by the Israeli forces

was against civilians from 32 countries, representing many faiths - Christianity, Islam, Judaism - and people from all creeds and backgrounds who actually represent the conscience of the international community. The Secretary General described the Israeli attack on the Humanitarian Flotilla to Gaza, in international waters, as “a new crime to be added to the endless record of violations of international law committed by the Israeli forces against innocent civilians, and a policy of piracy, criminality and state-organized terrorism, in addition to its excess of all red lines as it targeted a humanitarian-oriented convoy that has an identified destination, and defined objectives and mission”. He maintained that the piracy perpetrated by Israel in international waters in defiance to international law requires an independent, impartial, credible and transparent investigation, corresponding to international standards with the aim of identifying those responsible for their illegal acts against humanity. He added that the OIC Ambassadorial Group in New York has put in diligent action in order to achieve a UN common stand denouncing this crime, and he declared that however: “The Security Council's presidential statement fell rather short of our expectations”. The OIC Ambassadorial Group in New York had held a meeting on 3rd June to look into this crime, and issued a declaration in which it called on the UN Secretary General to promptly launch a credible, independent, transparent, impartial and comprehensive investigation into the Israeli military aggression along with the call for bringing to justice the perpetrators of this crime. International silence encourages Israel to commit further aggressions: Madani Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Madani said in his statement to the meeting that the massacre that Israel committed would not have happened if it was not for the international silence towards Israel's actions and aggressions, which made Israel believe that it is above international legal questioning, therefore nothing to prevent

The Mavi Marmara, the largest of the Free Gaza Movement flotilla that were seized by the Israeli navy, at the Ashodod port in southern Israel (epa).

Palestine File

Worldwide Condemnations of Israel’s Criminal Attack on Relief Convoy for Gaza OIC Foreign Ministers hold Emergency Meeting

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

The Mavi Marmara, the largest of the Free Gaza Movement flotilla that were seized by the Israeli navy, at the Ashodod port in southern Israel (epa).

Palestine File it from using all criminal and inhuman methods including excessive military force against innocent civilians whose only goal was to relief Gaza people under siege. He said that Saudi Arabia has condemned this ugly crime and called on the international community to bear its responsibility towards Israel's aggressions against the Palestinians. Madani said that The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has ordered for providing immediate food and medical relief for the Palestinians in Gaza. Need to go beyond condemnation: Natalegawa Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa said in his statement that there is a need to go beyond condemnation. In addition to holding Israel accountable through an investigation and demanding the lifting of the blockade, he said it was important that OIC Member States not only consolidate a common position, but also build bridges to countries and civil societies the world over beyond the OIC.

The OIC Meeting calls on UN to establish independent international commission, decides to establish OIC governmental expert group for lifting siege on Gaza Having listened to the report of the OIC Secretary General, to the Turkish and Palestinian Ministers of Foreign Affairs and to the interventions of other Ministers and Head of Delegations, the Expanded Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC adopted a Final Communiqué which called on the United Nations Secretary General to establish an independent international commission to launch a full investigation into the incident in order to determine, prosecute and punish those responsible for the killing of civilians, as well as attacking and forcefully seizing civilian vessels. It further demanded that full compensation be made in accordance with international standards for the loss of lives and injuries caused to civilians by the Israeli military aggression on the humanitarian convoy of ships as well as compensation for all material damages caused. The meeting reiterated its firm and unwavering demand for an immediate lifting of this unlawful Israeli blockade of Gaza Strip and the opening of all Israeli controlled crossing points. It called on the OIC Member States to coordinate their efforts with the international community to put an end to this oppressive and unacceptable Israeli blockade, including inter alia sanctions against Israel to compel it to stop such atrocious acts and crimes. Hence, the meeting decided to establish an OIC governmental expert group, in close coordination with Palestine, in order to consider ways, means and mechanisms to ensure the lifting of the unjust Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza and to facilitate the reconstruction process of Gaza. Furthermore, in view of the continuing Israeli challenge and violation of international law and all its international commitments, it called on the Member States to reconsider their relations with Israel, including reconsideration of normalization of such relations. The participants reaffirmed the importance of continuing the strong coordination among the OIC, the NonAligned Movement (NAM) and the Arab Group in the UN and other international organizations and the need to continue the coordination and cooperation of these groups in order to ensure comprehensive follow-up of this serious and urgent matter, including to ensure the full implementation of the UN Security Council Presidential Statement of June 1st, 2010. It also requested the OIC Group in Geneva to follow up the implementation of the Human Rights Council Resolution of June 2, 2010. The meeting denounced the countries which did not support the resolution 10

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UNHRC appoints fact-finding mission

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (2-L) talks with Muharrem Gunes (R), one of the wounded Turkish citizens being released after Israel's attack on humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza, at Ataturk Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, 3 June 2010 (epa).

adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on the Israeli aggression against the “Freedom Flotilla”, and deemed it a protection for Israel and its crimes and a manifestation of double standards and departure from international law and international humanitarian law. The meeting expressed its support of the Palestinian reconciliation process and the Egyptian efforts to achieve this reconciliation, taking into consideration the need to end the Palestinian discord as soon as possible. It requested the OIC Secretary General to take the necessary measures towards convening a special meeting of the UN General Assembly within the framework of “Uniting For Peace”, in order to lift the Israeli blockade on Gaza. It also mandated the Secretary General to coordinate with the Chairs of the Islamic Summit Conference, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the Member States of the Executive Committee in order to ensure implementation and the follow-up of the provisions of this communiqué. A mutual understanding on the issue: Muttaki Commenting on the outcome of the meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Muttaki said to OIC Journal that, “there is mutual feeling and understanding and demands among the participants; they were more or less the same. Doing something against this aggression and this Zionist regime is the common part of the whole statements made and it came very clearly in the final communiqué.” Muttaki also said that there was emphasis and consensus on taking the perpetrators to court as well as seeking compensation for the victims and injured people and following the matter in the other international organizations and regional organizations - the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and the UN. There was also emphasis on the necessity of continuing this movement, “One of the proposals we requested that all the members of the OIC send at least one ship to Gaza. It means another 57 ships can move to Gaza. I think this cruel and barbarian action of the Zionist regime shows once again the nature and perspective of this regime. This regime is the main threat for the region and for the other countries, and the main cause for instability in the region.” In agreement with the Arab resolutions: Al-Shami Lebanese Foreign Minister Dr. Ali Al-Shami said to OIC Journal that the meeting was very good and it is in agreement with the resolutions adopted by the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers (held a few days before) where there is consensus on the stands and the suggestions and condemnation. There was also agreement on activating the Arab-Turkish diplomacy and the diplomacy of friendly nations to go to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to issue a resolution condemning Israel and demanding the lift of the blockade on Gaza immediately.

The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the announcement of the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council of appointing three experts to an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance to the blockaded Gaza Strip which took place on 31 May 2010. The OIC Secretary General expressed his hope that the fact-finding team, formed on June 9, would be able to accomplish its mission in an independent, impartial and transparent manner as soon as possible and to allow for bringing the perpetrators of the attack to justice.

UN forms inquiry commission OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the announcement by the UN Secretary General to set up a committee to investigate the Israeli attack on a

convoy of humanitarian assistance "freedom flotilla”. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened an international inquiry on August 2 into Israel's deadly attack after the Jewish state said it would cooperate with the probe, which it had initially rejected. The investigation would be led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer as chairman and outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe as vice chairman, Ban said in a statement. The panel will also have one Israeli and one Turkish member. The four-member group was to start work on August 10 and submit its first progress report by mid-September, Ban said. Ihsanoglu considered that the formation of this international committee constituted a step in the right direction towards sustainability of the international community of its responsibilities in the implementation and protection of international law. He also underlined the importance of, and the need for, the investigation to be carried out objectively and with transparency, impartiality in accordance with international standards.

We will not accept an Israeli investigation: Davutoglu Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the OIC meeting was a clear message to Israel that it cannot continue like this anymore. It will have to end the blockade of Gaza. Demanding an Israeli apology and an international investigation into the incident, Davutoglu said it was the first time in the history of Turkey that its citizens had been murdered by soldiers of another country. “It is Turkey's own 9/11,” he said. Meaning that the incident constitutes a “defining moment” in the history of the region; it would have a profound impact on the regional and global outlook and nothing will ever be the same any more, he asserted. At the conclusion of the emergency meeting Davutoglu spoke with OIC Journal on the next step in the flotilla issue, the Iran deal on its nuclear program and on TurkishArab relations: This crime is seen as a turning point in the relations between Turkey and Israel. If Israel does not apologize, accept the international investigation and lift the blockade on Gaza, then what will Turkey do? We hope that this request is fulfilled. Then, we will of course coordinate with members of the UN Security Council because that was their presidential statement, and we will also coordinate with the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We unilaterally may request to have an investigation because these are ten of our citizens and there should be an answer to this. But so far Israel refuses the international investigation? This is proof of their guilt because they are not confident in the results of the investigation. Will you accept an internal investigation by Israel? No, no. They are the party accused, how can they investigate. How can a criminal investigate the crime! Will Turkey take further action? I cannot say now but of course we have to respond. The other question is on Iran's nuclear program. What is your comment to the US insisting on imposing more sanctions on Iran and not accepting the agreement made between Turkey, Iran and Brazil? In the last ten months we worked very hard to make a deal with Iran on the nuclear reactor; even today we had a long meeting with Minister Muttaki. I went to Tehran seven times in the past nine months, Minister Muttaki came to Turkey five times, we had telephone conversations more than 50 times, and in other sites we had extensive

consultations. At the end of the day we had an agreement, Tehran Agreement, this agreement provides a window of opportunity. Now we have to focus on that window of opportunity rather than discussing and talking about new sanctions. On principle we are against sanctions in our region because Turkish economy will be affected. That is why we hope we can find a solution. Will you be taking into consideration the concerns or points of objections raised by the US about the agreement? These concerns can be raised in their meeting with Iran, so they can sit with Iran and discuss their concerns about the agreement. Lastly, Turkey-Saudi relations have been developing, your comments? Yes, it is going very well, excellent in fact. In general, the Turkish-Arab relations are developing. This week we have the Turkish-Arab Forum, many ministers will participate, particularly from Saudi Arabia. There has been a huge transformation in our relations. Recently Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense was in Turkey and we signed an agreement, a military cooperation agreement. And the TurkeySaudi economic relations are growing very fast, even tourists are increasing. So there is a huge positive development. Saudi Arabia for us is a very valuable strategic ally, the center of our spiritual life and a very respected player in the region, so we have excellent relations. In an interview with Turkish newspaper Hurriyet on July 5, Davutoglu said, “Israel has three paths ahead: It either apologizes, or accepts the findings from an international commission investigating the raid, or Turkey will cut off ties.” But Israel said it had no intention of apologizing. Following the attack, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel, canceled joint military operations and barred Israeli military aircraft from Turkish airspace. The storming of the Turkish-owned flotilla led to a sharp deterioration in Israeli-Turkish relations and forced Israel to ease its Gaza blockade. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced on August 2 that he opened an international inquiry into the attack shortly after Israel, which had already completed its own military investigation and began a civilian one, said it had decided to cooperate with Ban. Turkey welcomed Ban's announcement.

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UNHRC appoints fact-finding mission

UN forms inquiry commission OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the announcement by the UN Secretary General to set up a committee to investigate the Israeli attack on a

Palestine File

UNRWA financial crisis raises concerns of uncertain future among Palestinian refugees

Optimistic about lifting the blockade: Al-Malki Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Al-Malki spoke to the OIC Journal about his expectations and follow up to the emergency meeting on the Flotilla attack: How do you see the outcome of the meeting? The meeting was good. From the statements made there was a consensus that the feelings expressed should be reflected in the final communiqué. The member states wished to convey a strong clear message to Israel, to Turkey, to Palestine and all the countries according to their role as to the limits which the Islamic states would allow Israel to overstep in this issue. I'm satisfied with the level of the discussions. What is needed now is to agree on forming the follow up committee in order to define the mechanisms for implementing the final communiqué. But Israel is still adamant about its decision not to lift the blockade and prevent any aid from reaching Gaza? If anyone thinks that simply by our meeting today Israel would rush to lift the blockade he is wrong. But Israel hinted to the possibility of that under international monitoring? Of course Israel now is under huge international pressure. There is international consensus that the blockade has to be lifted and Israel does not wish to deepen this crisis with the international community, it wants to reduce the pressure as much as possible, and it has reduced it by releasing the activists it detained and is looking for other ways in order not to find itself in a complete international isolation. But it will try to gain something in return. We need a long time and extra efforts to continue putting pressure on Israel and changing the features of the international map, specifically in taking the US out of the category of the country that continuously protects Israel. This requires extra effort with the US administration, the other organizations and the international community. We should not expect that the resolutions we made would be implemented automatically. Israel will be stubborn and will refuse; it has already refused all previous resolutions and will refuse others. This requires from us to think in a new strategic vision and defining the mechanisms to keep the pressure on Israel so that it has no choice but to comply with the will of the international community. Do you see a change in the approach of the US and Europe towards Israel's policy from the statements made by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some European officials? I think if there is a change it is Israel that is pushing the US and European Union to take this stand with its aggressions. So the issue is not that there are states that want to change, these states were forced to change because Israel forced this change with its stupidity and failure in administrating foreign policy. So we should not consider any change that might appear as if it is genuine or principled as much as it is related to working with Israel. This requires from us to see how we can benefit from this change, deepen the gap between Israel and the international community and build on the statements made. Are you optimistic about lifting the blockade? Do

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

you think that continuing the pressure would result in lifting the blockade? Yes, yes. There is a big difference between the situation today and the first day the blockade was imposed on Gaza. Today it is not only the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic position asking for lifting the blockade but the whole international community. There is a general belief by the international community on the need to lift the brutal and unlawful siege. I think some countries will work to save Israel from its own stupidity by forcing it to lift the blockade. That is why I'm optimistic but at the same time my optimism is cautious and limited because I don't think the lifting will happen all at once, instead it will be gradual and slow because Israel's security concerns will be taken into consideration. They will create a new security reality in the region, meaning international naval forces will be present on the coasts of Gaza that will have the authority from the UN Security Council to inspect those entering Gaza, which will give Israel the justification to lift the blockade gradually in a sort of phase out process. But in the end these are temporary solutions as long as the current Israeli government does not wish to reach a two-state peace solution and as long as there is division among the Palestinians? True. There are other issues. Israel still claims that the reason for the blockade is the captured Israeli soldier by Hamas and will not lift the blockade completely as long as there is an Israeli soldier captured in Gaza, which are just excuses. As for the internal Palestinian division, the Palestinian authority is working with the international community on lifting the blockade and on mending relations with Hamas, and this is a good initiative. Work has to be made also in convincing Hamas to sign the Egyptian document. I think the minute the Palestinian division ends it will be a main step towards ending the blockade, meaning it would be possible for representatives of the EU to return to Rafah Crossing, it would be possible to talk with Egypt about opening Rafah Crossing completely, it would be possible to implement the 2005 agreement on Rafah and convince the EU observers to be in Rafah, and it would be possible to have Palestinian guards in Rafah. So I hope the initiative by the Palestinian Authority will be taken positively to end the division.

Gaza, Palestine (dpa) - The last thing on Adnan Uweis' mind, a refugee in the Jabaliya camp in the north of the Gaza Strip, is the assuming the possibility that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will stop its services due to worsening financial crisis. The international relief agency announced that it would be forced to stop its services in all the welfare centers for Palestinian refugees at the beginning of next October if its financial crisis continues to worsen as a result of donor countries, including Arab ones, not fulfilling their commitments. According to Uweis who is in his late forties and takes care of a family of nine members, the inevitable result of UNRWA abandoning thousands of refugees like himself in the Gaza Strip “is simply hunger.” Explaining further, Uweis, who lives in a ground floor building on an area of 100 meters in the densely populated Jabaliya camp, says that he barely lives on the periodic assistance coupon from UNRWA, which also takes care of health and educational services for his children. Asked about his options in the event UNRWA actually stopping its services, Uweis, who lost his job as a construction laborer four years ago due to Israel's dismissal of laborers from the Gaza Strip, said that, “refugees would find themselves faced with total calamity that will have no solution but death.” The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Fillipo Grandi, announced during a visit to the Gaza Strip that the Agency faces financial deficit of up to $150 million and is in dire need of $90 million until the end of September so that its services to the Palestinian refugees do not grind to a halt. Of the 4.7 million refugees registered with UNRWA, close to one-third of them (1.3 million) live in 58 official camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza Strip under the care of the international Agency. Over the years the camps have transformed from temporary tented cities into densely populated and lively habitations of multistory buildings marked by extreme poverty and congestion. On a world scale, the camps are among the most densely populated environments. However, its poorest and most reliant on UNRWA are the Gaza Strip camps whose population suffers record poverty and unemployment caused by Israeli blockade since three years ago. According to Uweis, the Gaza refugees are almost entirely dependent on UNRWA to face the blockade conditions and unemployment, which push them to the brink of poverty and depravation. The spokesperson for UNRWA in Gaza, Adnan Abou Hasaneh, said that 40% of the Agency's $600 million budget in the Middle East is spent on Gaza. He explained that the Agency has had to increase the numbers of its beneficiaries in recent months from among the inhabitants of the coastal area, bringing the number to 1.1 million, even though the number of refugees officially registered with it is a little more that 500,000. Abou Hasaneh warns seriously that the mere contemplation of stopping UNRWA services from Gaza Strip refugees is “a bout of madness and portends total humanitarian catastrophe and dire consequences considering the unprecedented humanitarian situation in terms of difficulty and need for assistance.” According to official sources, the poverty rate among

the inhabitants of Gaza with a population of 1.5 million and ruled by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is more than 65% while unemployment is 50% Zakariyah Al Agha, the official in charge of the Department of Refugees Affairs in the Palestinian Liberation Organization, insists on rejecting any attempt by UNRWA to reduce its services or freeze some of its programs and holds the international community responsible for the financial crisis the Agency is going through. Like Abou Hasaneh, Agha also warns of humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian camps. He says, “non-response of the international community to the appeals by UNRWA to meet the financial shortfall would impact negatively on the lives of the Palestinian refugees in the camps.” But a Palestinian activist on refugees' affairs, Yasser Al Badrsawi, believes that UNRWA's crisis is political rather than economic “because the money paid to it for political purposes are basically tied to projects to end the Palestinian issue.” He said that there have been ongoing attempts for many years to end the Palestinian issue, of which the refugees' problem is the principal theme, and “consequently end the work of UNRWA and complicate the lives of the refugees to make them accept fate accompli and surrender to the settlement or reparations projects.” Uweis, the refugee who is originally from Bi'r Saba'a, said that, for him and for the refugees going through difficult life conditions, daily bread and provision of the most basic necessities of life, more than the objective of returning home, have become the uppermost goal in daily existence. While receiving assistance package from the UNRWA Centre in Jabaliya, he added, “for someone who cannot secure his daily meal, it is difficult for him to think of complex issues such as return to our homes. We have not relinquished our right but the people concerned should first provide the elements for supporting our steadfastness.” The Palestinians who marked the 62nd anniversary of the nakba (catastrophe) demand the implementation of UN General Assembly resolution 149 of 1948 which provides for the return of refugees to their homes from where they were expelled, and for the payment of reparations to them, a matter which Israel continues to reject and ignore. The issue of refugees and the right of return are the thorniest issues in the negotiations on final status between the Palestinians and Israelis for whom the hope of resolving their historic conflict is still very dim.

Palestine File

UNRWA financial crisis raises concerns of uncertain future among Palestinian refugees

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Palestine File

No political pundit or even a layman observer with an eye on the developments in the City of Al-Quds would miss the scale and magnitude of Israel’s relentless campaign targeting education in this sacred city ever since it fell in the clutches of occupation back in 1967. Truth is the educational sector in East Jerusalem bears clear witness to Israeli targeting of everything and anything that is Arabo-Palestinian in Jerusalem. No better evidence of this endless and ruthless campaign could be seen than in the educational sector since the early days of the City’s occupation by Israel. Two months after the fall of the city under the shackles of occupation, Israel took a series of decisions and measures slated to impose and tighten control over education in a bid to fabricate a new reality that would infuse some potency in its claim that Jerusalem is Israel’s eternal capital. Among the measures deployed by Israeli occupation authorities was laying their hands on all schools in the city and enacting a decision to abolish the Jordanian curriculum, which was applied at the time, and supplanting it with an Israeli curriculum, but the reluctance of Palestinians to enroll in Israeli schools compelled the occupation authorities to rescind the decision. Still, Israeli restrictions on education in Jerusalem would not stop at that. Israel maintained an almost seamless blockade over anything that might contribute to the development of education in the city, trying to fiddle again with school curricula. It also clamped severe restrictions on building or expanding Palestinian schools while it restrained Palestinians teachers from the West Bank from joining schools in occupied East Jerusalem. In parallel, occupation authorities set up new and modern schools under its full control to attract Palestinian students. It also recruited teachers and paid them hefty salaries and perks unrivalled by Palestinian schools. Faced with these challenges, the Palestinians had no other choice but to come up with creative alternatives to safeguard one of the most important pillars of their city’s steadfastness. They have hence resorted to using leased buildings to meet the acute shortage of classrooms, providing two teaching sessions a day, as well as making the best of every emerging opportunity to bring in

Education in Jerusalem groping with the throes of death…A litmus test for Muslims!

Dr. Shaher Awawdeh Department of Al-Quds & Palestine Affairs

teachers from outside Jerusalem. The reality, however, is that Palestinian education in occupied East Jerusalem these days is confronted with extremely tough conditions that not only threaten its core quality but put its very survival at stake. I was utterly shocked by the degree of degradation that plagues education in Jerusalem during my visit to the city as part of a joint mission from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to take stock of the conditions of education and health-care sectors. The joint mission found run-down school buildings, overcrowded classrooms, declining school achievements, and rising drop-out rates among Jerusalemite students. A report entitled ‘Failed Grade: The Education System in East Jerusalem 2010’ by Ir Amim, an Israeli non-profit organization, revealed the real extent of the difficulties facing education in Jerusalem, as dropout rates in East Jerusalem schools reach 50 percent, a figure confirmed by Samir Jibril, the Director of Education in the schools of Jerusalem, who said that Israel has destroyed Palestinian education in Jerusalem and is behind the dropout of ten thousand students annually. The Ir Amim report mentions that the 87624 Palestinian children in East Jerusalem within the age bracket of 6 and 17 suffer from an acute shortage of classrooms to the

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

tune of 1000 units that are urgently needed this year to stem the hemorrhage of dropout students. No doubt, the deteriorating situation of the education sector in East Jerusalem carries dramatic implications for the Palestinian population in the city. We can just imagine the unpalatable consequences over the long run of the high dropout rates compounded by the absence of juvenile rehabilitation and care institutions, and the lack of adequate youth facilities capable of limiting the damage to Palestinian youth as they get cast to the streets while Israel sneakily watches over the Palestinian society in its quest to create a generation of shallow, uneducated and delinquent Palestinians who can be manipulated to serve its schemes and fortify its claims. The Muslim Ummah should not lose sight of the fact that defending the city of Al-Quds and guarding its identity against Israeli falsification plots and stratagems would grow extremely difficult if we do not groom a generation of Palestinians capable of bearing the burden of this arduous task. Making this possible would entail first and foremost supporting and sustaining the educational sector, which in turn requires taking urgent action to save education in Jerusalem. It is inconceivable that “the best Ummah [nation] presented for (the benefit of) men” is unable to build and equip a few schools in Jerusalem that would secure dignified and responsible education for Palestinian students, as befits the task of defending the first of the two Qiblahs [Direction of Prayer in Islam]. Let us all be reminded that Jerusalemites today act as the first line of defense of AlQuds on our behalf. Let all Muslims also take heed that the Jewish billionaire Ervin Miskovich is one of the top pillars of the judaization campaign underway in the city of Al-Quds. He injects hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement projects and the development of settlement facilities in defense of baseless claims and Toranic myths. Are we, Muslims, going to fail to pass the litmus test to defend our rights, the place of the nocturnal journey of our Prophet (PBUH) and the first of the two Qiblahs? Righteous and fair-minded people among the Muslim Ummah, and there surely are many, are invited today to contribute to save the educational sector in AlQuds from utter collapse.

Palestine File

Education in Jerusalem groping with the throes of death…A litmus test for Muslims!

Dr. Shaher Awawdeh Department of Al-Quds & Palestine Affairs

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Special Report: 37th CFM

37th Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers

President Rahmon calls for more solidarity ty and Prosperity for the Muslim World,' the 37th CFM Dushanbe, Tajikistan - Dushanbe, capital of the Rewas also significant because of the timing, it was held at a public of Tajikistan hosted the Thirty-seventh Session of defining moment considering the rapid developments of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) from 18 to various political issues. Indeed, the Palestinian cause and 20 May 2010. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Al-Quds issue toped the meeting's agenda, and so did the H.E. Emomali Rahmon graced the opening ceremony of Israeli-Arab conflict. the Conference and delivered an address. The OIC Foreign Ministers equally discussed a number President Rahmon expressed his honor at hosting the of dossiers, notably the situation in Iraq, Jammu and Kash37th CFM in Tajikistan, the first time such a session is mir, the situation in Somalia and Afghanistan, solidarity held in a Central Asian country. with the Republic of the Sudan, the situation in Cyprus and The President called for more solidarity and unity Kosovo, and the OIC future role in maintaining security among the Member States, particularly in the face of the and keeping peace as well as resolving conflicts in the current international financial crisis and the various threats Member States. The CFM also considered the situation of and challenges such as the conflicts and instabilities inflictMuslim communities in non-member States. ing the Muslim world as well as Islamophobia and globaliAdditionally, Islamophobia and the ways to combat it zation. He said that the OIC can play a bigger and more efand the need to extirpate hatred and the defamation of Isfective role in bolstering peace and stability in the world lam also figured on the CFM's discussion table. The OIC and he emphasized Tajikistan's full support of the OIC. General Secretariat on the occasion President Rahmon lauded the distributed the Third Report of the Ten Year Program of Action and OIC Observatory on Islamophobia. the progress made in its implemen- 37th CFM highlights: In the economic sphere, discustation as well as the reforming of sions dwelled on economic and the OIC under the new charter and • reviewed the draft resolution on trade cooperation and the ways of the achievements made in that re- the establishment of the boosting trade exchange up to 20 gard. He called for more invest- Independent Permanent per cent by 2015 in line with the ments in the areas of strategic priortarget set by the OIC Ten-Year ity such as power, infrastructure, Commission on Human Rights. Program of Action (TYPOA). The industry and tourism in order to • approved the draft statute of the CFM also explored the best ways raise the capacity of the Muslim Organization for Women and means likely to help support world to a higher and modern stanDevelopment in the Member States. science and technology and acadard. demic institutions. The President stressed on the • adopted the Strategy for This CFM Session carried disneed to continue in the efforts of broadening support for the OIC tinct significance, as it reviewed confronting the phenomenon of Islamophobia while expressing Taji- sponsored resolution on combating the draft resolution on the establishment of the Independent Permakistan's support for the initiative on defamation of religions. nent Commission on Human interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Rights. Taking into account paraHe also stressed on the importance graph 13 of the report of the Senior Officials Meeting for of preserving national and Islamic identity, culture and civthe 37th CFM, decided to defer the adoption of the draft ilization in the face of the currents of globalization. resolution on the Commission and to invite the General The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria and Chairman Secretariat to inform Member States of the outcome of the of the 36th CFM Waleed Mo'allem highlighted in his consultations between Saudi Arabia and Iran on determinspeech the important activities and developments that took ing the Headquarters of the Commission within a maxiplace during the chairmanship of his country. mum period of six months from this date, with a view to Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic presenting the draft to the 38th Session of the CFM for apConference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu addressed the opening propriate action. session of the Conference and presented a report on the acThe CFM Session also took note of the establishment tivities of the General Secretariat over the previous year of an OIC Department for Family Affairs to be created and set out the prospects of the coming year. within the General Secretariat, and approved the draft statThe Meeting unanimously elected Hamrokhon Zarifi, ute of the Organization for Women Development in the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, as Chairman of Member States. the 37th Session of the CFM. In a welcome address Zarifi The Council also adopted the Strategy proposed by the reaffirmed his willingness to promote the joint Islamic acOIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in tion and strengthen solidarity and cooperation among the Geneva for broadening support for the OIC sponsored resIslamic Ummah. olution on combating defamation of religions. This session was very significant as since the establishCertainly, these issues highlight the paradigm shift unment of the OIC forty years ago, it was the first time the raveling in the OIC through the importance it attaches to Council session is held in one of the republics of Central women, family, human rights issues, and good governance Asia. These countries gained their independence in the earin keeping with TYPOA stipulations. ly 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, thus Given that the OIC celebrated in the past year its 40th launching their activism in the Muslim world. On this ocanniversary, the General Secretariat presented a report on casion, a brainstorming session was held on the topic 'Centhe celebrations to the CFM. tral Asia and the Islamic World: Strategic Vision for SoliThe Council took not of the offer made by Kazakhstan darity.' for convening the 38th Session of the CFM in Astana. Held under the theme: 'Joint Vision for Greater Securi16

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Ihsanoglu suggests evolving an Islamic plan for interaction with the West on Islamophobia

President of Tajikistan, Emamali Rahmon speaking at the opening of the 37th CFM

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, called on the OIC Member States to urge their representatives in international forums to stay the course in respecting the voting pattern agreed upon by the OIC official meetings, or by the OIC groups abroad. He made this call at the opening of the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Dushanbe on 18 May 2010. Ihsanoglu said that the Conference is "the first of its kind to be held in one of OIC Member States from Central Asia, which joined our ranks after achieving their independence. We warmly welcome them, and pin the hope that the five Muslim sister countries, given their glorious past in enriching Islamic civilization, will become a driving force to strengthen our organization and consolidate Islamic solidarity". On the situation in Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, he noted "the situation is going from bad to worse since the coming to power of the Israeli radical right-wing parties. Those parties came with a declared agenda to confiscate the maximum of the Palestinian occupied territories, building settlements on them, and completing the judisation of the holy city of Al-Quds. The new situation calls for a firm and united stand on the part of all Muslim countries, before it is too late." The Secretary General congratulated the Islamic Republic of Iran on the agreement signed on 17 May 2010, concerning Iran's nuclear program through the mediation of Turkey, Brazil and the wisdom of Iran, and said, "I wish that this agreement be a tool towards achieving peace and security in the Middle East."

Ihsanoglu suggested convening of a high level ministerial meeting to evolve an Islamic plan for interaction with the West regarding Islamophobia, and "defending our just causes and in facing up to the mounting hate wave against Islam. I also suggest that the question of Islamophobia be included in all Member States' interactions with their Western counterparts." The OIC Secretary General concluded his statement by stating that the progress and achievements made so far were only possible due to OIC Member States' trust, wise guidance and sound decisions and resolutions in the OIC. He promised to "stay the course, redouble our efforts and deepen our dedication to work diligently on all levels and in all fields. The present international context in which we act is not easy. It is crammed and riddled with hardships, adversity and challenges." He also noted "the only arm in our hands is our unity, loyalty to our causes, and the solidarity that we display here whenever we take common decision or action. But above all and what remains more paramount is our profound belief in our Ummah, its greatness and strength and in its bright future."

He added that the OIC General Secretariat took the initiative in drawing up the OIC draft Plan of Action for Advancement of Women (OPAAW), which was deliberated by Member States and adopted by the last Council of Foreign Ministers session. In the same vein, the Council has also approved the establishment of a Women Development Organization to be based in Cairo. He expressed his confidence that "the draft statute of the organization will be adopted by the present meeting. Another Ministerial Conference on Women's Role in Development of OPIC Member States, will also be held in Iran during this year, while similar activities took place concerning youth and children." The Secretary General emphasized that during the past few years, and in a bid to stem the tide of Islamophobia, he undertook direct contacts with many members of Western Foreign Ministers and approached senior officials, academics and intellectuals in Europe and the United States. Among those contacted are Foreign Ministers of Switzerland, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, United Kingdom, USA, Finland and Holland. These efforts also included ranking officials of the relevant International Organizations in the West. Among those addressed, are the European Union, the Organization of the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Human Rights Institutions, UNESCO, research centers, and fora of dialogue among civilization based in the President Rahmon, on 18 May 2010 decorated SecreWest, and UN 'Alliance of Civil- tary General Ihsanoglu, with the (Ismail Samani) first izations' with which a Memoran- class medal, which is Tajikistan most prestigious meddum of Understanding was al. This was in recognition of the Secretary General's efforts in the service of the Islamic Ummah and the signed. Republic of Tajikistan. 17

Special Report: 37th CFM

37th Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Ihsanoglu suggests evolving an Islamic plan for interaction with the West on Islamophobia

President of Tajikistan, Emamali Rahmon speaking at the opening of the 37th CFM

Special Report: 37th CFM

Dushanbe: A step towards restoring the Silk Road and Bridging Continents OIC is pointing the compass in the direction of Central Asia

Ayman Abboushi In a geographic area spreading over four continents, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference is seeking to achieve its full potential, taking advantage of a broad spectrum of deep-rooted political, economic and cultural capabilities. Initiating the OIC's activities in the Central Asian Member States by holding the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in the Tajik Capital Dushanbe is a symbolic as well as practical demonstration of this trend. This is to bring into play the resolve to promote cooperation between the countries of the region on the one hand and the rest of the OIC countries on the other hand. In a special session, the unprecedented meeting in an OIC Central Asian member country elaborated on the means to foster cooperation between the Member States in general, and in particular in this part of the Islamic World, which used to be terra incognita during the Soviet era. In his quest to restore what was known as the Silk Road, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC Secretary General, inspires the OIC General Secretariat to explore ways of economic collaboration with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, once were the core of the Islamic civilization glory and its unique Asian flavor.

Dushanbe: First Step The OIC's efforts are not confined to public relations but rather seek a ground for an active economic, political and social partnership that would benefit the Islamic nations in realisation of the aspired integration. At the brainstorming session entitled "Central Asia and the Islamic World: Strategic Vision for Solidarity", held on 19 May 2010, the OIC provided a concept paper shedding light on the cultural contribution of Central Asian Countries to the Islamic history. This reflects a sincere intent to restore these countries to their leading role in the Islamic solidarity quest. The strategic vision of the OIC proceeds from the need to fill the vacuum in the Islamic East, given the immense Islamic cultural heritage as well as the region's richness in 18

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

natural resources. This is part of an integration process motivated by the historical affinities and the topological connection known for long as the Silk Road. This was the lifeline connecting and feeding the two Islamic parts through an unprecedented cultural exchange process. In addition, trade provided a common economy reflecting a form of Islamic solidarity at its most evident manifestation. Despite the disparity in natural resources and economic capacity of the Central Asian countries, the relationship between these countries, which were subject to various foreign interferences, achieved a form of identification. The Central Asian states are the fuel reservoir which opened the floodgates for foreign investments along with foreign greed. For instance, Kazakhstan relies on oil exports, but its locked geographical location raises the economic cost of oil export. To overcome this impediment, there is a need to have an integrated economic formula which could equitably benefit the OIC Member States in the region. Similarly, Turkmenistan's GDP is built on oil and gas in addition to cotton and textile industry while Uzbekistan is among the largest oil-reserve countries with proven oil reserves of 594 million tons. However, it produces only 150 thousand barrels a day. Central Asia is also very rich in minerals. Uzbekistan, for example, has the world's sixth largest reserves of gold and ranks ninth in world production, annually amounting to 85 tons. Significant reserves of coal, uranium, silver, tungsten, lead, copper and zinc are also present. Kazakhstan, for its part, has rich deposits of chromium, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, uranium, zinc, nickel and lead, while aluminum amounts to half of its exports. In addition to minerals, Central Asia is gifted with a large number of rivers and streams, constituting a permanent reservoir of fresh water which could offset shortage in some parts of the region. These facts illustrate the need for the Islamic world to collectively engage in action, under the banner of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, to find a common partnership with this promising region. It is also imperative to go beyond bilateral relations and agreements which do not direct Islamic solidarity to its correct path. In this respect, the OIC Member States provided, in the Dushanbe Brainstorming Session, various proposals to crystallise the role of the Organisation in Central Asia. Among these proposals was the formation of a task force to develop a roadmap for the development of the region. Another proposal was to open an OIC regional office in Central Asia. Some proposals fell in line with the aforementioned Silk Road through the extension of a railroad connecting the OIC Central and Western Asia Member States. Other proposals touched upon promotion of tourism in Central Asian countries, taking into account the civilisational profundity which these countries enjoy across the Muslim world. This

civilisational wealth, once buzzing and twittering with life in Samarkand and Bukhara, attracts lovers of Islamic history and authenticity. Thereupon, the participants called for the need to preserve the Islamic heritage of these countries.

Regional Cooperation Bilateral relations between Central Asian Countries were one of the items winning domestic and regional attention after the independence of these States in the last quarter of 1991. These countries shortly formed the Central Asian Commonwealth, comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with a view to regulating the process of economic integration and common development in various domains. Upon their independence from the former Soviet Union, they also joined the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Interestingly, there are various instruments of regional cooperation between OIC Central Asian Member States and their non-OIC neighbouring countries. They are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), founded in 1991 by 11 former Soviet republics. They are also members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), also combining China, which is one of the key organisations framing relations between Central Asian countries (except for Turkmenistan), China and Russia. In addition, the Summit of Turkish-Speaking Countries which saw light in 1992 is one of the main determinants of Central Asian countries' inter-relations. Similarly, the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are other key relation instruments for these countries. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference is looking forward to the optimal utilisation of the membership of these countries and to making up for the past years through intensification of activities and cooperation. It is therefore scheduled to convene the 38th Session of the OIC Council

of Foreign Ministers in Kazakhstan for the second time in a row in Central Asia. This is to consolidate the integration of these States in the joint Islamic action process, in addition to having another opportunity to maximise their convergence and consolidate their goals.

Confidence Building Measures in Asia At the 3rd Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the OIC Secretary General emphasised the significance the Organisation accords to regional cooperation particularly within the framework of the aforementioned conference convened in Istanbul last June. The Secretary-General noted the importance of the OIC Asian Member States and in particular their capacities and resources. Ihsanoglu also underlined the Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in Dushanbe as a precedent manifesting the due attention given by the OIC to its Central Asian Members. He pointed out the need for these countries to engage in confidence building measures to promote stability and peace in the region. Similarly, he called for concerted efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking, and to address refugee issues, political instability, water scarcity, unemployment, health and education problems, epidemics, and other challenges in the region. In his statement to the Summit, Ihsanoglu reiterated the need to find a joint cooperation mechanism in order to address the abovementioned problems. Therefore, the Secretary General reiterated his keenness on considering the problems of Asian Member States as one basket in order to place it in its general framework as a priority on the agenda of the Organisation. This is the way which could help address the obstacles to Islamic solidarity and shaping such solidarity in the context of collective action. The collective action which could achieve potentials, utilise capacities and immunize the Islamic world against foreign greed through a solid partnership.

IDB enhances cooperation with Central Asian Member Countries Tashkent, Uzbekistan - Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), touched on the Bank's role in strengthening cooperation between member countries and the importance of implementing the decisions of the 37th Session of the OIC Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, including enhancing cooperation among OIC member countries especially among those from Central Asia. This was made during Dr. Ali's meeting with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev in July at the government headquarters in Tashkent. Mirziyoev expressed during the audience his country's appreciation for the important role played by IDB in support of development plans in the member countries, and its contribution in financing a number of important infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan, particularly in the education sector. IDB President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali emphasized the Bank's Group keenness on promoting cooperation with Uzbekistan, and that his visit to Tashkent comes in this framework. Dr. Ali also met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Min-

ister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, and IDB Governor for Uzbekistan E. Ganiyev. The meeting elaborated on IDB contribution in the second phase of the construction and equipping of schools in various areas of Uzbekistan. A technical team from IDB visited Uzbekistan to determine the Bank's participation in financing part of the international 1500 km. highway linking Almaty, Kazakhstan Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan- Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This Highway is one of the major transport routes, which will foster economic integration and trade among the three countries as well as Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan joined the Islamic Development Bank in September 2003 in the wake of independence from the former Soviet Union. The total funds approved by IDB Group for Uzbekistan stands at $344 million, including contribution in financing 31 development projects and operations in the sectors of agriculture, water, energy and transportation, as well as providing lines of credit to a number of banks for financing SMEs in Uzbekistan.

Special Report: 37th CFM

Dushanbe: A step towards restoring the Silk Road and Bridging Continents OIC is pointing the compass in the direction of Central Asia

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Special Report: 37th CFM

2nd OIC Business Forum - 13th Private Sector Meeting:

Promotion of Trade and Joint Ventures among Islamic Countries The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) organized the 2nd OIC Business Forum - 13th Private Sector Meeting for the Promotion of Trade and Joint Venture Investments among Islamic Countries in Dushanbe under the theme 'Role of Intra-Islamic trade and Investment in Strengthening Economic GrowthTajikistan the promising country'. The Forum was held with the support and cooperation of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the General Secretariat of the OIC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. Concurrently with the Meeting, an Exhibition was also held to showcase the Tajik and some OIC Countries' products. The 2nd OIC Business Forum 13th Private Sector Meeting was attended by 300 delegates, representing 22 OIC Member States, and some non-OIC Countries. The meeting was also attended by the OIC General Secretariat, IDB, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the International Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation (ITFC). Abdullo Yuldoshev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, chaired the opening session. Davlatali Saidov, Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State Property Management, welcomed the delegates and highlighted the immense potentials in Tajikistan that could be tapped. He said that during the last several years, Tajikistan has gradually strengthened its stance and role in the OIC and announced mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, innovative scientific, technical and cultural fields as major and top priority directions of its policy. Furthermore, the Chairman of the State Committee said that the Tajik Government has determined its priority and strategic directions and provided for a number of preferences and legislative privileges to attract foreign investment and economic development. He added that there are huge untapped reserves of cooperation in metal mining industry. At the moment, Tajik Government has officially announced the second phase of the international bid (tender) for exploitation of silver, lead and zinc deposit called “Koni Mansur” which is 20

one of the biggest silver (polymetallic) deposits in the world (Total reserves of silver in this deposit reportedly due to geological survey exceed 55 thousand tons). The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in his message, which was delivered by Ambassador Hameed A Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, that trade remains the most credible way of creating wealth, generating economic growth and increasing welfare for the teeming masses of any nation. In this context, the benefit of trade promotion is inherent in these constant efforts at increasing the holding of business meetings and networking sessions. There are other trade promotion activities in the form of trade and specialized fairs, particularly in the tourism and construction sectors. He mentioned that the OIC seeks to promote the role of the Private Sector in generating the desired investment and technological capacity-building necessary to fast-track economic development in OIC Member States. The objectives of this policy direction are to achieve poverty alleviation and employment generation. On behalf of Sheikh Saleh Kamel, President of the Islamic Chamber, Attiya Nawazish Ali, Assistant Secretary General, addressed the participants. She explained the objectives of the Islamic Chamber, which are geared for addressing the issues of the private sector and how best they could be addressed. She pointed to the abundance of raw materials in the Member States and the need to add value as a means of capacity building and poverty alleviation. Towards this end, the ICCI holds training programs, workshops and seminars on various sectors, wherein training on how to adopt best practices is imparted. She mentioned the projects of the Islamic Chamber, launched within the 10 Year Work Plan of the ICCI, which in turn was a mechanism for the implementation of the OIC 10 Year Program of Action. These projects are FORAS Investment Company, Zakat Organization, Business Owners Union, Al-Emar Mega Bank and Umar Al Ardh (Land Constructors). The President of Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Said Sharif spoke about the Chamber that

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as an authorized representative of business in foreign economic activity, it helps the Tajik Government to take measures aimed at promoting the integration and cooperation, and expansion of export of Tajik products and attracting foreign investments. He underlined a range of positive changes that have been made recently in the national economy of Tajikistan that has transformed the country into an attractive and promising destination for foreign investment. Parallel working sessions were held focusing on five sectors: HydroEnergy and Industry Sector, Agriculture Sector, Construction Sector, Tourism and Health Sector, and Finance and Service Sector. Furthermore, 'Parallel Business Matchmaking and Networking' meetings were held among the businessmen, banks, financial institutions, project sponsors and investors as well as traders. The Forum adopted the Dushanbe Economic Declaration. It emphasizes the need for public private sector partnership and the need for the National Chambers of Commerce and Industry to be consulted in the formulation of policies and programs in order to have a more effective role of the Private Sector in economic development. In view of the significance of the Small and Medium Enterprises' role in accelerating the economic development of the OIC Countries, the Private Sector Meeting called upon the member countries to support this important sector and cooperate with the Islamic Chamber in its programs and activities aimed at promoting it, especially in the handicraft sector. The declaration also called upon the private sector to develop the agriculture industry. Furthermore, noting the vast natural resources in the OIC Member States, particularly the Central Asian Republics, it called upon the private sector to undertake projects which could lead to valueaddition for export oriented production. It also called upon relevant financial houses/banks and other sources, through the ICCI to strengthen and promote the economies of the less developed OIC countries through micro financing, in agro-based and cottage industries.

OIC chief meets President of Tajikistan and holds bilateral meetings The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had several important meetings during the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM). Before the start of the CFM, the Secretary General met with the President of Tajikistan H.E. Imomali Rahmon at the Presidential Palace on 17 May 2010. As the first Central Asian country to host a CFM, President Rahmon reiterated his country's commitment to have an active participation and to further develop cooperation and relationship with the OIC. The Secretary General on his part congratulated President Rahmon for the successful hosting of the CFM and the OIC Business Forum organized a few days prior to the CFM. He indicated his confidence for a fruitful cooperation between the OIC and Tajikistan. The two sides also exchanged views on the current developments in the region. During the three-day CFM, Ihsanoglu held bilateral meetings with the heads of delegations of a number of Member States. In the meetings with the heads of delegations of some African Member States, they expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by the OIC regarding economic development projects in Africa and food security. The Secretary General on his part confirmed the keen focus and interest of OIC in Africa and in establishing the foundations for socio-economic development and sustainable stability; and urged the African Member States to sign the OIC economic agreements in order to be able to implement these objectives. Ihsanoglu also had a bilateral meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Muttaki who indicated Iran's government commitment to sign and ratify the new OIC Charter at the earliest convenience and expressed his wish to visit the OIC Headquarters soon. Speaking to the OIC Journal Minister Muttaki expressed his appreciation for OIC's continued support of

OIC Secretary General Ihsanogu with Tajik President Rahmon and Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Mo’allem

Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and for welcoming the recent agreement signed between Iran, Turkey and Brazil in the final communiqué of the 37th CFM. “The recent agreement will bring opportunity for future cooperation in the nuclear issue; we appreciate OIC support,” he said. In addition, the Secretary General met with the representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) as well as with the US Special Envoy to the OIC Rashad Hussein. Hussein reiterated the commitment of the US President to develop real partnership with the OIC on a wide range of issues, including eradication of polio and in addressing some key political issues, such as the Middle East peace process. Hussein also proposed the OIC coorganize with Turkey the second entrepreneurship forum next year as a follow-up to the first entrepreneurship forum hosted by Washington in April.

OIC signs MOU on Cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank Group Within the framework of enhanced cooperation between the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC-GS) and the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of OIC, and Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, President of the IDB Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation and Coordination Framework between the General Secretariat of the OIC and the Islamic Development Bank Group on 18th May 2010. The MOU will enable the two OIC institutions to collaborate and set-up a mutual mechanism for coordination and support for the implementation of their various programs and projects in the domains of poverty alleviation, post conflict and emergency responses. The MOU also sets up an institutional mechanism that will organize, review, execute and monitor the implementation of the various joint programs and projects between the two bodies. This initiative is aimed at advancing the burgeoning

OIC Secretary General and IDB President sign MOU

partnership between them and promoting effective and coordinated implementation of the various socio-economic programs within the framework of the OIC Ten-year Program of Action and the IDB Vision 2020, and for the overall benefit of the peoples of the Muslim Ummah. 21

Special Report: 37th CFM

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OIC Secretary General Ihsanogu with Tajik President Rahmon and Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Mo’allem

OIC Secretary General and IDB President sign MOU

Special Report: 37th CFM

Third OIC Annual Report on Islamophobia released The OIC Observatory on Islamophobia released its Third Annual Report, covering the period from May 2009 to April 2010 at the commencement of the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Tajikistan on 18 May 2010. The Report dwelt extensively on the worrying trend of Islamophobia as a clear and present danger to global peace and security. The Report includes six chapters that identify contemporary manifestations of Islamophobia acknowledging both the negative trends as well as the good practices monitored by the Observatory over the reporting period. The Report clearly lays out the sound legal basis in terms of the international law of the OIC's case on defamation of religions, particularly Islam, as a form of racism. In his foreword to the Report, the Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu states, inter alia, “distortion of Islam geared towards denigrating and dehumanizing Muslims insults the deep seated religious feelings and violates their fundamental rights and dignity thus threatening the multicultural fabric of the societies. Such stereotyping leads to discrimination and violence defying justification on both political as well as economic grounds. It poses grave and multidimensional challenges to global as well as regional peace, security and stability. The situation merits a concerted effort on the part of the international community to evolve norms that would underwrite, promote and protect interfaith and inter-communal understanding, respect and harmony.” The Report concludes that the existence and exacerbation of Islamophobia bears testimony to the fact that the West in general and Europe in particular have not been successful with regard to their integration policies. While the objective was to create multi-cultural and cohesive so-

cieties, instead parallel, but mutually exclusive societies were born. This situation, which has been likened to collective punishment and cultural ghettos for Muslims, can only be remedied through civic and structural integration. The necessity of sound integration policies cannot be overemphasized. The more the Muslim communities will be integrated into the Western societies they live in, the easier it would be to marginalize extremism, diffuse radicalism and overcome perceptions of being left out, stigmatized or rejected. Muslim migrants must have a sense of being part of the larger community in which they live, take part in all spheres of life and participate in the decision-making process. In other words, creating cohesive societies, where mutual understanding between diverse groups will facilitate not only the promotion of tolerance, but more importantly mutual respect for divergent view points and different backgrounds. The Third Annual Report of the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia presents an authentic account of the unfortunate trend of Islamophobia, its causes, manifestations and the solutions based in a common understanding of the problem and the collective will on the part of the international community to address the issue in a comprehensive manner. It also provides an account of the various activities undertaken by the OIC General Secretariat with a view to highlighting the issue of Islamophobia on the international agenda and efforts aimed at engaging the Western partners against incitement to religious hatred and the intolerance in the West of Islam and Muslims. An annex to the Report catalogues selected incidents of Islamophobia monitored by the Observatory during the reporting period.

The Global Fund: Need to work closely with OIC and Member States to fight diseases Beatrice Makar, Senior Partnerships Liaison Officer at The Global Fund, is encouraged by the results from the efforts exerted by The Global Fund in fighting malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS, but she is also worried about programs funding. During her participation at the 37th CFM representing The Global Fund, she spoke with OIC Journal about the cooperation between the Fund and the OIC in fighting these three diseases. “Since last year several things happened. We published the results of our new report, which gives an encouraging picture of what is going on in the fight against the three diseases. We noticed that the fight against malaria has been stepped up and the results are fantastic. Thanks to the funding from the GF the deaths related to malaria has been reduced from 80% to 50% in the endemic areas, and we are very much hoping that by 2015 we can see the efforts still scaled up and sustained and can eliminate malaria as a public health problem in the endemic area, which will be a huge step forward.” There is also progress on the front of mother to child transmission of HIV, so now there are very strong programs in some of the recipient countries where the Fund can scale up its intervention, which is the prevention of HIV/AIDS in the future. On the front of TB, there is still some work and effort

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to be done. However, what is most important for the Fund this year will be its next replenishment cycle. In September in New York there will be the millennium summit where progress of on the millennium development goals (MDGs) will be reported, and after that the Fund will have its replenishment meetings where donors and potential donors will make pledges for the next three years bringing the Fund very close to the target of 2015. “We are hoping that countries will be in a position to make headway thanks to their own efforts and to donors. That is the reason we are so happy to have this MOU with OIC so we can work together to get political support to carry out our mandate, and we hope that by conveying the message of GF that the OIC can convince member states that they should continue implementing the programs as much as they can.” The Fund also hopes that OIC will encourage member states to help their brothers by financing the GF. For the next replenishing period the GF needs funding to enable it to carry out its mandate not only with the three diseases but with MDGs 4, 5 and 6 of child mortality and maternal health because its intervention are intertwined with these goals and correlate with the Program of Action (POA) of the OIC. “We want to work closely with the OIC and with member states to fight the disease,” emphasized Makar.

OIC brings together the leaders of MNLF and MILF for an agreement The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu carried out contacts with the leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to enhance coordination between the two fronts and unite their ranks for the peace and development of the Bangsamoro people. He succeeded in bringing them to-

gether for a meeting, which was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on the sidelines of the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers on 18 May 2010 with the participation of senior officials of the OIC in charge of Muslim Minorities issues. The Chairmen of the two fronts, Prof. Nur Misuari, Chairman of MNLF, and Haj Murad Ibrahim, Chairman of MILF, have agreed to en-

hance the cooperation and coordination among them, and to create a mechanism for that purpose with the technical help from the OIC General Secretariat. The second meeting between them will be held in the near future to lay down the details of that mechanism. The Secretary General promised to render any needed assistance for the holding of this meeting.

Eurasian regional centre of ICYF-DC to be established in Baku A host-country agreement considering the establishment of the Eurasian Regional Centre of Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYFDC) in Baku, Azerbaijan was signed on 18 May 2010 during the opening ceremony of the 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Dushanbe. The agreement was signed by Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Elshad Iskandarov, Secretary General of ICYF-DC, at the special signing ceremony with participation of OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, respective representatives of the 57 OIC Member States and international organizations. ICYF-DC Eurasian Regional Centre, which, according to the agreement, will be headquartered in Baku, will implement the programs of ICYF-DC in the Commonwealth

of Independent States (CIS) countries that are members to the OIC and in the Central and Eastern European countries, as well as coordinate the activities of Muslim minority youth organizations in this region. In general, activities of the Centre will cover more than 25 countries. Signing of such an agreement will strengthen ICYF-DC's activities towards advocacy of youth interests as well as supporting sustainable development of youth in the region. This will allow effective implementation of the ICYF-DC projects aimed at promoting formal and non-formal education, strengthening of moral values of the young generation as well as engaging the region's youth in dialogue among cultures and civilizations. The Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Istanbul.

37th Session of CFM welcomes Qatar's support of ICYF-DC activities The 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers adopted a resolution welcoming cooperation between Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) and the State of Qatar towards development of Islamic Conference Youth Entrepreneurship Network (ICYEN). Protocol of Cooperation between Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations (QC AoC) and the ICYF-DC was signed recently between these two institutions with a view to promoting the entrepreneurial potential of the youth of OIC Member countries and that of the Muslim minorities of the non-Member countries. The idea of such cooperation stemmed out of the vision set forward by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned during the High-

Level Conference on Youth for the Alliance of Civilizations organized in November 2007 in Baku. This cooperation between the two institutions envisages development of young entrepreneurs of the OIC geography and to direct their intellectual and creative means to productive and useful areas. According to the signed protocol, QC AoC and ICYF-DC entered into cooperation aimed at development of ICYEN for the period of 2010-2012, which stipulates also QC AoC's financial contribution toward the initial set up of the project. Joint work of Qatari team under the supervision of Chair of QC AoC and Minister of International Cooperation of the State of Qatar Dr. Khaled Al-Attiya and ICYF-DC led to identification of 15 pilot countries where the pilot chains of the entrepreneurs network will be

established. Cooperation of ICYF-DC with QC AoC is representing the vision of the two institutions that reduction of poverty and enhancement of creativeness and productive resource of Muslim youth is a process that ultimately leads to reduction of extremism and strengthens international peace. ICYEN is envisaged to be established as an international network subsidiary to ICYF-DC for providing a networking platform for young entrepreneurs of Muslim World as well as to enhance and develop their business skills, facilitate growth of the OIC economies through promoting youth entrepreneurship. The start of the project of joint Qatari-ICYF-DC cooperation will be announced at the forthcoming Annual Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 28 May. 23

Special Report: 37th CFM

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Special Report: 37th CFM

The Dushanbe Declaration A new page in Chad-Sudan relations with Dakar and this is a vital project especially On the sidelines of the 37th CFM the OIC for Chad because it is landlocked with no acJournal had the opportunity to speak with the cess to the sea, so connecting it with Sudan, Foreign Minister of Chad Moussa Faki MahaNigeria and other neighboring countries is mat who emphasized on the new page in important and strategic for us. Chad-Sudan relations and the role played and expected to play: Another important issue here is that There is a new page in the relations most African countries suffer from an enerbetween Chad and Sudan, how will that gy crisis even though many of them have affect the security and stability of the reoil, so we need to address this issue because gion? it is the basis for development. If we don't The flare of the crisis in Darfur had an afsolve the energy problem we cannot have defect on relations between Chad and Sudan, velopment. and the international community knows this. Thanks to God, wisdom prevailed and the two Minister Mahamat Also among the important issues for the Presidents met. President Deby visited Khartoum OIC is eradicating poverty, and there are severand broke the barrier and the two Presidents made al projects for that such as the fund for fighting amends and opened a new page in the relations between poverty, what is your perspective? the two countries. We took some initiatives such as creating a joint military force to secure the border. And as beThere has to be consultation between the states and fore, and upon the request of our brothers in Sudan, we are this fund. Many organizations such as the World Bank still trying to facilitate negotiations between them and the and UN organizations have been talking about fighting armed resistance. We are sure that solving the crisis in poverty for decades, but honestly we have not found a real Darfur has to be a political peaceful solution. solution to poverty. Africa suffers from poverty, but we have to put a clear strategy and each one has to bear the Regarding Darfur, since it's the basis of the probresponsibility. We need strategic and basic projects and lem, where does it stand in terms of reaching a soluwe have to agree because you cannot fight poverty withtion? out the participation of the people of the country where The Darfur issue is now in the hands of the States of the projects are to be implemented. In the past, organizaQatar and joint African Union-United Nations mediator, tions mostly used to make plans in their offices and imMr. Djibril Bassolé. In February there was an agreement pose them, but this failed, so there has to be a new vision between the Sudanese Government and the Justice and with the participation of the states and the people. Equality Movement and a second agreement between the Government and the Liberation and Justice Movement. Going back to Sudan and the referendum that will True, some difficulties remain but we are confident that the take place, there is talk about dividing Sudan, what is solution has to be peaceful and we support the Qatari iniChad's position? tiative. We pray that our brothers in Sudan and the GovernOur position is clear as indicated in the speech of Presment and the resistance overcome the past and choose wisident Deby, and even our brothers in south Sudan were dom because the future of Sudan is more important than upset by what he said. Dividing Sudan is not a solution; personal gains. Hopefully we will reach a solution for the on the contrary it will create problems. We are sure that Darfur problem and that security and stability returns to the solution is in unity, so we have to make unity attracthe region. tive and the country becomes a federation, and if not a federation than dividing power and wealth because this is What is the role expected of the OIC? the right of every citizen. But separation is not a solution The OIC has a main role. Chad and Sudan are founding because separation is going against history. Nations are members of the OIC. As usual the Secretary General interuniting in the West and in Asia so how could Africa in the vened at the beginning of the crisis, and recently in March 21st century separates between what was united. We hope the OIC held a donors conference for the reconstruction of that wisdom will prevail and a solution is found that will Darfur and this is a very good initiative. In my statement at satisfy the citizens. This is our position. the CFM, I requested the OIC to send a delegation to begin reconstruction in east Chad because this area was affected So Chad will seek to maintain the unity of Sudan? by the crisis and currently there are around 300 thousand Yes. This is in our interest and in the interest of the refugees and 180 internally displaced Chadians in this borSudanese people and in the interest of Africa. We will try der area. We have great hope in the OIC and are confident to the best of our ability that our brothers in north Sudan that the issue is on the agenda of the OIC and the Secretary and south Sudan do not separate. General. On the subject of investments and development in Do you think there are outside influences or sides Africa, which is among the important projects of the seeking this separation to create tension? OIC, what is your view on the issue especially regardEnemies are numerous. This is not new. We as Afriing Chad? cans and as Muslims have to know what is good for us. We blessed the OIC program for the development of Those who seek to separate do not want what is good. Africa. There is the railway project connecting Port Sudan

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The Thirty Seventh Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), held under the motto 'Shared Vision of a More Secure and Prosperous Islamic World', meeting in Dushanbe, which has been chosen as the Capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2010, at a time when the Muslim world is facing serious political, socio-economic, cultural and scientific challenges, issued a declaration on the various issues discussed. The Foreign Ministers acknowledged that the 37th session of the CFM is of special importance, as it takes place for the first time in Central Asia, which is considered as a sign of growing interest of the Organization and its Member States in Central Asia; underlines the contribution and cultural role of the region in the history of Muslim religion and thought, as well as in the development of Islamic sciences such as Fiqh, Hadith and Tafsir. As usual the situation in the Middle East was of top priority. The Declaration stated that the situation will remain tense so long as Israel persists in its obstinate policies and in hindering the peace efforts, until a comprehensive and just settlement covering all aspects of the problem is reached. Therefore the Foreign Ministers called for an intensification of efforts by the international community, including by the Security Council in line with its Charter responsibilities, aimed at accelerating the process of achieving a just and comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. In this context, the Council strongly condemns all illegal measures and actions in Occupied East Jerusalem aimed at judaizing this city which has an Arab and Islamic character, including in particular the building of settlements that threaten to undermine any negotiation leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of 1967 and the establishment of an independent, contiguous and viable Palestinian State on all Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Council commended the efforts made by His Majesty King Mohamed VI, Chairman of AlQuds Committee, and Bayt Mal AlQuds in order to preserve the identity of the city of Al Quds Al Shareef and support the steadfastness of its people. The Council also condemned Israel's persisting occupation of the Syrian Golan and Lebanese territories, and it emphasized its support for these two countries in regaining all their territories occupied by Israel in 1967. On Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed a joint position of the OIC Member States in favor of a longterm commitment to Afghanistan that will bring peace and stability and socio-economic rehabilitation to this country. In view of infrastructural development of Afghanistan they considered it important to offer technical assistance to relevant Member States on construction of transit roads connecting the countries of Central Asia with Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Council condemned the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and called for the resolution of the conflict on the basis of respect for the territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of the republic Azerbaijan. The Council has also adopted resolutions in the political field expressing its full solidarity with Somalia, Iraq, The Sudan, Yemen, the Comoros, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Djibouti, Jammu and Kashmir, the Turkish Cypriot State and the Kosovo people.

The Council welcomed, with appreciation, the Joint Declaration signed in Tehran on 17 May 2010, by the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey and Brazil on the exchange of nuclear fuel. It strongly called on the international community to support the Joint Declaration and to build up on the positive atmosphere created thereafter for future comprehensive agreements on all aspects of the issue. “Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security,” declared the Ministers. They reaffirmed that terrorism should never associated with any religion, race, faith, values, culture, society or group. The Council reaffirmed the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz on the establishment of an international center for combating terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nation for the immediate exchange of information and for cooperation and coordination among the Member States, with a view to reinforcing the efforts aimed at combating this serious plight. The Council also addressed armed conflicts, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other threats as continuing to challenge the foundations of international peace and security. The Council reiterated its commitment to continue efforts in engaging with the West in projecting the true image of Islam as part of interfaith and intercultural dialogue. In this context, the Council reaffirmed the Initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah BinAbdulaziz for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, convinced that such initiative will promote moderation, tolerance and will encourage dialogue for shunning violence and extremism. Being almost halfway through since the adoption of the Ten Year Program of Action in 2005 and the Vision 1441 H for Science and Technology, in their deliberations the Ministers focused on the achievements and shortcomings over these years. Hence, they declared that efforts need to be made to support human development and inadequate education system. Furthermore, the meeting reiterated the fundamental principle of free movement of goods, persons, services, energy resources and capital and preventing technical barriers on the OIC Member States, which may positively contribute in fighting global crises and achieving sustainable development. Taking into consideration the water crises that were aggravated by the growth of population and global climate change, and bearing in mind that the international community should take specific measures to ensure integrated and better use of water resources in order to meet the needs of the people, the environment and the economies of all countries, the Ministers welcomed the initiative of Tajikistan to declare the year 2012 - as the International Year of Water Diplomacy. The Council also addressed and condemned the mounting trend of Islamophobia and systematic discrimination against Muslims. “We call upon the international community to prevent incitement on hatred and discrimination against Muslims and to take effective measures to combat the defamation of religions and negative stereotyping of people on the basis of religion, faith or race,” declared the Ministers.

Special Report: 37th CFM

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Exclusive Interview

Interview with Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi: Reinforcing cooperation and communication ties between Central Asia and the other OIC Member States After a long day of meetings and discussions at the conclusion of the 37th CFM, Tajik Minister of Foreign Affairs sat with OIC Journal for a wrap up interview: What is your evaluation and impression of the results of the 37th CFM? The Republic of Tajikistan after obtaining state independence paid significant attention to the issues of restoring and strengthening friendly and partnership relations with Islamic countries and took necessary measures to further developing these ties both on bilateral and multilateral levels. Tajikistan is one of the first Central Asian countries that shortly after the disintegration of the Soviet Union joined the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Since joining, Tajikistan has been actively participating in all OIC Summits, Islamic Councils of Foreign Ministers, as well as in other important meetings. The 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers is very significant and historic as since the establishment of the OIC forty years ago, this is the first time it being held in Central Asia, known in the history of Islam as "Mawaraunnahr" (beyond the river); is considered as a sign of growing attention of the Organization and its Member States to Central Asia; underlines the contribution and cultural role of the region in the history of religion and thought. A wide range of issues of interest to Member States were discussed and resolutions were adopted by the Council. The Council reviewed the draft resolution on the establishment of the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Right, it noted with appreciation the establishment of the Department of Family Affairs in the General Secretariat, and it adopted the Strategy proposed by the OIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva for broadening support for the OIC sponsored resolution on combating defamation of religions. This is the first CFM to be hosted in a Central Asian member state, and there was a brainstorming session about the growing role of the region. Could you elaborate more on the significance of that and how to implement the resolution adopted about reinforcing cooperation and communication among Central Asian countries and with the other OIC member states in various fields? A brainstorming session was held on the topic 'Central Asia and the Muslim World: Strategic Vision for Solidarity.' The Session highlighted the contributions of Central Asia, which is an integral part of the Islamic world, to the enrichment of the universal culture and civilization and human thought. Discussing the natural resources, potentials and shared difficulties in the economic, social and development fields, it was emphasized that the development of cooperation and the promotion of commercial exchanges, drawing on the Trade Preferential System of the OIC, can contribute to the development of relations between the region and other countries of the Muslim world. Many ministers and heads of delegation addressed the session, where they spoke about the importance of the theme under study and made a number of practical proposals with a view to reinforcing cooperation and communication ties between Central Asia and the other Member 26

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States of the OIC. We have agreed to accelerate our cooperation particularly in the economic field among public and private sectors in the Member States in order to tap the immense capabilities of the Central Asian Member States within the existing OIC frameworks, mechanisms and programs and new subregional initiatives. We also decided to convene a High Level Regional Conference with the participation of representatives of the two Troikas and countries of the region as well as relevant OIC Institutions to prepare a detailed Plan of Action for cooperation and integration to be submitted to the Thirty-eighth session of the CFM. Top issues on the agenda of the CFM included situation in Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and concerning Muslim minorities in non-OIC member states. What role will Tajikistan play as chair of CFM in addressing these issues? Being held under the theme: 'Shared Vision of a More Secure and Prosperous Islamic World', this Session was also significant because it was being held at a defining moment considering the rapid developments of various political issues. Issues related with the situation in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan alongside with issues of Muslim minorities are vivid reflections of those key political and social problems which the OIC faces today. As I mentioned, Tajikistan as an active member of the Organization cannot stay aside from the solution to those key issues of the Islamic World. Proposals and principal position of the Government of Tajikistan are aimed at solving urgent problems of people in Muslim countries in terms of forming a new level of interrelations between the Islamic states to reach the sustainable development and welfare of every Muslim. It is obvious that any organization and structure, especially one as influential as the OIC with activities around the whole world, should be adequate and adapting to the rapidly changing social-economic conditions and emerging modern processes. Globalization process as the main moving tendency logically pre-determinates that the OIC activity as an important structure, which expresses the interests of the Islamic world and reflects wishes of all Muslims, should be adherent to conditions of the dynamically developing world. In December 2005 at the Third Extraordinary Makkah Summit, the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action was approved. Today, the necessity has arisen to responsibly consider further implementation of the Ten-Year Program of Action within the Organization. Without any doubt, setting urgent issues of the modern life, reflected in the Program, will promote security and stability, as well as contribute to further development and prosperity of the Muslim world. It is widely known that the dynamic of developments of the situation in Central Asia is inseparably connected with the situation in Afghanistan. Therefore, Tajikistan is highly interested in stabilization of situation in Afghanistan and strengthening peace and stability in this neighboring country. Today, as ever before, it is obvious that the

military approach to solve the problems in Afghanistan will not give the expected outcomes. The level of internal escalation of the problems remains very high. It makes us conclude that the threat of modern risks and challenges coming from Afghanistan to the Central Asian region still exists. In this regard, it is vitally important to take joint steps in social and economic rehabilitation of this country, as well as contribute to returning the country to the process of peaceful development. Therefore, we support all initiatives directed at peace building and believe that international strategy of action in this country should rely, first of all, on the people of Afghanistan and on constructive cooperation with official authorities. This requires closer coordination of efforts by interested countries in strengthening the central government, as well as solutions to the social and economic problems of the country. One of the effective ways, we are confident, is rendering necessary assistance to Afghanistan based on programs aimed at, for example, fostering the process of economic rehabilitation of the country, social and educational spheres or prevention of drug threats. On the situation in Somalia, I believe that the OIC Member States should continue their efforts to encourage different parties in the country to cooperate and renounce violence. In this regard, it is necessary to undertake measures for reconciliation in Somalia and provide coordinated, timely and sustained support to strengthen security in this country. It is important for us, OIC Member States to cooperate in finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in Somalia. At the same time, it is crucial for all parties in Somalia to prioritize economic and social rehabilitation and reconstruction. Among the issues of concern to OIC and was discussed in the CFM is Islamophobia and relations with the west. What is your view on the issue and what can Tajikistan as chair of CFM do to facilitate better interaction with the west especially regarding the image of Islam? An objective, unbiased look at the component of Islam shows that our religion, with its rich scientific and intellectual potential is rich with ideas of human dignity, social justice, tolerance and peace, which illustrates that it is compatible with democratic values today. Speaking of disturbing trends of the spread of Islamophobia in the world today, I would like to focus on the words of our esteemed President Emomali Rahmon expressed in his address to the meeting of the Council of the OIC Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe. As he mentioned, unfair use of the name of the sacred religion of Islam, the distortion of its higher values, is causing increased concern in Tajikistan and the entire Islamic world. In this regard, the priority task is consolidated approach of the Islamic community to this problem and continuation of joint efforts to bring global attention to our concerns. Aware of the threat posed by the further spread of Islamophobia, Tajikistan fully supports initiatives to broaden the dialogue among civilizations as voiced by the OIC as well as other international organizations, and it is ready to continue to participate effectively in their implementation. A successful business forum was held on the sidelines of the CFM. That was also important in terms of highlighting the business and investment opportunities in OIC Member States particularly in Central Asian countries. Could you give us details about those opportunities in Tajikistan? More than 300 businessmen and entrepreneurs from 22 OIC countries participated in the 2nd OIC Business Forum and 13th Private Sector Meeting, which took place in Varzob Gorge on 14 May 2010. The aim of the one-day meet-

ing was to identify and promote economic investments in OIC countries, particularly in Central Asia. This event provided opportunities to the institutions to discuss the cooperation prospects with private sector in common areas of interests, such as finding new markets for their products, financing new projects setting up joint ventures and applications for trade financing. Through these meetings, greater awareness has been created among OIC business community regarding opportunities for collaboration in industrial ventures and for expansion of trade among Islamic Countries. The participants underscored the role of Private Sector in the current efforts to scale up economic cooperation among OIC Member States and emphasized that various programs and projects, which were being executed under the Ten-Year Program of Action, provided ample opportunities for forging enduring partnerships among the various Private Sector establishments in the Muslim world and the promotion of an enduring South-South cooperation. The networking sessions focused on such critical sectors as energy, tourism, agriculture, constructions and financial services. I would like to note that political stability in Tajikistan has provided all prerequisites for stable economic development. Huge reserves of mineral resources, significant hydroelectric potential, unique bioclimatic conditions and labor resources can become main factors of effective cooperation with foreign partners. As it is widely known investments are an important component of successful development of any economy. Therefore, protection of investments, decrease of risks, creation of transparent rules of doing business and other directions of forming the favorable investment climate are the main priorities. At present the current legislation in Tajikistan expresses the state policy in support of all types of entrepreneurial activity including the private one. Therefore, frequent introduction of changes and additions into the Tax and Customs Codes is an indicator of strives to bring the current legislation in accordance with the international standards on legal safeguards and protection of rights. Creation of the Consultative Council on improving the investment climate under the President (2008) and taking steps are evidence of strives to improve the investment climate. Consequently, favorable conditions for foreign investments, market structure support, and banking system development are under way. The procedure for joint ventures registration and other ownership forms have been simplified. In accordance with new laws, enterprises with foreign investments are exempt from income taxes from 2 to 5 years depending on laid-down capital. It is worth mentioning that Tajikistan does not have any limitations on direct investments from abroad. It has full currency convertibility on current operations. Interest rates are fully liberalized. Today, all the priority sectors for investments have been identified. These are: hydro-power engineering, the extraction and processing of precious metals, stones and polymetalic ores, telecommunication and infrastructure development, cotton processing, and agriculture production. Currently, companies from Canada, USA, Great Britain, Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and Russia are the biggest investors in Tajikistan economy. Among them I can mention Tethys Petroleum (development and extraction of oil and natural gas), Nelson Gold Corporation (extraction of gold and silver deposits), Gulf International Minerals (extraction of gold deposits), Credit Swiss First Boston (futures contracts for cotton) and Adjind International (textile production).

Exclusive Interview

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World Affairs

The OIC participates in the First Meeting of the Sudan Consultative Forum

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir swears the oath of office in Khartoum, 27 May 2010 (epa).

Khartoum, Sudan - The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) participated in the Sudan Consultative Forum whose first meeting was held in Khartoum on 17 July 2010 with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) as co-chairs and the OIC, the League of Arab States (LAS), the Intergovernmental Agency for Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Sudan's neighbors as members. The General Secretariat's representative to the meeting Ambassador Habib Kaabachi stressed the special importance which the OIC attaches to Sudan's security, stability and unity, and its utmost interest in the decisive events ahead for Sudan concerning the peace process in Darfur and the prospects of the referendum on Southern Sudan due to be held in January 2011. He stressed the need to reach a peaceful, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Darfur conflict in the framework of the Doha Process, inviting the parties concerned to show more sincere political will to settle this conflict and put an end to the suffering of the displaced and refugees in Darfur by enabling them to return to their land and properties and live in security and peace. The OIC also underscored the need to implement the Comprehen28

sive Peace Agreement for Southern Sudan, while making the option of unity attractive in the referendum on self-determination in Southern Sudan, taking into account the fact that States' strength, security and stability lies in maintaining their unity within diversity and plurality. Earlier on May 8, 2010 the OIC General Secretariat participated in the consultative meeting on Sudan by the African Union Commission held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In a speech delivered on behalf of the OIC Secretary General, Ambassador Kaabachi affirmed the OIC continued support for Doha peace process in Darfur ably and steadfastly sponsored by Qatar, underlining the need to set a time limit for this process. Meanwhile, upon invitation by the Sudanese Government, a delegation from the OIC General Secretariat, led by Ambassador Abdullah A. Alim, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, attended the installation ceremony of President Omar Hassan Al Bashir of the Republic of Sudan, which was held at the headquarters of the National Assembly on 27 May 2010 in Khartoum. The OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and his accompanying delegation were also received by Othman Mohamad Taha, Vice-President of Sudan, at the seat of the ministerial council. Amb. Alim conveyed the OIC Secretary General's congratulations to President Omar Hassan Al Bashir on the occasion of his election as President, along with his best wishes of success in leading Sudan and advancing its unity, security and stability. OIC-IDB-ISF Joint Mission visits Southern Sudan Salva Kirr, First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) received the Joint Mission to Southern Sudan, comprising delegations from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), in Juba on July 27, 2010. The Joint mission was visiting southern Sudan as a follow up of the OIC Darfur Donor Conference held in March of this year with an objective to explore the ways and means of developing and implementing possible projects for

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ensuring development of the region. The President of GOSS emphasized that as the referendum is imminent, the supporters of the unity of the Sudan need to make the option of unity beneficial to the people of Southern Sudan through implementing concrete development projects that would improve their daily conditions substantially. In this regard, he assured the delegation of the readiness of his government to cooperate with the OIC and its institutions on development initiatives for Southern Sudan. The Head of the OIC delegation, Ambassador Habib Kaabachi suggested to the authorities convening a consultative platform for NGOs from the OIC Member States and other potential donors in order to mobilize financial resources for humanitarian and developmental projects that Southern Sudan acutely needs at present. On his part, the IDB Vice President for Operations, Birama Sidibe, reiterated the readiness of the Bank to continue to support Sudan's development efforts. OIC slams ICC move against Sudan's President OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed deep disappointment over the announced decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to add genocide counts to the charges leveled against the President of Sudan Omar Hasan Al-Bashir. On July 12, 2010 the International Criminal Court added three genocide counts to the charges against President Bashir. Khartoum dismissed the move as a “political” decision. In March last year, the ICC issued a warrant for Bashir's arrest on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, its first ever for a sitting head of state. But that did not include three genocide charges as requested by the prosecutor. In February this year, the ICC appeals chamber ordered judges to rethink their decision to omit genocide. Ihsanoglu pointed out that the ICC's new move could jeopardize peace efforts aimed at fostering the political democratization of the country and the resolution of the conflict in Darfur. The Secretary General renewed his appeal to the UN Security Council to work out a solution to this crisis, as the situation in Darfur could experience an aggravation and unpredictable developments that might impact not just the stability of Sudan but of the wider region as well.

Arab trilateral summit in a show of solidarity

A handout picture shows Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (C), Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz (L) and Syrian President Bashar Assad (R) upon their arrival at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Beirut, Lebanon, 30 July 2010.

Beirut, Lebanon - The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon met on July 30, 2010 in Beirut in a rare summit and urged Arab countries to stand united to confront the Israeli challenge. They also called for intensive efforts to establish a just and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in Beirut together on the same airplane and met with President Michel Suleiman and other Lebanese leaders in an unprecedented show of solidarity in a bid to defuse tensions. The summit leaders urged Lebanese parties to avoid resorting to violence. "The leaders stressed the importance of stability... the commitment (of the Lebanese) not to resort to violence and the need to place the country's interests above all sectarian interests," said a communiqué issued by the Lebanese presidency after the summit. The statement also stressed the need to "resort to legal institutions and Lebanon's unity government to resolve any differences." The communiqué urged Lebanese parties to "pursue the path of appeasement and dialogue and to boost national unity in the face of outside threats." The Saudi and Syrian leaders said they stood in solidarity with Lebanon "in the face of Israel's daily violations of its sovereignty and its attempts to destabilize the country." They condemned Israel's Gaza siege and its efforts to Judaize Jerusalem. Asked about the outcome of the brief talks as he left the presidential palace, the Syrian leader gave a thumbs up and said: "The discussions were excellent." Assad was visiting Lebanon for the first time since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. The summit discussed "means to enhance national unity, internal stability and opportunities for economic growth in Lebanon," the communiqué said. The leaders praised positive developments that have been achieved since the 2008 Doha Agreement. While supporting the Doha Agreement, they expressed their intention to complete the execution of the Taif Accord. In a symbolic move to improve relations, King Abdullah watered the Saudi-Lebanese friendship tree and Assad the Syrian-Lebanese friendship tree, which they had planted at Baabda Palace Garden during previous visits. Assad and Suleiman also met separately for about 20

minutes. Relations between the two countries have been on the mend since 2008, when diplomatic ties were established for the first time. Prime Minister Saad Hariri has made four trips to Syria in the past eight months. Saudi Arabia, a staunch supporter of Lebanon, has played a key role in the rapprochement between the Arab neighbors. King Abdullah later reached Amman, where he was greeted by King Abdallah of Jordan and given a redcarpet welcome. Jordan was the last leg of King Abdullah's four-nation Arab tour after Egypt, Syria and Lebanon. A day after King Abdullah's visit, the emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani visited southern Lebanon and toured border towns that his country helped rebuild after the 2006 Israeli bombardment, marking the first such trip by a visiting Arab leader. “I am happy to be here, in this area that was rebuilt after it was destroyed,” Al Thani said in the town of Bint Jbeil, which Israeli bombings reduced to rubble in the 2006 war. “I thank the mujahideen who sacrificed their lives” to defend Lebanon. Qatar spent millions of dollars to help finance the reconstruction of houses in four border towns, including Bint Jbeil. During his visit to the south Al Thani inaugurated a hospital in Bint Jbeil and a nearby mosque and church.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (L) and his wife Sheikha Moza (2L) talk with Prime Minister Saad Hariri (back C) and are accompanied by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (R) and Parliament speaker Nabih Berri (2R), in the Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, south Lebanon, 31 July 2010 (epa).

World Affairs

The OIC participates in the First Meeting of the Sudan Consultative Forum

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir swears the oath of office in Khartoum, 27 May 2010 (epa).

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Arab trilateral summit in a show of solidarity

World Affairs

OIC appeals to the international community to intensify their assistance to Somalia

Five African countries sign new Nile treaty

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) talks with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga (L) in Cairo on 23 May 2010 (epa).

Family photo session after Somalia Conference in Istanbul, Turkey on 22 May 2010 (epa).

Istanbul, Turkey - Upon the invitation of the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu participated in the International Conference on Somalia held in Istanbul on 22 May 2010. Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said to the Conference that his country had been experiencing major problems for a long time and it was currently faced with instability. Pointing to the local, regional and international efforts displayed for the solution of the crisis in the country since 1991, Ahmed said efforts had been insufficient so far. Ahmed also said that fundamentalism had the biggest impact on the country, adding piracy had been another negativity in Somalia. "Piracy appeared due to the lack of efficient state institutions," Ahmed said. In his address to the Conference, OIC Secretary General highlighted the enduring support of the OIC and its members to the stability and development of Somalia. He underscored the need to extend all possible assistance to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia and to strengthen its institutions in order to deliver essential services to the Somali people. He called on all groups outside the Djibouti Peace Process to abandon violence and seek accommodation within the TFG. He informed the Conference that in fulfillment of the OIC's pledge made to the 16th session of the International Contact Group on Somalia, which was held at OIC headquarters in Jeddah in December 2009, a high level delegation from the OIC General Secretariat visited the Somali capi30

tal Mogadishu on 2-3 May 2010 and finalized the arrangements for the opening of the OIC Humanitarian Office in Somalia. He appealed to the international community to intensify their assistance to Somalia as a concrete mark of their solidarity. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also said that all countries should extend support to restore peace and stability in Somalia. "Turkey continues efforts in initiatives to preserve peace and in humanitarian assistance matter," Davutoglu said. UN Secretary General Ban KiMoon said peace could not be restored in Somalia in case people failed to exert more efforts, "today, we start a new change. We will review the difficulties Somalia has to face and consider the opportunities to assist," he said. OIC Humanitarian Mission to Mogadishu begins its work The OIC humanitarian mission to Mogadishu has signed an agreement with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia on 2 May 2010. Under this agreement, the OIC Humanitarian Coordination Office in Mogadishu will coordinate the Humanitarian works of the OIC in Somalia, and will also complement the international humanitarian initiatives in Somalia in general. The impact of the World Food Program's (WFP) withdrawal from distribution of food to the Central and Southern parts of Mogadishu has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis leaving a vacuum in the distribution of the humanitarian assistance. This necessitates the OIC to play the lead role to fill in the gap, and to restart distribution of food to

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around 3.2 million affected people, particularly in those areas and in Somalia in general, as per the request of the Somali government. OIC launches a humanitarian program in Somalia The OIC launched a humanitarian program in Somalia to cater to 360,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afgooye Corridor for a period of six months. On the sidelines of the UN-OIC biennial general cooperation meeting held in Istanbul on 29 June 2010, the OIC Journal spoke with Ussama Osman - External Relations Officer in charge of Somalia at the World Food Program (WFP) - about the OIC humanitarian program with the WFP. “It was the initiative of the OIC together with WFP, we discussed the situation and signed an agreement to provide assistance to 360 thousand Somali refugees and we started implementation of this agreement immediately after signing the agreement two months ago. The OIC can play an important role in the Somali issue because I think the other international organizations are not that keen, so it is an area where the OIC can play a role and the WFP can provide assistance. We can help on the humanitarian aspect of it, but the OIC can play a role in the humanitarian and political aspect as well.” Osman explained that agencies are doing their role in the humanitarian area but it is other countries, donor countries, members of the Security Council who are not keen on getting involved. “The Somali issue has been dragging on in the Security Council for long and despite all the efforts we don't see a big mobilization on the political side to resolve the problem.”

Entebbe, Uganda - Four African countries signed a new treaty on May 14, 2010 on the equitable sharing of the Nile waters despite strong opposition from Egypt and Sudan who have the lion's share of the river waters. Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania signed the new framework while Kenya issued a support statement. The five signatories have given the other Nile Basin countries - Egypt, Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo - one year to join the pact. The upstream countries want to be able to implement irrigation and hydropower projects in consultation with Egypt and Sudan, but without Egypt being able to exercise veto power it was given by a 1929 treaty with Britain. Egypt's annual share of Nile waters is 55.5 billion cubic meters out of the 100 billion cubic meters. The new agreement, the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework, is to replace a 1959 accord between Egypt and Sudan that gives them control of more than 90 percent of the water flow. The two countries have expressed fear that their water supply would be severely reduced if the seven other Nile users divert the river with domestic irrigation and hydropower projects. The 6700-kilometer Nile is a confluence of the White Nile, whose source is Lake Victoria in east Africa, and the

Blue Nile that springs from the Ethiopian highlands. The two Niles join in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and flow down through Egypt into the Mediterranean Sea in a huge delta. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on May 23 discussed with his counterpart from the Congo and the Prime Minister of Kenya the lingering crisis over sharing the waters of the Nile River. Egypt says it is carefully weighing its response to a new agreement signed by five upriver countries, which could affect its current majority share of the river's waters. Egypt's Middle East News Agency (MENA) said Mubarak, Kenya's Raila Odinga and Congolese President Joseph Kabila reviewed in two separate meetings cooperation between Egypt and other Nile basin countries “in irrigation and agriculture.” Egypt initially shunned the framework agreement because it fails to protect what Cairo calls its “historic” water rights. A meeting to discuss the Nile agreement is supposed be held in Nairobi between September and November. The official Egyptian news agency MENA said the meeting would be held but did not give more details. It said the other states had said they “understood Egypt and Sudan's position ... and based on this an exceptional ministerial ... will be held to decide how to move forward in a matter that serves all Nile Basin states.” Egypt, almost totally dependent on the Nile and already threatened by climate change, is closely watching hydroelectric dam construction in East Africa.

Qatar mediating in Eritrea-Djibouti border dispute Doha, Qatar - Eritrea and Djibouti have authorized Doha to mediate and find a lasting solution to the border row between them. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, announced on June 7, 2010 that Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and his Djibouti counterpart, Ismael Omar Guelleh, had inked a deal whereby they have authorized Qatar to mediate in the border dispute between their two countries. “They (Eritrea and Djibouti) have authorized the mediator, the Emir, H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who signed as a mediator and witness, with the full authority to issue an executive working document to the agreement,” the Premier said in a statement, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA). The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the mediation conducted by the State of Qatar between Djibouti and Eritrea in a bid to resolve the border dispute involving the two countries and the announcement of the signing by Djiboutian and Eritrean Presidents of an agreement to this effect. Ihsanoglu expressed the OIC's support of Qatar's medi-

ation between the two countries and declared his appreciation for the efforts and initiatives undertaken by the State of Qatar to achieve peace, stability and development in the region. Eritrean troops have withdrawn from an area they controlled in Djibouti as a result of Doha's mediation bid. A Qatari observation force is tasked with monitoring the border between the two countries “until the conclusion of a final agreement on settling the conflict,” QNA reported. There are seven articles in the agreement, according to which a committee will be set up under the chairmanship of the Qatari Premier with a member each from Eritrea and Djibouti. The job of this panel would be to resolve the boundary differences between the two countries within the framework of the authorization given by the two sides. The committee shall nominate and appoint with the consent of the two sides (Eritrea and Djibouti) an international company to carry out the demarcation of the border between the two countries in accordance with international principles and rules on border demarcation. Qatar will monitor the demarcation of boundaries between the two countries. 31

World Affairs

OIC appeals to the international community to intensify their assistance to Somalia

Five African countries sign new Nile treaty

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) talks with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga (L) in Cairo on 23 May 2010 (epa).

Family photo session after Somalia Conference in Istanbul, Turkey on 22 May 2010 (epa).

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World Affairs

Guinea conducts successful presidential election

General Sekouba Konate, leader of the interim government, voting in Conakry, Guinea 27 June 2010 (epa).

Conakry, Guinea - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu commended the people of the Republic of Guinea for the maturity and sense of responsibility displayed during the presidential election held on June 27, 2010. It was the first peaceful democratic election in Guinea since its independence in 1958. Turnout was reported to be massive from an eligible 4.2 million voters choosing their president from among 24 civilian candidates. Ihsanoglu who described the event as historic, also expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm of the voters who exercised their civic responsibility in an orderly and peaceful atmosphere. He therefore appealed to all stakeholders to accept and respect the outcome of this democratic contest. The Secretary General also appealed to the Member States to continue to extend their assistance to Guinea especially to the incoming democratically elected government in order to improve the economic condition of its people and to strengthen national unity. The Secretary General had dispatched a 5-member election observer team to Guinea Conakry to monitor the presidential elections. The Foreign Minister of Guinea Bakary Fofana during a visit to the OIC General Secretariat on June 5 expressed his government's appreciation to the OIC and the Secretary General for the support that Guinea continues to receive from the OIC.

However, the OIC Secretary General followed with concern the latest unfortunate political developments in Guinea. In this context, Ihsanoglu called upon the Interim President, General Sékouba Konaté, Head of the Transition, to stay the course in his vital leadership position and conclude the electoral process for the sake of democracy, good governance and the overall interests of the people of Guinea. The Secretary General, while appealing to all political leaders in Guinea to continue to demonstrate a high sense of responsibility by respecting the will of the people as well as state institutions, further urged them to only seek redress for any grievances arising from the electoral process through established legal channels in order to preserve the peace, and stability of their country. Meanwhile, the General Secretariat of the OIC participated in the 14th Session of the International Contact Group (ICG) meeting on Guinea convened in Conakry on 23 July 2010. The meeting took stock of the situation prevailing after the organization of the first round of the presidential elections of June 27, 2010 and the publication of the results endorsed by the Supreme Court on July 20. The Meeting also afforded the members of the ICG to have thorough exchanges with the President of the Transition, General Sékouba Konaté, as well as with the Prime Minister, the President of the National Council for the Transition (CNT), the Minister of Territorial Administration and Political Affairs (MATAP), the Vice President of CENI and also with the different political actors, on the conditions of organizing at the earliest convenience, the second round of the presidential elections which would elect the next President for the Republic of Guinea. In the same vein, the meeting took good note of the readiness and willingness of the President of the Transition to lead the transition process to its end and the importance he attaches to the urgent reform of the defense and security sector in Guinea. The meeting positively noted that all parties involved in the second round of the presidential elections have fully understood the pressing need to place the high interests of the nation above any personal, partisan, ethnic or regionalist considerations. In this regard, all stakeholders urged CENI to take all necessary steps so as to make sure that the next round of presidential elections will be held in a free, fair, transparent and regular manner.

OIC condemns the use of force by the Indian Police against Kashmiri people Srinagar, Kashmir - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his deep concern and disappointment at the wave of violence against the people of Kashmir by the Indian Police who fired at hundreds of stone-throwing protesters in Kashmir on July 6, 2010 killing and injuring many civilians. While condemning the continued use of force against the Kashmiri people in the Indian-held Kashmir, Ihsanoglu appealed, once more, to the Indian authorities to avoid excessive use of force and respect the peo-

ple's will and rights in order to help improve the security situation in Kashmir. In weeks of unrest at least 42 people have died most of them killed by security forces trying to disperse angry protests against India. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on India to “exercise restraint” in its zone of Kashmir. He said that recent statements from the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference illustrate the collective concern of the international community at the human rights violations in Kashmir.

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The OIC Secretary General again in August voiced his deep concern at the latest developments in Kashmir and condemned the violence perpetrated by the Indian security forces against innocent Kashmiris leading to the loss of numerous precious lives. He called on India to end its human rights violations in the area and seek a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute. The Secretary General again reiterated the solidarity of the OIC with the Kashmiri people and reaffirmed their legitimate right to selfdetermination.

OIC Parliamentary Union condemns the continuing Israeli provocative and deliberate acts in Jerusalem Istanbul, Turkey - Parliament speakers and parliamentarians from 29 Islamic countries adopted Istanbul Declaration on 10 May 2010 calling on Israel to halt all settlement activities in Jerusalem. The declaration adopted by the Second Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) condemned the continuing Israeli provocative and deliberate acts in Jerusalem and other Palestinian cities while urging Muslims and Christians in all parts of the world to work together to protect sacred sites, heritage and history in Jerusalem. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said at the opening of the meeting that the Israeli position vis-à-vis the cause of Al-Quds AlSharif is completely in line with the illusions and beliefs of Israeli extremists about Al-Aqsa Mosque and also in line with the extremist plans to take control of Al-Aqsa Mosque and to firmly establish the direct Jewish presence therein, either by digging tunnels underneath its foundations, facilitating its storming by extremist groups or by banning the needed restoration works for the Mosque. Ihsanoglu warned against the judaization of the city of Al-Quds, falsifying its character, changing its landmarks, emptying it of its original population and isolating it from its Palestinian geographical environment. Such process represents a blatant violation of the international law and the international humanitarian law, including in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. He also alerted against the flagrant Israeli aggressions against the city of Al-Quds through excavation works

throughout the Old City and its surroundings, looting its antiquities and destruction of its heritage. The Secretary General declared that a mission composing of officials from the OIC General Secretariat and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) visited Al-Quds city and took stock of the condition of housing, education and health sectors and to identify the most urgent projects for financing. He announced that the IDB has lately made a contribution to the educational sector in the city. Ihsanoglu also noted that he has discussed the dangers arising from the Israeli practices with a number of international leaders including the US Secretary of State during her visit to the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah in February 2010, Foreign Minister of Spain, British Foreign Minister, EU Commissioner for External Relations and UNESCO Director General in order to exert pressure on Israel to stop its violations. The Secretary General concluded his statement by focusing on the issue of Palestinian detainees in the Israeli jails and emphasized that the issue should be brought to the attention of the international community. Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin noted that Israel's irresponsible attitude toward Jerusalem was the biggest obstacle in the Middle East peace process. He said that a realistic, fair and lasting solution could be achieved in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, if the problems concerning the city of Jerusalem were solved in a peaceful way. The speaker noted that the Jewish settlements blocking the peace process should be stopped, the wall

and checkpoints separating Jerusalem and the West Bank from each other should be lifted. Palestinians should not be forced to leave their homes. "Turkey has always felt a historical responsibility regarding the Jerusalem issue," he said, adding that peace should be established in Jerusalem and the Middle East first in order to provide peace in the world. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined in the parliament speakers' condemnation of the latest Israeli move of the settlements in Jerusalem. He said: "If Jerusalem burns, the Middle East burns. If Jerusalem burns, the world burns." Winning a wide applause at the meeting, he said, "Those who wish to burn Jerusalem will only burn the Middle East. Those who try to destroy Jerusalem, cannot destroy the brotherhood, the divinity of the city." He said: "The ugly plans against Jerusalem, will face a reaction not just from Muslims but also Christians and sympathetic Jews." Speaking about the Palestinian issue, he said, "Turkey has always supported the Middle East peace process, particularly a solution to the Israel Palestinian problem." "Turkey supports the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital," he added. "Jewish settlements must be halted, restrictions on Palestinian life must be lifted," he added. After the opening ceremony, parliament speakers held a close-door meeting, focusing on discussion and adoption of the Istanbul Declaration on the Unified Islamic Position on 'Call on Israel: New Settlements in Jerusalem will harm World Peace.'

Kosovo's declaration of independence is legal: ICJ The Hague, the Netherlands Kosovo won a major victory on July 22, 2010 when the United Nation's highest court said its 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia was legal. The nonbinding opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) sets the stage for Kosovo to renew its appeals for further international recognition. 69 countries have recognized the Balkan country; it needs 100 for full statehood. Serbia quickly denounced the ruling and vowed it would never recognize Ko-

sovo as separate. The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the declaration of independence by Kosovo is in accordance with international law. The OIC Secretary General was one of the first to welcome the declaration of Independence by Kosovo in 2008. He said that the opinion of the ICJ reflected the aspirations of the people of Kosovo and would encourage them further to build a prosper-

ous nation that would live in peace side by side with all its neighbors. To this end, Ihsanoglu called on all concerned parties to respect the opinion of the ICJ and engage in support of peace and stability in the Balkans through constructive dialogue and cooperation. He expressed his hope that the ICJ's opinion would allow Kosovo and its neighbors to move beyond their differences and work together toward their peaceful and stable future. 33

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Guinea conducts successful presidential election

General Sekouba Konate, leader of the interim government, voting in Conakry, Guinea 27 June 2010 (epa).

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Extraordinary Conference of OIC Parliamentary Union calls for unified stance to support Palestinian cause Damascus, Syria - Parliament speakers participating in the Union's members to visit various international, contithe 1st Extraordinary Conference of the Parliamentary Un- nental and regional parliamentary unions in order to exion of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Mem- pound the reality of what is taking place in the region and ber States affirmed on June 30, 2010 that the Palestinian the grave dimensions concomitant to the Gaza blockage, cause is the pivotal cause and the essence of conflict in the the war crimes and the Israeli settlements. It also stipulated Middle East, and that the member countries must take a for forming a committee for following up and executing unified Islamic stance to support it. the resolutions of this conference, which will be chaired by The three-day meeting themed 'Lift the Unjust Siege on Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly with the memberGaza' attracted some 37 delegates from the 57-member Or- ship of two from each geographic group. ganization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Syrian SpeakThe declaration requested that the OIC, the Arab er Mahmoud al-Abrash at the opening called on parlia- League and the Non Aligned States seek the convening of ments worldwide to press their governments to help lift the the UN General Assembly in the framework of the 'United Gaza blockade and punish Israel for its "massacre" of the for Peace' formula for the sake of lifting the blockage off pro- Palestinian activists onboard the Gaza bound aid flotil- Gaza. Participants stressed that the Israeli decision on lessla in late May. ening the blockade on Gaza is nothing In the final declaration of the confermore than deception and procrastinaence, the participants condemned the IsThe declaration strongly tion in order to prolong the blockade. raeli blockade imposed on Gaza by land, They also requested that Islamic condemned the sea and air, considering it an aggressive states and all peace-loving people to gruesome massacres and savage action that breaches all intercontinue sending ships carrying medinational laws and norms, constitutes a committed by the Zionist cal and food supplies and building macrime against humanity and poses a serito Gaza, which has been deentity through shedding terials ous threat to international peace and sestroyed by Israel, in addition to calling the blood of innocent curity as well as to regional stability. for exercising pressures for opening all people on board the The declaration strongly condemned crossings for the permanent movement the gruesome massacres committed by the humanitarian aid convoy of persons and goods. The declaration Zionist entity through shedding the blood called for dispatching urgent humaniof innocent people on board the humanitarian aid to the besieged people of tarian aid convoy which was on course to Gaza with the participation of parliadeliver humanitarian aid, considering this crime to be in- mentarians from the Union. The declaration called for timidation, piracy and state terrorism on international wa- compelling Israel to pay fill compensation in accordance ters. It requested that the UN Secretary General implement with international standards for the victims and injured the Security Council Presidential Statement, dated June 1, people. It also affirmed that the severance of diplomatic 2010 concerning the constitution of an impartial and inde- and economic ties with the Zionist entity is the most effecpendent international commission to investigate into this tive means of punishing it, requesting that states which crime and to issue a UN resolution thereon. have diplomatic or economic relations with it to reconsider The members stressed the need to implement the reso- such relations. lution of the Human Rights Council on the formation of an The declaration expressed thanks to Qatar and the independent fact finding commission to investigate the vio- states which declared positions on bearing the necessary lelation of international law following the Israeli aggression gal costs for taking Israel to court on its heinous crime in on the humanitarian aid convoy. They also emphasized the attacking the humanitarian aid convoy, emphasizing the importance of following up on the Goldstone Report. The implementation of the recommendations of the two opendeclaration demanded that the UN Security Council estab- ended meetings of the Executive committee, which were lish a special international tribunal to prosecute the Israeli held on 14 January 2009 and 20 May 2010. leaders who committed the crime of attacking the humaniEarlier, the Conference held an open session during tarian aid convoy. which heads of delegations gave speeches on the tragic sitIt called for implementing the resolutions of the Israel uation in Gaza and the need to lift the siege imposed on its Boycott Bureau adopted by the OIC and other similar re- people for more than four years. gional organizations relating to commodities, persons and The heads of participating delegations pointed out that companies, in addition to calling on the Parliamentary Un- Israel's aggression on Freedom Flotilla helped create interion's member parliaments to unify their positions through national conditions that must be used to pressure Israel to support and solidarity with the Palestinian stance on lifting lift the siege imposed on Gaza, affirming that Israel's the blockade and ending the brutal occupation. crimes against the Palestinian people hinder the peace proThe members appealed to all Palestinian factions and cess. They pointed out that Israel's crime against Freedom forces to continue the efforts to realize Palestinian national Flotilla revealed the true image of Israeli brutality to the unity which is considered the essential and most effective public opinion, calling for working to stop Israel from weapon for putting an end to occupation, realizing the building settlements and expelling Palestinians in Al-Quds hopes of Palestinians for return, self-determination and es- and its surrounding areas. The participants also called on tablishing their independent state with al-Quds as its capi- the international community to shoulder its responsibility tal. and support the Palestinian people's right to establish an inThe declaration called for forming a delegation from dependent state.

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At the 3rd CICA Summit: Ihsanoglu points to the potential and capabilities of OIC countries in Asia

Family photo at 3rd CICA Summit in Istanbul on 8 June 2010 (epa).

Istanbul, Turkey - OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu participated in the Third Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Istanbul on 8 June 2010. He said in his speech that OIC has always attached great importance to developing cooperation with other regional and international organizations. With 14 coinciding member states with the CICA, the OIC also shares some common concerns and issues on its agenda. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Muslim Asian countries are important part of the OIC membership, our Organization is very proud of their contribution. The OIC countries in Asia have huge potentials and capabilities for joint actions in Asia in various fields. These potentials cannot be fully harnessed if peace, security and stability elude the region or confidence and trust are lacking.â&#x20AC;? At the same time, he said that Asia is facing key challenges, which are endangering peace and security in the continent and beyond. While resolving some of those challenges could help create confidence and trust, inaction has obvious adverse consequences. He pointed out that Central Asian countries can surely and satisfactorily address the peace and security challenges facing the region if they engage in confidence building measures. Some of the several challenges in the region are similar to the rest of the Muslim world, hence the need for joint actions. In that regard, CICA can count and consider the OIC as a genuine partner. The Summit was the third since the establishment of the CICA in 1992 and it reviewed the progress made since the second summit and planned the priorities of cooperation in the next two years. The participants agreed to strictly follow the purposes and principles of the CICA. According to the Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures adopted in 2004, they will steadily push forward the implementation of confidence building measures in the fields of economy, ecology, culture and in terms of coping with new challenges and threats, especially the implementation of cooperation schemes and action plans on drug control, energy security, information technology, small and medium enterprises, tourism and other fields which have been agreed upon and constantly deepen the exchanges and cooperation among member states. They also decided to accept Vietnam and Iraq as new member states and Bangladesh as the observer state. Kazakhstan has held the presidency of the CICA since

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev initiated the establishment of the CICA at the 47th United Nations General Assembly. Turkey will take over the presidency since the third summit and hold it for 2 years. The Third Summit of the CICA, a bloc of 22 Eurasian states, concluded with the adoption, by consensus, of a political declaration reflecting the common political will and vision of its Member States. All the Member States, except one, expressed their grave concern and condemnation for the actions undertaken by the Israeli Defense Forces against international civilian flotilla transporting humanitarian aid material to Gaza Strip while they were in the international waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in the early morning of 31st May 2010. Abdullah Gul, the Turkish President, released the statement agreed to by 21 of the 22 participants in the conference. Israel was the 22nd participant, and it refused to sign the document. Gul said the near-unanimous condemnation showed Israel was isolated and that it "will suffer the consequences for its mistake against Turkey." In view of the importance of upholding accountability and preventing the recurrence of such actions, the participants supported the establishment of the independent international commission by the UN Secretary General to investigate into the incident in a credible, thorough and transparent manner. In this context, they stressed the urgency of the lifting of the inhuman blockade on the Gaza Strip. An overwhelming majority of the Member States of CICA also called for the establishment of a zone that is free from nuclear weapons in the Middle East and commended the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 2010 Review Conference's endorsement of the Egyptian and Arab proposal to convene a Conference in 2012 that would be attended by all Middle Eastern States towards the attainment of that goal. An overwhelming majority of the Member States of CICA equally called for the Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab Lands occupied in 1967, establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Arab East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as resolving the Palestinian refugee problem on the basis of relevant UN resolutions. An overwhelming majority of the Member States of CICA welcomed and supported the establishment and enhancement of cooperation between CICA and the OIC as well as the OSCE. 35

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At the 3rd CICA Summit: Ihsanoglu points to the potential and capabilities of OIC countries in Asia

Family photo at 3rd CICA Summit in Istanbul on 8 June 2010 (epa).

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Kyrgyz leader lauds role of OIC, looks forward to further assistance from Islamic Ummah Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - The Organization of the Islamic conference (OIC) followed with great concern and apprehension the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Kyrgyz Republic resulting in the displacement of thousands of people, who have fled their hometowns. The SecKyrgyzstan's leader Roza Otunbayeva retary General of the takes the presidential oath in Bishkek, 3 OIC Ekmeleddin IhsaJuly 2010 (epa). noglu launched, on June 21, 2010 a humanitarian appeal to all OIC Member States, humanitarian organizations and the international community at large to extend urgent humanitarian assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic to help it cope with that alarming situation. Kyrgyzstan's south has been volatile since an outbreak of ethnic violence on June 10 killed up to 2000 people, set off a wave of refugees and destroyed entire Uzbek neighborhoods. On June 15, OIC Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Abdul Moiz Bokhari met Roza Otunbayeva, Head of the Kyrgyz Interim Government, Almazbek Atambaev, Deputy Head, and Ruslan Kazakbaev, Foreign Minister of the Interim Kyrgyz Government in Bishkek. Ambassador Bokhari delivered the OIC Secretary General's message to the leadership of the Kyrgyz Interim Government, of his deep concern about the loss of lives and properties as a result of the violent incidents in the South of Kyrgyzstan and called for an utmost restraint and dialogue among all factions with a view to achieving stability and reconciliation within the country. He also underlined OIC's readiness to play a role in promoting reconciliation and dialogue in the country. Ambassador Bokhari also offered a token contribution of $250,000 by the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) of the OIC and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group to be utilized for the urgent needs of the Internally Displayed Persons and refugees in the south of the country. The OIC then held in Istanbul on June 29 a meeting with the participation of 15 NGOs from Member States and relevant institutions as well as representatives of UN OCHA and IFAD organizations to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Kyrgyzstan. It received pledges of around $3.3 million in donations and in kind. The meeting focused on three important issues: relief intervention program, reconstruction and rehabilitation, and promotion of social cohesion. The IDB will be in charge of the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts and it pledged the largest contribution at the meeting with $2.2 million. As for the OIC it was entrusted to mediate to resolve the ethnic problem and create social cohesion. To that end, it was recommended that the OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu send a delegation of Muslim religious leaders from different countries to address the issue within the framework of preventive diplomacy. Kyrgyzstan's provisional leader Roza Otunbayeva was sworn in on July 2 as president, ushering in what the government hopes will be a new era of stability and democratic freedoms. Otunbayeva said at her inauguration that her 36

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government would do everything in its power to ensure the country overcame the consequences of the ethnic bloodshed that claimed hundreds of lives the month before. Over the course of her tenure as caretaker president, which lasts through to the end of 2011, Otunbayeva will oversee the implementation of a new constitution that dilutes presidential powers in favor of a European-style parliamentary system. President Otunbayeva expressed her high appreciation of the great effort exerted and interest shown by the Secretary General of the OIC towards the latest developments in Kyrgyzstan and his keenness on OIC's playing a greater role in the achievement of security, stability and social harmony, lauding at the same time OIC's active participation in the reconstruction process of the cities which witnessed the events. This was expressed on July 31, 2010 when she received at the Presidential Palace in the city of Osh an OIC delegation visiting Kyrgyzstan. President Otunbayeva lauded the role of the OIC in supporting her country after the break of the recent crisis in the south of the country. Otunbayeva stated that the Government and people of Kyrgyzstan are looking forward to further assistance from the Islamic Ummah, represented by OIC Member States, financial institutions and civil society organizations in the Islamic world. The head of the OIC delegation, Ambassador Atta ElManane Bakhit, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, explained that the mission of the delegation consists of conducting a comprehensive assessment of the losses caused by the recent crisis in the south of the country and launching dialogue with competent parties in the State in order to elaborate an integrated reconstruction plan to which the Member States and Islamic financial and humanitarian institutions shall contribute. The OIC delegation was composed of representatives of the General Secretariat, the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund, and of representatives of humanitarian organizations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar. In August, President Otunbayeva announced that parliamentary elections in the country would take place on October 10. The elections will be held in accordance with a new Constitution, which was adopted after a national referendum in late June. The majority of voters approved changes to the constitution that reduce the president's powers and make Kyrgyzstan a parliamentary republic. The new constitution will slash the powers of the president and make the country the first parliamentary democracy in ex-Soviet Central Asia. The official announcement of the election date comes shortly after the Kyrgyz interim government lifted the state of emergency and curfew declared in southern Kyrgyzstan two months before amid interethnic violence.

A MoU for unifying Rohingya leaders signed at OIC Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Upon the initiative of the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the department of Muslim Minorities and Communities invited leaders of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Burma, to setup a platform for unification in coordination with EuroBurma Office (EBO) based on the OIC 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) resolution No. 4/37- MM. The Secretary General welcomed the outcome of the meeting, which set a structure for a new union that will bring all stakeholders and representatives of Rohingya refugee groups together from around the world. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 9 June 2010, which unified the Leaders' stand for their causes and legal demands in Arakan Rohingya region. The OIC and Euro-Burma Office invited senior Rohingya leaders to come together and explore new options and possibilities for their unification. Each participant had a chance

to express their position, concerns, and aspirations after listening to the speech of the Secretary General, which was delivered by the Director of Minorities Department Talal Daous, as well as to the speech of the Operational Director Euro-Burma Office Jack Sterken, which highlighted the Rohingya issue and problems of refugees now being on the agenda of international community. All participants recalled their suffering and past aggression on their people and stated their hope for future unification. They also requested OIC's support in all aspects - Political, Economical, and Humanitarian - as well as collaboration and coordination to help them succeed in the unification since their history shows their unsuccessful trials. An extensive workshop took place to set a platform for the new Rohingya union called Arakan Rohingya Union. A structure was set in place with an organizational chart, which depicts the distribution of authorities and responsibilities, flow of

work, and a mechanism to bring all stakeholders and representatives of the refugee groups together from all over the world. After long hours of discussion, all participants agreed to the structure set in place and signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding will act as a platform for the People's Convention planned to be held within the coming six months from the signing to launch the new union with the consensus of all Rohingya Organizations. The Convention will be held to launch the Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU). OIC and EBO will appoint the founding members of Congress. Any organization implementing a project supported by the ARU will automatically become a member of the Congress. The Congress is a permanent Body, which will convene once a year. The founding member appointment will be for a period of two years.

The OIC Secretary General commemorates the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide by reiterating his deepest condolences and prayers for the brotherly people of Bosnia and Herzegovina who lost the lives of their loved ones during that tragic event and offering his sympathy to their relatives. The Secretary General reiterated that remembering this tragedy suffered by the Bosnian people is a reminder for us all and for future generations of our collective responsibility to work towards preventing such crimes against humanity in the future. Referring to the decision taken by the OIC Foreign Ministers during their 23rd meeting held in December 1995, as well as other subsequent decisions at various levels, the Secretary General reiterated the OIC's strong condemnation of the aggression against the civilian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in violation of the in-

ternational law and morality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Taking into consideration the tragic events, including ethnic cleansing and other acts of inhumanity that occurred in Srebrenica 15 years ago, I would like to call upon the Islamic World to commemorate 11 July as the Day of Mourning and encourage the OIC member states to take a decision to this end during the 38th Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Astana in June 2011,â&#x20AC;? the Secretary General said. Referring to the declaration issued by the Serbian Parliament dated 30 March 2010, the OIC Secretary General underlined his conviction that the declaration constituted an important step towards reconciliation between the peoples of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and indicated OIC's full support to initiatives aiming at furthering the normalization of relations and the consolidation of the culture of peaceful coexistence in the region.

Parliamentary elections in Nagorno-Karabakh illegal Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The OIC deemed the parliamentary elections held in the occupied Azerbaijani territories of Nagorno-Karabakh on 23 May 2010 illegal, and in contravention of the Geneva Convention and the resolutions of the UN Security

Council, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Similarly, the OIC General Secretariat called on the international community to condemn this process and deem it illegitimate. The General

Secretariat reiterated the constant principled stand of the OIC supporting the efforts made by the Republic of Azerbaijan towards a peaceful solution to the territory issue on the basis of the relevant international resolutions.

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Kabul International Conference confirms process for strengthening Afghan Government

Afghan President Hamid Karzai attends International Kabul Conference in Afghanistan on 20 July 2010 (epa).

Kabul, Afghanistan - OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu announced he will soon appoint a permanent representative of the OIC to Afghanistan. This came in his statement at the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan, which was held on 20 July 2010, was attended by representatives of up to seventy partner countries, international and regional organizations and financial institutions. The Conference aimed to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, In his statement at the Conference, the Secretary General emphasized that the OIC has always maintained a strong position in supporting Afghanistan, noting that the issue of Afghanistan has been one of the most important issues prominently featured on the OIC's agenda for almost three decades. Considering the fact that 38

five neighboring countries of Afghanistan are members of the OIC, the OIC has actively supported and facilitated regional cooperation towards peace and security in Afghanistan, the Secretary General added. He outlined that the OIC is of the view that a comprehensive strategy needs to be taken forward by a greater Afghan leadership with the support of increased regional cooperation and more effective international partnership. The components of this comprehensive strategy confirm the consensual belief that there is no purely military option in the search for a lasting solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. Ihsanoglu said that the OIC renders full support to the Government of Afghanistan in its endeavors to bring peace, security and economic progress for the people of Afghanistan and strongly support President Karzai's commitment to national reconciliation, good governance, rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and strong regional cooperation. He added that the OIC, through its Assistance Fund for the Afghan people launched in 2001, has been contributing to the socio-economic development and reconstruction of Afghanistan and will continue to do so in the fields of reconstruction, education, health, vocational training and provision of food and drinking water to refugees. The Secretary General concluded his statement by expressing his commitment to render full support to the regional and international efforts to assist Afghanistan. He also assured of the OIC's readiness to assume a prominent role in providing the space for political engagement on Afghanistan, as it was the case in the 1980s. On the sidelines of his participation in the conference, the Secretary General met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, and discussed with him the ongoing cooperation between the OIC and Afghanistan including the appointment of an OIC Permanent Representative for Afghanistan as well as OIC's support to the reconstruction of the country. Foreign ministers and high-level officials from more than 70 countries and international organizations who attended the Conference discussed Afghanistan's priorities for lasting peace and development. The Conference confirmed a new phase in the

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partnership between the Afghan Government and the international community as the 'Kabul Process'. The Process is aiming at strengthening each of the three branches of the government, reinforcing constitutional checks and balances that guarantee and enforce citizen rights and obligations, as well as structural reform to create an effective, accountable and transparent government that can deliver services to the population and safeguard national interests. Other important issues that were raised by Afghan President Hamid Karzai during the meeting and got support of the participants were the plan on reintegration and national reconciliation, President Karzai's goal to have Afghan forces take charge of the country's security by 2014, and to channel at least 50% of the development aid through the Afghan Government's core budget within two years. At the end of the meeting a communiqué was adopted by consensus. The communiqué covered the 'Kabul Process', principles of effective partnership, governance and rule of law, gender and children's rights, economic and social development, peace and reconciliation, security, regional cooperation and counter-narcotics. The Kabul Conference was the third international conference on Afghanistan after the Hague Conference in May 2009 and the London Conference in January 2010. The Kabul meeting was the first international conference with such high attendance in Afghanistan, especially by Islamic countries. It was intended to send a message to the domestic and international public opinion that the international community is determined to support the leadership and ownership of the Afghan Government. The conference communiqué elaborated the steps that should be taken by the Afghan Government in that direction. A day before the Conference, on July 19, a meeting of the regional organizations dealing with regional projects in Afghanistan was convened in Kabul and decided to establish a Core Group to draft and implement a plan for enhanced coordination of Afghanistan's regional engagement. The Core Group, to which the OIC is also a member, will hold regular meetings in the future. The outcome of the meeting along with the names of the Core group members was reflected in the Conference communiqué.

OIC Secretary General, Prime Minister of Malaysia discuss Gaza blockade and Islamophobia

Prime Minister of Malaysia receiving OIC Secretary General.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who visited Kuala Lumpur on 14 and 15 June 2010, had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak at the Parliament building on the second day of his visit. The two leaders discussed several important issues including the issue of lifting the blockade on Gaza and Israel's attack committed against the peaceful humanitarian Freedom Flotilla by the Israeli armed forces. The Prime Minister requested the assistance of the Organization of Is-

lamic Conference in organizing an emergency special session by the United Nations General Assembly at the initiative of Malaysia to discuss Israel's aggression on the Flotilla. The Secretary General assured him of OIC's all out support in this regard and expressed his support for the convening of the session possibly under the "Uniting for Peace resolution". Ihsanoglu also raised the issue of Islamophobia and underlined that the phenomenon is getting more dangerous day by day and is being utilized politically by vested quarters in Europe in particular. To counter this issue, he emphasized that having more political support from the OIC Member States at bilateral as well as multilateral levels is imperative. The Prime Minister agreed with the Secretary General on the subject and assured him of Malaysia's support in addressing this escalating issue. Discussions of the two leaders also touched on the peace process in southern Philippines and on economic and development issues. The Secretary General also briefed the Prime Minister on the outcome of the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), which was held in May in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He noted with special emphasis the brainstorming session on cooperation between central Asian countries and the rest of the Muslim world that was held during the session. In this connection, the Secretary General briefed the Prime Minister on the actions taken by the OIC related to the current situation in Kyrgyzstan and requested the Prime Minister to extend all possible assistance to the country to save it from plunging into a humanitarian disaster.

IIUM confers upon OIC Secretary General Honorary Doctorate in Political Science Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, who had been earlier awarded the title of "Tan Sri" by the King of Malaysia was conferred a honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Political Science from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in a special convocation ceremony held at IIUM Kuala Lumpur campus on 15 June 2010. This conferment is in recognition of the Secretary General's leadership and outstanding contributions to the service of the Muslim Ummah, commitment to promoting the cause of Islam and the Muslim world, and also for his contributions to the progress and development of the University. In his speech at the ceremony, Ihsanoglu extended his thanks and appreciation to the president of the University Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Haji Hassan for honoring him with such a special award, the first of its kind to be awarded to him for the service to the Muslim Ummah. The Secretary General emphasized that the IIUM has served the Muslim Ummah with diligence for the last four decades since its establishment in 1983. He added that the University's commitment to knowledge and wisdom "has remained firm and unequivocal and over the years it has produced scholars of high eminence who are currently engaged in promoting excellence in their respective disciplines. They are undoubtedly the true representatives of the OIC's larger vision of moderation and modernization."

The Secretary General also discussed the challenges and future directions of the OIC and touched on a number of issues, which included the expectation towards achieving the goals of the OIC in the next ten years, the challenges ahead, and cooperation among OIC Member States in enhancing financial, physical and educational resources. He emphasized the relevance of OIC as a major international organization to the Muslim Ummah whose amalgamation is due to historical and sociological facts. He saluted Malaysia, its current and past leadership for its contribution to the OIC and chairmanship of the OIC's 10th Islamic Summit during the premiership of Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi who contributed immensely towards the betterment of the OIC.

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Kabul International Conference confirms process for strengthening Afghan Government

Afghan President Hamid Karzai attends International Kabul Conference in Afghanistan on 20 July 2010 (epa).

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OIC Secretary General, Prime Minister of Malaysia discuss Gaza blockade and Islamophobia

Prime Minister of Malaysia receiving OIC Secretary General.

World Affairs

OIC, China agree to incr ease bilateral relations Beijing, China - The historic visit of Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to China in June was crowned with the release of a joint statement on the visit and the meetings held. Ihsanoglu paid an official visit to the People's Republic of China on 17-21 June 2010. During the course of his visit, he was received by Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and Yang Jiechi, the Foreign Minister. He also held meetings with the Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun and Director General Wang Zuoan of the National Administration for Religious Affairs. His itinerary included visiting Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjinag Uyghur Autonomous Region. On behalf of the OIC and in his own name, the Secretary General expressed gratitude for the warm and cordial reception and hospitality extended to him and his delegation by the Chinese authorities. On the basis of the fruitful interaction and discussion between the Chinese and OIC delegations, both sides highlighted the historical dimension of the Chinese-Muslim World relationship referring to the centuries' old bond of friendship and cooperation between the two great civilizations. They expressed their determination to continue to cooperate to further the existing relationship in all areas of mutual concern. Both sides explored different avenues for enhancing the consultation and cooperation between the OIC and China, particularly in political, economic, trade and cultural fields. Both sides recalled that the OIC and China share common position on many international issues and therefore highlighted the importance of support provided to each other on issues of shared concern with particular reference to the issue of Palestine and Middle East Peace Process. The Chinese side emphasized that it attaches importance to the role played by the OIC as an influential intergovernmental organization. The OIC emphasized that it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. The Chinese side briefed the Secretary General on China's ethnic and religious policies, and stressed that the People's Republic of China is a unitary multi-national state built up jointly by the people of all its nationalities, and the state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities, and upholds and develops the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China's nationalities. The Chinese government is promoting economic, political, cultural and social progress as well as ecological protection of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region with a goal to bring its regional per capita GDP up to the national average level by 2015. The Secretary General briefed the Chinese side on the works of the OIC as well as about its Charter and the basic principles therein, which are based on the concept of promoting international peace and security on the basis of mutual respect and understanding and dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions. Both sides underscored that they are opposed to terrorism, separatism and extremism in any form. Both sides agreed to jointly organize an academic seminar on the historical relationship between China and the

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Muslim World with a view to making it a concrete means of consolidating friendly relationship between China and the OIC, and exploring future possibilities. Both sides underlined that the OIC and China would work together to carry forward their traditional friendship and increase exchanges and cooperation between them. The Secretary General, at the beginning of his visit to the People's Republic of China, met with Yoo Bangguo, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China. Ihsanoglu expressed to Bangguo OIC's interest in strengthening bilateral relations with China and increasing coordination between the two sides, pointing out to the great importance that OIC deems to its relations with China, being a traditional friend of the OIC Member States and shares with the Islamic world many historical and cultural denominators. For his part, Bangguo (the second man in the Chinese leadership) emphasized that China is keen to strengthen its relations with the Organization of Islamic Conference, and expressed his great appreciation for the important role played by the OIC, as the second largest international organization after the United Nations, having a significant impact in the world affairs through its efforts to support international peace and security as well as friendly relations among States. Bangguo also stressed China's keenness to establish strong ties with the Islamic World, noting that 55 countries out of 57 Member States of the OIC have already resident diplomatic missions in Beijing. The Chairman of the National People's Congress also pointed out that eight Member States of the OIC have common borders with China. Earlier the Secretary General held a session of talks with Jay John, Vice Chinese Foreign Minister and together discussed bilateral relations and issues of common concern. John presented to the Secretary General a detailed explanation of the situation of Muslims in China. He also welcomed the increased cooperation between the two sides to serve the interests of the Islamic World which is closely associated with Beijing. Ihsanoglu also met with Wang Juan, Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, and discussed with him a number of topics of common interest. The two sides exchanged views about the situation of Muslim minority in the various provinces in China. In addition, Ihsanoglu visited the Muslim-majority Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region including a tour in the historical city of Kashgar. This unprecedented visit comes a year after the ethnic unrest in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur region in July 2009. The Secretary General walked around the streets of Urumqi, mingling with the people, listening to their comments and chatting with them. He also took stock of the situation of Muslims on the ground when he visited the Islamic Institute in Urumqi, met with its administration and examined its different departments. In this connection, the Secretary General met with Nour Bakry, the Governor of the Region, and several senior officials who briefed him on the conditions of Muslims

and the progress of development projects in Xinjiang, towards its advancement, given the gap separating it from the rest of the Chinese regions. Such gap was one of the reasons contributing to the congestion which led to clashes between the Uygur Muslims and Chinese Han last year. Similarly, the Secretary General listened to the detailed explanation by Bakry on the conditions and constitutional rights enjoyed by the Uygur Muslims under the central government of the Region. This is the first visit paid by an OIC Secretary General to the autonomous regions of Muslim majority in China. The OIC Secretary General also visited the Muslimmajority autonomous region of Ningxia. On the other hand, Bakry said that the Chinese Central Government had held a meeting a month prior to Ihsanoglu's visit, in which, it brought together government and regional officials as well as businessmen in order to address how to respond to the needs of Xinjiang.

Ihsanoglu with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China

Bakry added that the May-2010 meeting decided to develop investment projects in 19 Xinjiang municipalities, amounting to 10 billion Chinese Yuan over the next the next ten years. The city is currently witnessing a great urban development, making it the biggest in West China. The Chinese parliament speaker had, upon the commencement of the visit, stressed his country's resolve to bridge the economic gap between the two halves of China by 2015 and to reach equal growth rates in East and West China, as the latter suffers low rates of economic growth and unemployment.

The Secretary General speaking with a Chinese imam in a mosque

In the same vein, Ihsanoglu paid a visit to the historical city of Kashgar in Xinjiang where he toured the mosques and religious relics of the city. In his meeting with the city's municipality chief, Akbar Ghofur, the Secretary General reiterated the need to preserve the civilisational nature of Kashgar and warned that the economic industrial expansion should not come at the expense of the cultural heritage of the city which makes it one of the most outstanding historical cities in West China and Central Asia. OIC delegation visiting a museum in Xinjiang

China battered by storms Beijing, China - Thousands of people were evacuated in southeastern China following torrential rains that triggered flash floods on July 15, 2010 while workers raced to build waterways to drain overflowing reservoirs. Heavy rains overwhelmed three reservoirs in Poyang county in northern Jiangxi province, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 people, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. In western China, dozens died from landslides triggered by heavy rains with other dozens missing.

Since the beginning of July, flooding across China has killed over a hundred people with many missing and nearly a million people evacuated from their homes. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed deep sorrow over the casualties and losses caused by unusual heavy seasonal flooding in China, particularly in the southeast area of the country. He was shocked and saddened to learn the large number of casualties and the death toll. Ihsanoglu offered sincere condolences to the government and the people of China and expressed deep sympathies

for the flood victims. He praised the Chinese authorities for their emergency response in the wake of this catastrophic flooding. He hoped that the country would be able to take immediate and appropriate measures to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people given their long experience in dealing with natural disasters. China grappled with its worst flooding in a decade, with more than a thousand people killed or missing this year. The flooding, mostly in the country's southern half, has caused economic losses of at least $22 billion and affected 120 million people, the government has said. 41

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Ihsanoglu with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China

The Secretary General speaking with a Chinese imam in a mosque

World Affairs

OIC Secretary General addresses OSCE in Vienna Vienna, Austria - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu visited Austria on 4-6 May 2010 to address the OSCE Permanent Council upon the invitation of Kazakh Chairman-in-Office. In his address to the OSCE Permanent Council, the Secretary General underlined the immense scope of cooperation between the OIC and the OSCE and urged for a need to take full advantage of the opportunity by giving further impetus to existing cooperation through increased interaction and consultations. Ihsanoglu also congratulated Kazakhstan for assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE in the run up to their Chairmanship of the OIC in 2011 and expressed his conviction that this process would be laid to bring the two Organizations closer. The Secretary General indicated the OIC's active involvement in various conflict resolution initiatives, including in Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Darfur and Iraq and underscored that the conflict in Palestine as probably the

most serious challenge to global peace and security. He also drew attention to the rise of Islamophobia, as well as intolerance and discrimination against Muslims particularly in Europe and called for a joint efforts between the OIC and OSCE to put together tangible and result oriented efforts to motivate the people to reject the extremists and to develop in them a culture of respect and tolerance for the whole range of civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural rights of people of all beliefs and backgrounds. On the occasion of his visit to Wien, the OIC Secretary General also addressed the Diplomatic Academy and had bilateral meetings with the President of Austria, OSCE Secretary General and the Director General of the OPEC Fund. During the meeting with the President of Austria, Secretary General expressed his thanks to President Fischer for his forthcoming approach towards the Muslim community in Austria. He also voiced his concern on the rising of Islamophobia particularly in Europe.

The 9th Eurasian Forum 2010:

Kazakhstan aspires for a leading role Almaty, Kazakhstan - The 9th Eurasian Forum 2010 organized by the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan kicked off on 27 April 2010 at Almaty, Kazakhstan. While inaugurating the Forum, the President of Kazakhstan H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev highlighted his country's aspiration to assume a leading role in regional as well as international scene to contribute effectively towards global peace, security and stability. To this end, he attached high importance to his country's Chairmanship of the 38th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in 2011. A Roundtable on 'Perspectives of Kazakhstan's Chairmanship in the OIC' was one of the sessions under the framework of the Eurasian Forum. Representing the OIC Secretary General, Ambassador Abdul Moiz Bokhari, Assistant Secretary General, delivered the keynote speech in the Roundtable, wherein he gave a brief but comprehensive account of the new vision and mission of the OIC in facing the challenges of the 21st century. In his speech, Ambassador Bokhari outlined the ways and means for a fruitful Kazakh Chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in 2011. In this connection, he touched on the paradigm shift in the OIC, which was brought to the

organization on the basis of two historic documents: OIC Ten Year Program of Action and the new Charter of the Organization. He also highlighted the two core concepts i.e. moderation and modernization that guide the activities of the organization towards achieving the desired level of development in the Muslim world. He elaborated more on the key issues followed by the OIC while responding to the queries of the participants of the Roundtable. The participants, who took floor, termed the OIC as a unique organization. According to the interventions, the OIC is more apt than any other organization to address properly the complex crises of the Muslim world. They requested for more prominent role of the OIC in Central Asia, and urged the Kazakh authorities to assume a proactive role and to take necessary measures during its Chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) to make the OIC known to the grassroots in the region. Besides his participation in the Roundtable, Ambassador Bokhari had a bilateral meeting with Dr. Dariga Nazarbayeva, the Director General of the Foundation, wherein they discussed issues of cooperation between the OIC and the Foundation.

Russia struggles to contain wildfires Moscow, Russia - Firefighters struggled to contain the worst wildfires to hit Russia in decades. Early August witnessed hundreds of fires blazing in Russia due to high temperatures - the worst heat wave on record for Russia - causing loss of life and major damage. President Dmitry Medvedev declared a state of emergency in seven Russian regions over the fires, which have left tens of thousands of hectares ablaze, uprooted several thousand people and killed at least 40. The wildfires sent the thickest 42

blanket of smog over Moscow as its 10 million residents were cautioned to guard themselves against the polluting smog. The Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed deep regret over the losses of life and property from the forest fires that spread over vast areas of the Russian Federation. The Secretary-General extended sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and expressed solidarity with the leadership and people of Russia, while appre-

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ciating the great efforts exerted by the authorities in Russia to contain the waves of fires and to provide emergency assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected.

OIC, ODIHR discuss cooperation in areas of common interest Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu received Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah on 26 April 2010. The visit was conducted in reciprocity to the visit of an OIC delegation to the Office in Warsaw earlier this year. The Secretary General and Ambassador Lenarcic expressed their willingness to initiate practical cooperation between the OIC and ODIHR in the areas of common interest, such as democratization, human rights and election observation activities. Secretary General expressed his concern on the situation in the aftermath of the Swiss ban on minarets that had caused an institutionalization and constitutionalization of Islamophobia with implications in terms of a spill-over effect in the wider Europe. He warned against the dangerous impact of the use of Islamophobia as an instrument of electoral politics on the ongoing efforts to improve relations between the Muslim World and the West. The Secretary General also briefed the visiting Director on the establishment of OIC Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights. Ambassador Lenarcic characterized the establishment of the Commission as a singularly important achievement and praised stewardship provided by the Secretary General towards raising the profile of the OIC based on the principles of moderation and modernization. On the sidelines of his visit the OIC Journal had this interview with him: Can you tell us a little about the purpose of this visit? My visit comes after the visit of the OIC delegation to our office in March in Oslo. The ambition on both sides is to find ways to further strengthen our cooperation. There are many issues that OIC and OSCE can cooperate, particularly in area of tolerance and discrimination. These were the issues we discussed today and we found various ways to strengthen this practical cooperation such as exchange of information, contribution and participation in our

events where we discuss issues of concern to both organizations. What are some of the specific issues you discussed? The OSCE approaches human rights as essential components of security. In this context the OSCE organization considers the manifestations of intolerance and discrimination as a threat to security, and here we have a lot of common grounds to work with OIC that is also active in promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and mutual respect and understanding. Would that be in western countries or Muslim? It's both ways I believe. The prospect of our strength and cooperation is one that goes both ways. When we cooperate on issues that present challenges for OSCE participating member states (most of them in Europe and North America) we are also willing to cooperate with OIC on issues that represent challenges to OIC member states. In this context we noted with appreciation the recent decision by OIC to establish an independent human rights commission. We also discussed working with OIC on sharing our experience in human rights issues including in particular elections, democratic institutions and rights of women. What about the phenomenon of Islamophobia? We discussed this and agreed that we need to find ways to deal with worrisome trends in the best ways possible. We can intensify our efforts to promote tolerance and understanding. At this time OIC can also help with its own progress and public pronunciations concerning some basic facts that appear to be unknown or present to everyone, facts like Islam is a religion of peace and that terrorism is not a Muslim thing. These are issues where OIC can increase its profile. Also, the greater the progress in human rights and democracy the easier the job to deal with those who thrive on creating a false perception that Islam is associated with violence, aggression and backwardness. These are false perceptions that some forces on the political extremes in Europe thrive upon. It is easier to deal with those false arguments and misunder-

standings if there is a strong progress in human rights and democracy issues within the OIC; that is why we welcome very much the establishment of this OIC human rights commission. We are looking forward to the Dushanbe ministerial meeting. We are ready to share our huge experience that our office accumulated in the past 20 years since its establishment. I would like to add one more point. There is every reason for our two organizations to cooperate because to a certain extent memberships overlap. As I mentioned in our meeting, eight OSCE participating member states are OIC member states and two further states are observers in OIC, and perhaps most importantly the current chairmanship of OSCE, Kazakhstan, will hold chairmanship of OIC next year, which provides an opportunity to bring our cooperation to a higher level.

ODIHR provides Election Observation Training Course for the OIC staff In line with the agreement reached during the visit of Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to Jeddah in April 2010, a training course on election observation was organized at the OIC Headquarters on 14-15 July 2010. Nicolas Kaczorowski, Head of ODIHR's Election Department, and Mrs. Beata-Martin Rozumilowicz, Deputy Head of Election Department provided the course. The holding of the election observation training course for the OIC staff constitutes a concrete example of the practical cooperation between the OIC and ODIHR. The new OIC Charter, which was adopted at the 2008 OIC Summit held in Dakar-Senegal, encourages Member States to uphold and promote, at the national and international levels, good governance, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Based on this mandate, the OIC General Secretariat has been conducting election observation missions in several parts of the Muslim World.

World Affairs

The 9th Eurasian Forum 2010:

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ciating the great efforts exerted by the authorities in Russia to contain the waves of fires and to provide emergency assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected.

World Affairs

US Special Envoy to OIC: Focusing on new areas of cooperation

Amb. Sukru Tufan speaking with US Special Envoy Rashad Hussein.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Special Envoy of the USA to the OIC, Rashad Hussein, paid a visit to the OIC General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah on May 9, 2010. Ambassador Sukru Tufan, the Director General of the Cabinet of the OIC General Secretary Secretariat, received him on behalf of the OIC Secretary General. The Special Envoy spent a busy day in the OIC General Secretariat having separate meetings with OIC delegations led by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ambassador Abdullah A. Alim, Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology Affairs Ambassador Abdul Moiz Bokhari, Assistant Secretary General for AlQuds Affairs Ambassador Samir Bakr Diab and Director General For Cultural and Social Affairs Ambassador Hemayetuddin. Exchange of views in the meetings covered inter alia political issues including Middle East Peace Process and situations in different OIC Member States. The OIC and the US delegations also discussed the bilateral cooperation projects between the OIC and the US, particularly in the fields of fighting malaria and polio, and providing maternal and infant health services in the least developed OIC Member States. Issues related to combating Islamophobia and reaching a consensus on the OIC resolution on 'Defamation of Religion' were also discussed. This was Hussein's first official visit to the OIC headquarters after being introduced to the OIC Secretary General by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the US Special Envoy to the OIC in February 2010 when she visited the OIC General Secretariat. On the sidelines of his visit the OIC Journal had this interview with him: What were the main issues of discussion in your meetings today at the OIC? The focus of today's visit was to review the progress made so far with the OIC on many of the initiatives and points of cooperation so far, and to move into new areas of cooperation with the US to make sure that this relationship is holistic and that we are addressing a number of health issues and other areas of cooperation as well. President Obama hosted in Washington a two-day Entrepreneurship Summit in April 2010, please tell us more about that? This entrepreneurship summit was the outcome of a long process that began with our embassies around the world holding town halls and listening sessions and hearing about what issues would be good bases for cooperation between the US and the Muslim world. And one issue that we identified through the help of Muslims around the world is entrepreneurship. The summit brought together about 300 entrepreneurs from Muslim majority countries and gave them the opportunity to really interact with each 44

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other and talk about solutions to the common problems they face. What we heard so far from entrepreneurs is that the event was very productive for them. President Obama said that the Prime Minister of Turkey offered to host the follow up summit in Turkey and perhaps the OIC can play a partner role and this is something I discussed today. What about cooperation in science and technology? We will be in Geneva in a few days for the World Health Assembly. The Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will be hosting a meeting with OIC Foreign Ministers to discuss how we continue the momentum on the polio issue. The numbers are very encouraging for eradicating polio. I was just in Nigeria where the number of new cases in the first quarter was down to two, so we need to bring it to zero. We also discussed further cooperation in maternal and child health where we have some ideas about how to move that forward. Regarding the Middle East issue, you have mentioned that Palestine is a top priority for president Obama; any developments? We had great news yesterday that the Palestinians agreed to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;proximity talksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which is I think is one of the necessary steps to get to direct negotiations between the two sides. The administration had placed a lot of energy and focus on the issue from the beginning with the President putting it on his agenda in the first week in office and continued to work on it early on in the administration towards a solution. The issue of contention is the continuing settlements in East Jerusalem, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made strong statements about that, but it continues? Yes, the President addressed that in Cairo. The US position is clear. The Secretary of State made statements as well as the President. We believe the best way to implement that is to get the negotiations going. This is what we are moving towards. The new documents outlining the National Security Strategy has removed 'Islamic radicalism' and similar language to emphasize that the US does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism, but with the recent suicide bombing attempt in New York do you think there will be backlash or stepping back from this policy? The President made clear in his speech in Cairo that these types of actions are against Islam. He repeated this statement after Fort Hood massacre, he said it is not something that any faith will accept and that person will face justice in this life and the afterlife. He made similar statements after the attempted 25th December airline bombing in which he made it clear this is rejected by Islam and in fact Muslims have been the largest victims of terrorism, and that we will continue to persist despite those who may want the US not to continue to engage on those issues. We will not let that fringe few take us off course of what we are trying to do in terms of reaching convergence with the Muslim communities on a number of issues. The President's approach has been implemented through a number of programs and we will continue our program along the same lines as we go forward. Previous attempts by certain groups that have committed acts of violence has not deterred us from going forward and will not deter us from going forward in the future. Rashad Hussain paid another working visit to the OIC General Secretariat on 11 July 2010. He underscored the commitment of the US to have a regular dialogue and cooperation with the OIC on a broad range of issues.

UN to organize a conference on establishing a nuclear-free Middle East United Nations - An Arab-led initiative backed by top ally US and the 188 other signatories to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty called on the UN to organize a meeting for all Middle Eastern states in 2012 on how to make the region free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, as demanded by a 1995 NPT resolution. The final declaration for the NPT review conference held in May at the UN headquarters also urges Israel to sign the NPT and put its nuclear facilities under UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The creation of a WMD-free zone would eventually force Israel to abandon any atomic bombs it might have. The Jewish state, which never signed the NPT, is presumed to have a sizable nuclear arsenal but neither confirms nor denies that. Israel rejected the new UN call to come clean about its secretive nuclear program, calling it a "deeply flawed and hypocritical" act. Israel also declared that it would not take part in a 2012 conference on establishing a nuclear-free Middle East. Although a series of US conditions put the conference in doubt, the resolution, and the surprising US support it received, added new pressure on Israel to give up what is almost universally believed to be a sizable nuclear arsenal. The Arab proposal for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction was first endorsed at a 1995 non-proliferation conference but never acted on. At the May review of the treaty, many delegates considered a conference to begin talks on a nuclear-free Middle East to be a critical part of the final resolution. The review's spotlight on Israel put the Jewish state in an uncomfortable position. While it tirelessly lobbies the international community to preventing Iran from acquiring atomic weapons, it insists on maintaining a veil of secrecy around its own nuclear capabilities.

UNSC imposes new sanctions on Iran

Mark Lyall Grant (L), United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the U.N., and Susan Rice, the United States' Permanent Representative to the U.N., and other members of the United Nations Security Council vote on new sanctions against Iran on 9 June 2010 (epa).

United Nations - The UN Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran on June 9, 2010 over a nuclear program the West suspects is aimed at developing the means to build atom bombs. The 15-nation council passed a resolution that was the product of five months of talks between the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia. With 12 votes in favor, it received the least support of the four Iran sanctions resolutions adopted since 2006. The four Western powers had wanted much tougher measures - some targeting Iran's energy sector - but Beijing and Moscow succeeded in diluting the steps outlined in the 10-page resolution. Iran denies Western allegations that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful energy purposes only. The resolution calls for measures against new Iranian banks abroad if a connection to the nuclear or missile programs is suspected, as well as vigilance over transactions with any Iranian bank, including the central bank. It also expands a UN arms embargo against Tehran and blacklists three firms controlled by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and 15 belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The resolution also calls for setting up a cargo inspection regime similar to one in place for North Korea. Annexed to the draft resolution is a list of 40 companies to be added to an existing UN blacklist of firms whose assets around the world are to be frozen on suspicion of aiding Iran's nuclear or missile programs. Brazil and Turkey voted against the resolution. Their UN envoys said before the vote that they saw no reason for more sanctions against Tehran. Following the adoption of resolution 1929, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) expressed its concern over the adoption of additional sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which will have negative implications on the ongoing international efforts to settle peacefully and through dialogue and negotiations the Iranian nuclear issue. While reiterating its principled position on the inalienable rights of all States to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the OIC reaffirmed its full support for the establishment of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East. The OIC strongly appealed to all concerned parties to stick to dialogue and negotiations as the only viable and peaceful way to settle the Iranian nuclear issue. The US Congress approved on June 24 tough new sanctions aimed at hurting Iran's energy and banking sectors. The House of Representatives passed the bill and sent it to President Barack Obama for signing into law, which he did on July 1. Obama said the new sanctions were the toughest ever passed by the US Congress and would make it harder for Iran to buy refined petroleum as well as goods and services to modernize its oil and natural gas sector. The European Union also on July 26 formally adopted a package of new sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's foreign trade, banking and energy sector. The move was agreed to in principle by EU leaders in June in an effort to halt Iran's nuclear program. 45

World Affairs

US Special Envoy to OIC: Focusing on new areas of cooperation

Amb. Sukru Tufan speaking with US Special Envoy Rashad Hussein.

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

UNSC imposes new sanctions on Iran

World Affairs

OIC confronts the West with its obligations “Muslims in Europe are not aliens,” Ihsanoglu

The organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) Forum signed a joint Plan of Action on the sidelines of the 3rd AoC Forum. The signing was undertaken by OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the UN AoC High Representative Jorge Sampaio. The agreement seeks to identify joint plans and programs to be implemented by the two parties over the 2010-2012 period. The agreement took place following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by both parties in 2009, which established the grounds for a strong relationship between the OIC and the AoC Forum, and opened up prospects for broader cooperation between them.

Ayman Aboushi Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) engaged in bustling activity at the 3rd Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations (AoC), in a bid to convey one single message that the secret to the possibility of building bridges among civilizations is in removing the hurdles. He also shed light on the phenomenon of Islamophobia being an obstacle to communication among peoples. Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu participated in the opening session of the AoC Forum which was held in Brazil on 28 - 29 May 2010. He was among the prominent participants in the plenary session of the summit on 'Cultural Diversity as a Way towards Peace'. He emphasize that diversity is a fundamental value that has become a determining factor of all aspects of life in today's interdependent world. The OIC Secretary General emphasized that for diversity to be fruitful, a number of conditions should be secured, notably opening up to the wisdom and culture of the 'Other', self-criticism, the distinction between theory and practice, and the ability to challenge the propensity toward 46

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extremism and intolerance. He pointed out that in order to achieve these conditions, leaders and elites ought to work together with the masses in all fields, including media and education. A roundtable discussion was organized on 27 May 2010 on the sidelines of the Forum on the theme of 'Tackling Islamophobia: Making the best of untapped opportunities to achieve mutual respect and participation'. The roundtable was held on an OIC initiative and was cosponsored by the AoC, the European Council and the British Cultural Council. The roundtable was marked by a collective Western recognition of the factual existence of discrimination and racism against Muslim communities, especially in Europe, giving rise over time to what has come to be known as Islamophobia. Ihsanoglu said, “The OIC has managed to put Europeans face to face with their own obligations after years of ignoring the phenomenon”. He added that the OIC has succeeded in subsuming the putative phenomenon of Islamophobia under the European microscope by convincing many Western institutions of its existence and exacerbation. He pointed out that many Western institutions recognized now that a real problem is facing Muslim communities throughout the European continent. Ihsanoglu pointed out that the OIC has strived for the past four years to shed light on the phenomenon through a large palette of means, particularly the creation of the OIC Islamophobia Observatory in 2007. The Secretary General noted that the systematic elitist campaigns that took place at the political and cultural levels, especially the referendum driven by the Swiss rightwing party to prevent the construction of minarets, stressed the need for Europeans to assume their responsibilities visà-vis the Islamophobic phenomenon and the need to act to address it. European institutions clearly recognized the existence of an anti-Muslim wave in Europe, notably the recognition by Jorge Sampaio, High Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Alliance of Civilizations. Sampaio affirmed that confronting Islamophobia should not be confined to Europe and the US, but should be tackled globally. Mike Hardy from the British Cultural Council, for his part, underscored the need for raising awareness among Europeans. He pointed up the cultural program launched by the British Council in order to highlight the significant contributions made by Muslims in Europe both in the past and the present, and what they can achieve in the future, thanks to coexistence and positive integration. Speakers at the roundtable included the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Director General of UNESCO, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council (PACE), the President of Anna Lindh EuroMediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, the Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey, and the Director of the British Council for Cultural Dialogue. Participants in the roundtable underlined that the issue of Islamophobia does not concern Muslims alone, but the entirrre world. The roundtable came up with a common vision among participants about the growing trend of Islamophobia and its negative impact on peace and security, which was viewed by participants as a positive proof that there is an opportunity to address the issue on a new platform of mutual understanding with the need for all concerned parties to build on this new common ground.

Participants in the roundtable resolved to compile the contributions of the speakers in a document to be published as a reference for future attempts to address this issue. For her part, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, said that UNESCO is working in cooperation with the OIC on developing a program for the dissemination of Islamic culture. Karen Armstrong, the AoC Goodwill Ambassador, warned in her report submitted to the roundtable that discrimination and racism against Muslims in the West are fast growing into a real phenomenon quite akin to the phenomenon of anti-Semitism and Christianophobia. She pointed out, however, that there is no specific definition of Islamophobia. Armstrong said that the phenomena of the fear of religions have not yet been studied within the social sciences in a professional and methodical approach. However, the confusion underlining a precise diagnosis of the phenomenon reflects the awareness among Westerners about the gravity permeating Islamophobia and the negative impact it might have on European societies as well as the desire to contextualize its manifestations in order to bring it to an end. This awareness, Ihsanoglu said, in itself constitutes a breakthrough. Armstrong said that European ignorance about true Islam has created a barrier that prevents the requisite integration among Muslim communities and Western societies in general. According to the third report issued by the OIC Islamophobia Observatory, the concern stems from stereotypes created by European elites in the layman's imagination. The fact of the matter is that these stereotypes did not stop merely at the publication of sarcastic caricatures depicting Islamic symbols, or scrawling insulting graffiti on walls of mosques, or harassing veil-wearing Muslim women; rather, they have moved beyond individual incidents deriving from some emotional reaction to the terrorist attacks carried out by Muslim extremists. The deliberate distortion of the image of Islam and Muslims is getting consolidated in the European psyche. Author Bat Ye'Or, for instance, tries in her book 'Eurabia' to incite sentiments about what she calls the abduction of Europe by Arab interests. Writer Christopher Caldwell

warns against the growing numbers of Muslims in the West, putting Islam culturally at loggerheads with Western civilization. This is precisely what Professor Ihsanoglu considers as the bottom line, affirming that “the perception of Islamic civilization as antithetical to European culture reflects a good deal of ignorance and prejudice.” He pointed out that Islamic civilization was a prelude to the Age of Enlightenment in Europe and Islamic values are similar and consistent with universal principles. The roundtable identified three goals likely to help bridge the existing gap, starting with the pulling down of existing walls, then building bridges, and moving eventually into real engagement. The document issued by the roundtable sheds light on the need to focus on the future and to cater for the needs rather than to blaming any of the parties for the existing divide. Participants underscored the ineluctability of addressing the root problem by providing equal opportunities for Muslim minorities in the West, and offering them work and education while putting an end to discrimination against members of Muslim communities as part of an across-the-board approach to the phenomenon. Ihsanoglu said that, “we do realize that we have still a long way to go towards the elimination of the phenomenon. Yet, I do believe that the Rio de Janeiro Forum was quite important not just for the concerned parties to grasp the gravity of the situation, but also to find European partners who would constitute along with the OIC a solid front in the face of those who seek to isolate Muslim minorities in the West, and endeavor to project them as adversaries and not as citizens who have the right to decent living in those countries.”

3rd AoC outcome focuses on areas of youth, media and innovation Jorge Sampaio, High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, presented on 29 May 2010 the final outcomes of the Third Forum of the Alliance, which was held in Rio, following previous meetings in Madrid and Istanbul. The forum convened a unique audience of journalists, NGOs, heads of state and members of government, business leaders, and youth. Among the many highlights, the following announcements were made: Dialogue Café network: inauguration of the first two Dialogue Cafés in Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro. First conference of the Global Youth Movement for the UN Alliance of Civilizations was announced. It will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in October 2010. Expansion of the Alliance Fellowship Program-an exchange of young leaders between the Arab world, Europe, and the United States-which will take place in November 2010. Announcement of the Alliance of Civilizations summer school - “Bridging hearts, opening minds and doing things together”. Launching of the third round of the Youth Solidarity Fund. The 2nd Global Model United Nations organized by the UN will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in August 2010. The creation of the United Nations University Interna-

tional Institute for the Alliance of Civilizations based in Barcelona. Launching of The Online Community on Migration and Integration. Presentation of the new Global Expert Finder website, a free online resource of experts and opinion leaders, which supports the work of journalists. Presentation of a new resource for journalists of the Mediterranean region in collaboration with the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) and the European Commission. Memoranda of Understanding and partnership agreements were presented/signed: • Renewed MoU with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), • MoU with Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), • Action Plan implementing previous MoU with OIC and Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), • Letter of Intent with International Labour Organization (ILO), • Finalization of the preparation of the MoU with the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and the World Bank. The fourth forum will take place in Doha, Qatar in 2011. 47

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OIC confronts the West with its obligations “Muslims in Europe are not aliens,” Ihsanoglu

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World Affairs

OIC emphasizes its commitment to pursue and reinforce cooperation with UN in all areas Istanbul, Turkey - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated the full commitment of the OIC to pursue and reinforce its cooperation with the UN in all areas of common interest, such as political, humanitarian, economic and human development issues, science and technology, cultural and social issues, human rights, refuges and migration. He stressed on the need for more effective cooperation with the UN programs, agencies and funds. He strongly emphasized the need to address the shortcomings and weaknesses in the bilateral cooperation between the two organizations. The Secretary General stated this in the opening session of the OIC-UN General Meeting on Cooperation held in Istanbul, Turkey at IRCICA headquarters over the period 29 June to 1 July and co-chaired by UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe. It involved the participation of OIC and UN secretariats and their institutions. The Secretary General emphasized that the relation between the OIC and the UN is a good example of collaboration in addressing important global challenges of peace, security and development. He added that the OIC, with its advantages in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts involving its member states, is ready to engage in a wide range of partnerships to assist the United Nations (UN) in its efforts to maintain peace and security. He pointed to the situation in Palestine, particularly in Jerusalem and Gaza, in Afghanistan and Somalia as being at the top of OIC attention. Ihsanoglu announced that the OIC will soon appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan. He also mentioned that the OIC is launching a humanitarian program in Somalia to cater to 360,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afgooye Corridor for a period of six months. He added that events in Kyrgyzstan and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina are also on the watch list. Furthermore, the OIC is funding the rebuilding of a school in Swat Valley in Pakistan through UN-HABITAT. The forthcoming creation of an independent Human Rights Commission by the OIC and the decision to set up a specialized center on women in Cairo has added new dimensions to the OIC-UN cooperation. Ihsanoglu pointed to the joint deadline of 2015 for the OIC to realize the objectives of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action and for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, which overlap in many goals and therefore the need to strengthen cooperation to achieve those goals. For his part Pascoe began by reading a message by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in which Ki-moon expressed his appreciation of OIC support and he is eager to deepen ties and work closely on Palestinian and Israeli talks, the situation in Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Niger. Pascoe then commented on the various fields of cooperation between the OIC and UN saying that the OIC is stronger and having an impact in the world. The meeting was presented with a UN/OIC report on the activities undertaken since the previous UN-OIC general meeting in Geneva in July 2008. During the three days the meeting reviewed the cooperation and appraised the progress achieved in priority areas of cooperation including political, humanitarian, dialogue among cultures, technical cooperation, food security, industry and joint ventures, development of science and technology, human resources development, environment, health, education, and social is-

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UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe (epa)

sues concerning women, children and youth. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides considered ways and means to enhance the mechanism of cooperation. On the sideline of the meeting OIC Journal interviewed Lynn Pascoe on the areas of cooperation between the UN and the OIC: How do you evaluate the cooperation between the OIC and the UN so far? I think it is absolutely key that the UN and OIC work closely together. During the time I have been there and during the time Secretary General Ban has been there we had frequent meetings with Secretary General Ihsanoglu, and at almost every major event we take time out to go over the issues before us to cooperate closely together. What are some of the main areas now that need more attention? In the peace and security issues where we generally work there is a wide range of problems that we have been working together in the past and I think we can work much harder on to solve in the future. Mentioning a couple, for example, in Somalia we worked quite closely together, we worked on broad thematic issues, and in the Alliance of Civilizations. We have also been working on specific issues, for example, we had a joint conference on counter terrorism two or three years ago and I think there are many more areas we can have more cooperation on together and this is what we have been discussing in these three days. In General are you eye-to-eye on issues or there are differences? Frankly when we had a discussion in New York in January in which Secretary General Ihsanoglu was invited along with 13 other heads of regional organizations, I find the atmosphere in these meetings is very good because everybody understands it takes all of us working really hard at it to make progress, and I find that in this day and age there is almost no ideological or national arguments about these things. The real question is can we be smart enough, good enough to come up with good enough poli-

cies to help. So it is mainly about mechanisms and how to get things done? We have various kinds of discussions but we do work closely on the ground. For example, we are working together on deliveries of some items where the OIC may have better entry than the UN, or we cooperate on discussions and mediations between various groups where the OIC may have better connections having been involved in the issue for a long time and may need only technical assistance from us. We do all these things. At core, there is a very close understanding and knowledge that we need to work together to solve these problems. Are there some hurdles that face OIC and UN getting things done on the ground? Well some of these problems are just very hard because of the sectarian or the tribal or ethnic conflicts on the ground. One example would be the Uzbek refugees return to Kyrgysztan through a hole in a barbed wire fence near from the city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, on 18 blow up in Kyrgyzstan recently where we are work- a border crossing some seven kilometers June 2010 (epa). ing together. I think the entire international community understands we have to find a way to make In Somalia, any hope for the situation because it is sure that we don't have blow ups like that, you can't have dragging on for years? incidents of ethnic cleansing or one group fighting another, When Secretary General Ban took over in the UN he and clearly there it is not a religious issue but an ethnic is- felt very strongly about Somalia, which have not had a sue. And so these problems pop up all over the world and government in 15 years and the international community when they do we have to deal with them and try to make seemed willing to treat it as a humanitarian case and ignore them better for the people on the ground. the political problem there. He felt very strongly that we But do you feel that sometimes national or local gov- had to get a process going, so the whole Djibouti process, ernments are in conflict with the objectives that the OIC which the OIC was deeply involved in and we cooperated or the UN have? closely, is designed in fact to get a more responsive govSometimes very bad things happen because of the ernment. Now it is important for that government to have weakness of the government, sometimes because one eth- the tools to operate for it not only to establish security but nic group will try to impose itself over everyone else, also to work itself. The African Union is deeply involved sometimes it is historical memories of problems that get with their forces there and the UN is deeply involved. I out of hand that demagogues want to exploit, and some- think that we have the pieces of the puzzle heading in the times huge social grievances that the people have finally correct direction. boil over. So I don't think there is one size fits all in the The blockade on Gaza, what are the steps taken to put conflicts in the world. But it is clear what our aim has to pressure on Israel to lift the blockade or ease it? be, it is to stabilize, to move the people so that they have a We are hoping that the blockade will be lifted as the Ischoice in their government, that they can have a positive raelis have said. This has been an issue we were clear on chance to develop and have a social life that give them from the first. The blockade should be lifted not only for freedom to operate. And I don't think in all these issues humanitarian supplies, the people of Gaza deserve to have there is any slightest conflict in the aims of the OIC and a real economy so they can feed themselves and take care the UN. I read the new charter of the OIC and I don't think of themselves. We have pushed on that. After this unfortuthere is any conflict what so ever between it and what the nate flotilla incident the Israelis have announced they are UN is trying to do. going to lift the blockade except for a certain items, which On the Kyrgyzstan situation, there seems to be reluc- is a complete reversal from what they said before that they tance from countries including the US and Russia to stop will only allow certain items in. So we certainly hope that the situation from boiling over as you said. Is it uncer- is the case. We have been pushing for this because we tainty or not learning lessons from history of not taking want schools for kids, we want housing for people. The action early on? UN gives some support to almost 80% of the population in These kinds of things are complicated. We have been Gaza, so we feel that it is very important that the people of involved from the start with the government, which asked Gaza get a fair share, that they get opportunity to lead their for help. The problem I think is two fold. It is difficult for own lives and to build the quality of life. any organization to operate quickly when you have a crisis Other than political issues, what are other issues of like this coming up. You also have in a place like Kyrgyz- cooperation between the OIC and UN? stan where the only sufficient forces near by that can be I think one of the things this conference will be valuused is probably the Russian, but they have long historical able for is that we have representatives of the UN funds involvement in the area so they are sensitive about how and agencies here and there are many areas of cooperation much they get involved. We were gearing up to do a major such as human rights, there may be areas on refugees we humanitarian effort to help the Uzbek from Kyrgyzstan can work together, areas on development and certainly on who fled across the border and now a large majority of conflict resolution. In UN charter, Chapter 8 specifically them are back even before we get organized. So sometimes talks about the importance of regional organizations and when we try to fix a problem the timelines make them very their cooperation with the UN, and we have been emphadifficult. We hope that Kyrgyzstan is riding itself forward sizing that, and we are glad we have a good partner in the and we'll do everything we can to help. OIC.

World Affairs

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UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe (epa)

World Affairs

Humanitarian File

The OIC General Secretariat hosts a workshop on Legal Responses to the Fight against Terrorism

Amb. Alim speaking at the opening of the workshop on terrorism at OIC headquarters.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The two-day Joint Regional Workshop between the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the United Nations' Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was launched on 25 May 2010 at the OIC headquarters. In his opening address of the workshop, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ambassador Abdullah A. Alim insisted on the importance of abstaining from giving any excuses whatsoever to terrorism, and of acknowledging the joint responsibility in combating this phenomenon. At the same time, he called on the international community to stand to the relentless attempts to make people throughout the world believe that Islam is tantamount to terrorism. Ambassador Alim reiterated Islam's tendency to combat terrorism through severe sanctions and the endeavor of Muslim decision makers to make pioneering collective initiatives to combat terrorism in its different forms. The workshop examined the global legal framework for combating terrorism and the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in activating the United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy. The workshop also addressed the issue of international cooperation in the field of combating terrorism through a paper on the reinforcement of international cooperation in the field. Among the issues examined at the workshop was the role of UN Security Council ad hoc committees in combating terrorism. The issue was addressed by the paper on the activation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) from a national perspective. Another issue addressed by the workshop is the role of regional organizations in combating terrorism, which was covered in the paper on “The Efforts of Naif University of Security Studies in the Field of Combating Terrorism”. At the conclusion of the workshop OIC Journal had the opportunity to talk with Trevor Michael Rajah, Senior Legal Officer at the Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED), about the workshop. “Today's discussions were very productive. Today's workshop was very engaging in terms of the participation of the member states of the OIC. We would like to express our appreciation both to the OC and OIC for organizing this workshop and for the participation of the member states and we look forward to this continued engagement and dialogue on this important issue.” Asked about the specific issues that were focused on in the workshop, he said there were several, but one was discussed more and it is in line with the direction of the counter terrorism committee. “Apart from looking at leg50

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islative implementation of the resolutions, member states spoke about the practical side of implementation of resolutions, in focusing on the knowledge and know-how of the practitioners in terms of the every day use of the legislative measures.” He expects that point will be a focus of ongoing engagement. The participants also stressed on the need to share information and on cooperation between agencies and states. “That continues to be an important aspect as well both at the national level in terms of especially preventive aspect of terrorism, but also, as a member raised an issue and rightly so, that the preventive measures and because of the international dimension of terrorism it is important for states to share information because information in one part of the world maybe critical to an event that is about to take place in another part. So it is critical that member states should continue to enhance the ability to share and coordinate information.” Another important issue raised is defining terrorism. “The work continues in the UN and we look forward to the discussions that will take place in the upcoming meetings in September and October in New York, so that debate continues.” The OIC Journal also spoke with Dr. Isabella Interlandi, UN Security Council Expert (Committee on resolution 1540), who spoke about preventing non-state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Commenting on the increased attention given to terrorism, she said that terrorism and the proliferation of weapons is a global issue affecting all countries, especially considering the easy traffic of materials that can be used for terrorism and the globalization of terrorism. As for the role of 1540 Committee, “We monitor the implementation of our resolutions dealing with chemical weapons and biological weapons and related materials,” said Dr. Interlandi. Regarding nuclear weapons, in the Washington summit President Obama raised concerns about them falling in the hands of terrorists. Asked about the possibilities, she said there is a fear from nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists. “In the report by the UN Secretary General presented to General Assembly, it shows that there is a fear because more than 300 incidents have been reported and recorded in the illicit trafficking database, these were 300 incidents reported by states that contributed to the illicit trafficking database for nuclear material.” She said in implementing international treaties and resolutions states adopt effective measures to at least reduce these incidents.

Opening of the OIC field hospital in Hajja Conference opened on August 8, 2010 in Al-Marzaq, Hajja Province, in the Republic of Yemen. The Opening ceremony was attended by Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs of the Organization, Ambassador Atta El-Mannan Bakhit, representative of the Secretary-General, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and the Governor of Hajja, the Undersecretary Amb. Bakhit greeting the staff of the field hospital in Hajja. of Ministry of Information of Yemen, Hajja, Yemen - The field hospital the Yemeni Consul General in Jedof the Organization of the Islamic dah, Ambassador Ali Al-Ayashi, and

a number of officials from local authorities, international and humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen. The hospital will provide services to sixty thousand displaced people affected by recent events in Saada and neighboring villages, in the framework of the implementation of the pledges made by the SecretaryGeneral, during his official visit to Yemen last October. The OIC Islamic Solidarity Fund offered a substantial part of the hospital finance. The hospital has a 24bed capacity; it can accommodate 300 patients a day. Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) will manage the hospital for one year under the supervision of the Qatar Red Crescent.

Saudi Arabia releases second installment of its pledge to OIC Fund for Bosnian Refugees Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has released the second and last installment of its pledged assistance to the OIC Fund for the Return of the Bosnian Refugees. The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bosnia Herzegovina, Eid Mohamad Al Thakafi, handed the amount of Fifty thousand US dollars to the Fund's Director, Eng. Nur Siwar Dahab, at a ceremony held in Sarajevo on the occasion, with the attendance of the Advisor to the Minister of Human Rights and Refugees Affairs in Bosnia Herzegovina, Shafik Rozovanovich. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his profound appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its support to the OIC's efforts towards the promotion of Islamic solidarity, particularly in the humanitarian field. The payment represents the second installment of the one hundred thousand US dollar assistance amount pledged by the Kingdom to the Fund, and forms a continuation link in the Kingdom's sustained support for the OIC's humanitarian efforts. In his turn, Eng. Siwar Dahab expressed the OIC's gratitude to the Kingdom for its support to its efforts towards

the return of the Bosnian refugees to their homes and for its unwavering supportive stand to the OIC's humanitarian action across the Islamic world, a stand that was clearly illustrated by the Kingdom's gracious assistance to the Palestinian people through the Custodian's campaign, and through the Organization, of four assistance caravans to the Palestinian people in Gaza. Not to mention the assistance extended by the Kingdom through the OIC to Indonesia under the OIC alliance project for the benefit of the Tsunami victims, a project which enjoys the sponsorship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. All in addition to the aid extended by the Kingdom for the benefit of Darfur, Niger, Afghanistan, Palestine and other states across the Islamic world. It is worth noting that the OIC Fund for the Return of the Bosnian Refugees was set up by the OIC Member states as a contribution towards the return of the Bosnian refugees who were forced to flee their country during the war. The Fund undertakes many other activities in the area of rehabilitation of homes and projects linked to education, health and employment of the refugees and the displaced.

An OIC humanitarian delegation visits Niger Niamey, Niger - A humanitarian delegation from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) led by Ambassador Atta El Manan Bakhit, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, visited Niger from 6 to 12 June 2010. In addition to the ministerial au-

thorities they met, the members of the delegation visited Tillaberi, Tahoua, Koni, Zinder and Agadez where they delivered quantities of cereals (mil) allocated to needy populations in these areas, consistent with the recommendation of the Doha International Donors' Conference on Food Security held in Qatar in 2007.

The OIC Delegation distributed a total of 2000 tons of mil, at the rate of 400 tons per each visited city. At the end of their visit, the members of the delegation were received by the Prime Minister and the Head of State, President of the Republic of Niger, Lieutenant General Salou Djibou.

World Affairs

Humanitarian File

The OIC General Secretariat hosts a workshop on Legal Responses to the Fight against Terrorism

Amb. Alim speaking at the opening of the workshop on terrorism at OIC headquarters.

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Media

Islamophobia

Arab Media Forum 2010: Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content…Expanding Reach

The OIC participates in the OSCE High-level Conference on Tolerance and Non-discrimination Astana, Kazakhstan - A delegation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) participated in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Highlevel Conference on Tolerance and Non-discrimination held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 29-30 June 2010. The event was organized by the OIC member state of Kazakhstan, which is holding the current Chairmanship of the OSCE.

Dr. Ahmed Zewail speaking at the 9th Arab Media Forum.

Dubai, UAE - The Arab Media Forum 2010 opened on 12 May 2010 in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The twoday forum in its 9th edition was themed 'Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content…Expanding Reach'. It was held at the Atlantis-Palm and gathered high-ranking government officials as well as more than 2000 media personalities and specialists from Arab countries and across the world. Dr. Ahmed Zewail, recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1999), offered the keynote address at the inauguration. Calling for a comprehensive renaissance in the Arab world through building a 'scientific society' as the base for progress, he said a clear 'road map' has to be in place to accomplish the objective and initiate a fundamental transformation of the society at the grass-root level. Dr. Zewail said: “The three pillars on which change of any scale depends include the nature of change, its recipients and the challenges faced by the changing entity. While gradual change is common everywhere, critical change or a paradigm shift is what we all seek to achieve as a society. And this change will come only when a society is completely coherent, with individual components working together. Commending the Middle East for its ability to adapt to technological innovation in the media and the wide reach of satellite television, he underlined the need to add original educational content for the information infrastructure to effectively contribute to spreading knowledge and greater awareness. Dr. Ahmed Zewail also emphasized on the importance of quality rather than quantity, in light of the huge growth in the number of television channels and newspapers in the region. He added: “From my point of view, the solutions to our issues in the region can be summarized within few points. First, we need a renaissance in the educational systems…we need an educational system that builds upon the cognitive development of students. “Second, we need to follow scientific methods in media; that is to base news on facts and data from credible sources that are thoroughly investigated to ensure the unbiased truth is being said. The following step for this is analysis and opinion - to personalize news and add the 'views' element to it. This is where the concept of 'personal media' would arise; where people follow a particular writer 52

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (epa)

or a presenter rather than a newspaper or channel.” He concluded: “Finally we need to add elements to our culture such as encouraging fruitful debate and conversation rather than blind disagreement. We also need to encourage excellence and achievement rather than scrutiny.” In her opening remarks, Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director of Dubai Press Club, which organized the event, said: “The Arab Media Forum has come to be regarded a key platform for meetings and discussions on the media sector as well as a networking event that offers a window to successful international experiences.” “Science and the media are indeed interconnected, both influencing the progress of any country or region significantly. At this year's Arab Media Forum, we will explore the parallel fates of these aspects which are interwoven into the fabric of any society. The discussions outlined in the forum's sessions will greatly impact the message that goes out of here and the future of a generation that is waiting to take the baton forward.” The first day's agenda included workshops focusing on 'Citizen Journalism: Challenging the Unnamed Source', 'Kuwait Media - Progress and Expansion: Reminiscent of the Pioneering Days', and 'Natural Disasters: Mass Communication in the Arab World….No Comment'. Individual sessions on the first day highlighted 'Asia Rising: The Story of China and India', 'Building the Future: the Role of Science and Media', 'Arabic Channels' Diffidence to Speak the Other Language - A Case Study on Al Jazeera International', 'Bridging the Satellite Space between Maghreb and Mashreq Countries of the Arab World', and 'Will the Hands of the Censors Reach the Satellites?'. Topics taken up for discussion on the second day included a seminar on 'Opportunities in Journalism' by Michael Golden, publisher and Vice Chairman of the New York Times, 'Media's New Forms and Patterns', 'Local Content in Arab Media: Its Hopes and Prospects', 'Sports Journalism…Pressure of Globalization and the Sports Economy', and 'Don't Interrupt Me! - The Etiquette of Dialogue and the Virtue of Listening'. The winners of the third edition of the Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Youth Media Awards received their prizes at a gala ceremony on the opening day under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The winners of the 9th Arab Journalism Awards were honored on the second day by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid. Soure: www.arabmediaforum.ae.

The head of the OIC delegation Ambassador Omur Orhun, Special Envoy of the xOIC Secretary General, speaking at the 1st Plenary Session on 'Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims', highlighted Islamophobia as a form of intolerance and discrimination motivated by fear, mistrust and hatred of Islam and its adherents, which was often manifested in combination with racism, xenophobia, anti-immigrant sentiments and religious intolerance.

The OIC delegation made a number of recommendations for the OSCE to combat Islamophobia and to work on a normative approach to deal with this phenomenon. The OIC in cooperation with the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO) also organized a seminar on “Combating Discrimination against Muslims and Islamophobia: a Normative Approach” during the High Level OSCE Conference.

Ads campaign aim to promote positive image of Muslims in Britain London, UK - An advertising campaign aimed at countering negative views against Muslims was launched in London on June 7, 2010 as a survey showed that a majority of Britons linked Islam with terrorism. The 'Inspired by Muhammad' campaign is designed to improve the public understanding of Islam and Muslims. It showcases Britons demonstrating how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) inspires them to contribute to society, with a focus on women's rights, social justice and the environment. The campaign coincides with a national poll conducted by 'YouGov' which shows that 69% of people believe that Islam encourages the oppression of women, that just 6% of people associate Islam with justice and that just 6% believe that Islam promotes active measures to protect the environment. Overall, nearly half of people in the UK believe that Islam does not have a positive impact on British society. The adverts, which appear on London taxis, underground trains and bus stops, feature pictures of Muslim professionals. The 'Inspired by Muhammad' campaign is organized by the 'Exploring Islam Foundation', a group run by British Muslim professionals which aim to challenge “damaging stereotypes about Islam through the medium of creative resources.” The 'YouGov' poll of 2152 British adults conducted for the foundation in June also found that 58% associated Islam with extremism and 50% associated the religion with terrorism. A new website, www.inspiredbymuhammad.com, provides online support for the campaign by hosting straightforward information about Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and British Muslims. The website is designed to meet the need the 'YouGov' poll highlighted for accessible information: 60% percent of people say they don't know very much about Islam; 31% say information about Islam is not very accessible; 33% would like to know more about Islam and just 3% say they get their information from Muslim organizations while 57% obtain most of their information about Islam from the TV news and 41% get it from newspapers. 53

Media

Islamophobia

Arab Media Forum 2010: Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content…Expanding Reach

Dr. Ahmed Zewail speaking at the 9th Arab Media Forum.

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (epa)

Culture

Technology

First International Conference on Urban Heritage in Islamic Countries:

A 'Road map' to preserve the architectural heritage in the Islamic world Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) opened on 23 May 2010 the 1st International Conference of Urban Heritage in the Islamic Countries. The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs HRH Prince Mansour bin Mot'ab bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and a number of ministers of culture of Islamic countries participated in the event, which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan pointed out in his opening speech of the Conference and its accompanying exhibition that the great Islamic urban heritage symbolizes superiority of Islamic civilization and the Muslims' attention towards architectural science. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Islamic urban heritage provides concrete evidence of Muslims' advancement in being cognitive in scientific areas and a living witness to differentiate them in the areas of arts and culture. Care of urban heritage in our country is done in the light of accelerating economic and human development globally, and the interaction of cultural mobility and diversity.â&#x20AC;? SCTA organized the Conference in cooperation with the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and other institutions. Dr. Halit Eren, Director of IRCICA, in his speech expressed his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for patronizing the Conference, emphasizing that, our Islamic communities have a special identity that formed its position among the nations across ages. He added that, heritage reserve is the foundation of our identity and the reference that should be preserved and cared for. He praised the close relation between IRCICA and Saudi Arabia through many projects the most important of which is the project of the 'database', which was established due to personal support of Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, for recording information of urban heritage in the Islamic countries. Also he referred to the project of Al Quds 2015, which is devoted for repairing heritage buildings in Al Quds. The Conference, which continued until 28 May 2010 with events taking place in all 11 provinces across the Kingdom, aimed to assess the current state of urban and architectural heritage in Islamic countries, and to identify a framework for future development of their economic, social and cultural opportunities. It sought to develop a cooperation strategy among Islamic States regarding the maintenance and function of architectural heritage buildings and villages; to find appropriate solutions to the impediments affecting the financial support for architectural heritage preservation and urban development projects; and to exchange administrative and technical expertise among Islamic countries in the design, development and use of architectural heritage sites. The Conference also sought to create employment opportunities for craftsmen and artists in the renovation, restoration and decoration of heritage buildings; to highlight the importance of cultural, economic, social and tourism factors of urban and architectural heritage, as a key sector of development in Islam54

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ic countries; and to generate mutuallyagreed policy and implementation mechanisms, and to designate joint projects between cooperating countries in the areas of urban heritage in the Islamic world. The Conference adopted many recommendations addressing its themes and objectives. Prince Sultan, in his speech at the closing session of Prince Sultan bin Salman. the Conference, stated that the Conference had achieved unprecedented success and considered it as one of the richest scientific gatherings that exceeded expectations. HRH President of SCTA indicated that the presented working papers in the Conference were rich and sophisticated, and were of great benefit to all the participants. He emphasized his personal follow-up of all presented working papers and interpositions. HRH said that the steering committee of the Conference had provided a link on the website of the conference for receiving remarks from the participants in order to benefit from them in the holding of the next conference after two years. Furthermore, the national program for urban heritage in Saudi Arabia, which was announced during the conference, is planned to last for five years in collaboration with Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Amaras, and local communities as well as a number of concerned authorities.

8th International Calligraphy Competition Abu Dhabi, UAE - The results of the Eighth International Calligraphy Competition, organized by the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, were announced in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul in April 2010. At the press conference held at Hilton Abu Dhabi on 14 April, Dr. Halit Eren, Director General of IRCICA and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, explained the efforts made by the Centre during the last three years to implement this competition at an international level. He expressed gratitude to the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority for sponsoring the event and for hosting its award ceremony. He said that the eighth competition had seen a high rate of participation, with 969 works submitted by 683 participants from 31 countries. 68 awards, mentions and incentive prizes were distributed to 64 participants from 15 countries. Dr. Eren pointed to the tangible indicators of growth of interest in this art around the world since this competition series was launched in 1985. The press conference held on 15 April at IRCICA's headquarters in Istanbul was attended by calligraphers, specialists and lovers of calligraphy as well as press representatives. Dr. Halit Eren briefed the audience on the Centre's activities in the field of calligraphy, which made it a focal point known worldwide for this art. He cited the major publication, entitled The Art of Calligraphy in Islamic Heritage, published in English, Arabic, Japanese and Turkish, the large-scale symposiums (Istanbul,

1983 and Isfahan, 2002) and the various exhibitions. He referred to the results of the earlier calligraphy competitions and the present one, which indicate a steady pace of development of both participation rate and quality of works. Addressing the press conference, Abdullah Al-Amiri, Director of Culture and Arts at Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority, declared that through its sponsorship of the competition, his institution aims at contributing to reviving this art, preserving its values and techniques, and encouraging present and future calligraphers. He said that the United Arab Emirates'

sponsoring cultural and art activities by way of intellectual exchanges and open cultural dialogue, and encouragement of artistic production and innovation reflects the artistic development and professional level attained by the country, which was achieved thanks to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the sponsor par excellence of the cultural movement. The calligraphy competition is organized periodically once every three years. In accordance with the tradition established at IRCICA to dedicate each competition to one of the masters of this art, the eighth competition was dedicated to the late Syrian calligrapher Muhammad Badawi AlDirani (1312-1387 H./18941967). The international competition aims to preserve and revive the principles and methods of classical Islamic calligraphy by encouraging the present day and future generations of calligraphers to follow the original principles and common concepts established throughout the ages by the masters of this art and protecting it from foreign influences which are not in conformity with its traditional concepts. The eighth competition was conducted in the following ten styles: jaly thuluth, thuluth, naskh, jaly taliq, taliq, jaly diwani, diwani, qufi, riq'a and maghribi. The Jury's meeting took place between 5 - 15 April 2010 at the headquarters of IRCICA in Yildiz Palace in Istanbul. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Honorary Chairman of the Jury, attended some of the meetings. The sessions continued under the Chairmanship of Hasan Celebi.

Culture

Technology

First International Conference on Urban Heritage in Islamic Countries:

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Culture

Conference on Astronomers in Islam and their contribution to world history of science

Dr. Halit Eren speaking at the Conference on Astronomers.

Istanbul, Turkey - In cooperation with the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, a conference on 'Astronomers in Islam and their contribution to world history of science' was organized on 7-8 May 2010 at the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA). The Secretary General of the OIC Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul Architect Dr. Kadir Topbas were present at the opening ceremony at Cit Qasr, Yildiz Palace. Historians of science from Europe, Kazakhstan, Syria, and Turkey attended the conference. In his welcoming address the Director General of IRCICA Dr. Halit Eren re-

called that the conference was planned within the framework of the International Year of Astronomy celebrated by the UN, and that events related to the Year continued in Turkey and elsewhere. He underlined the objectives of the meeting pointing out that celebration of the 400th year of the use of the telescope by Galileo would be incomplete without paying tribute to the astronomers of Islam whose works made a contribution to European science. Dr. Eren outlined the Center's activities in the field of history of science in Islam, especially the long-term programs that were launched from the 1980s onwards under the direction and editorship of Prof. Ihsanoglu. The Mayor of Istanbul Dr. Kadir Topbas said that in its 8500-year old civilisational history and its 15000 yearold history as a place of settlement, Istanbul hosted important scientific developments, and particularly in this context, he referred to the observatory that was built on the European side by the Ottoman astronomer Taqi elDin. He paid tribute to the astronomers in Islam. He said that these astronomers have duly noted and acknowledged their borrowings from other cultures and sources. Prof. Ihsanoglu paid tribute to Architect Dr. Kadir Topbas. He said that “under Dr. Topbas's Mayorship the city of Istanbul has become a world metropolis, and he has also played a role in the selection of Istanbul as a joint European Capital of Culture 2010. This is an acknowledgment of the historic role Istanbul has played for millennia as the capital of successive civilizations of western and eastern origin.”

Science Diplomacy a bridge between countries London, UK - The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu emphasized that "Science Diplomacy" is a new term, which replaces the old expression of technical cooperation. “It is the bridging of the ties between countries and cultures through sharing scientific knowledge and technologies with the aim of building partnership within international community,” said Ihsanoglu in his speech at the 1037th Wilton Park Conference held under the theme of 'Science Diplomacy: Applying Science and Innovation to International Challenges' on 24 June 2010 in London, United Kingdom. He added that Science Diplomacy is still a fluid concept emerging from a fresh surge of interest in linking science more directly to foreign policy priorities of countries. The term also holds potential uses in forging partnerships in many domains, because it acts as a source of “soft power” and can improve any

country's attractiveness. However, he noted that there is no denial that it is also used to further countries' interests and wider goals. The Secretary General underlined that the saga of disseminating and transmitting knowledge and science from the Muslim world to Medieval Europe was one of the most significant examples of mass transferring of science and innovation in the world. He added that Islamic glorious services rendered to science, knowledge, ethical values and spirituality are being trampled down by the shameful campaign of the so-called “Islamophobia”, which is bent on distorting the facts and demonizing the noble principles and values. He declared that the OIC Member States are committed to becoming a community that values knowledge and is competent in utilizing and advancing science and technology to enhance socio-economic well-being of the Muslim world. To this end, the Vision 1441 for the revitalization of Science and Tech-

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nology in Member States and the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action are two important decisions taken in the present decade for the revival of the Islamic Ummah. Other initiatives undertaken by the OIC General Secretariat include selection of at least 20 universities to join the list of world-class universities and encouraging the involvement of the private sector in technological capacity-building of the Member States and in cooperation with private sectors of non-OIC Member States. The Secretary General concluded his speech by urging the Royal Society to take the lead in sharing its experience with the OIC Member States in the area of Human Resources development through workshops, training courses, seminars and conferences. He also hoped for a more consolidated relationship between Wilton Park, the Royal Society and Commonwealth Foundation on the one hand and the OIC on the other.

Tarim, Islamic Culture Capital for 2010 In a spectacular opening ceremony held in Tarim on March 8th, 2010 the year-long cultural activities celebrating Tarim as an Islamic culture capital for 2010 were officially inaugurated by Yemen Vice President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi, Director General of ISESCO Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and by senior officials and Arab ministers of culture. The cultural heritage of the city and its role in the dissemination of Islam were presented to the huge audience through an opera performance. Yemeni Minister of Culture Mohammed Abu Bakr AlMaflahi was quite content with the turnout. “The high level of participation reflects the interest in our work in Tarim. We have planned an extensive program, including the Inshad festival, Malaysian, Turkish and Tunisian cultural weeks, photos exhibition and 200 other cultural activities that will continue for a year,” he declared. “Like other capitals which were carefully selected for their role in serving the Islamic culture, Tarim was chosen for its religious schools and its transparent relationship with other people.” Tarim is one of the renowned cities of Hadhramaut Valley; it is situated to the north-east of Shabwa. Located at 2070 feet above sea level, the city of Tarim spans over approximately 3500 km_. Tarim has been the religious capital of Hadhramaut since the 4th century of hijra, and has seen the flourishing of religious schools and centers of learning specialized in the memorization of the Holy Quran for more than 600 years. Historical references state that Tarim was named after one of its kings, Tarim bin Hadhramout bin Saba'. The inhabitants of Tarim embraced Islam when the delegation of Hadhramaut met Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in Medina in the tenth year of the hijra. The Prophet appointed the first governor over Hadhramaut, Ziyad ibn Labid al-Bayadi al-Ansari, who took Tarim as a residence. During the Islamic era, Tarim has become a center for learning and knowledge in Yemen. A number of historians and travelers such as Al-Hamadani who described it as a "great city", gave detailed accounts about this historic city. Tarim has also been a brilliant Islamic intellectual center for religious enlightenment and knowledge acquisition. Journeys to spread the Islamic faith from these lands started at the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century of the hijra. To this end, a large number of people migrated to India, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. Tarim is one of the most beautiful cities in Yemen. It is renowned for its magnificent claybuilt palaces which were constructed

by its skillful workers who, using local building materials, managed to adapt the traditional local styles of building to accommodate Islamic architectural arts. This has brought the city to great prominence. Tarim has witnessed a steady urban development which reached its peak in the beginning of the 14th century of hijra. Migration to Singapore, Indonesia and India has greatly contributed to the flourishing of this development in Tarim. Tarim's houses are composed of three or four floors of about 10 cubits high. They are characterized by their spaciousness, regular and steady construction as well as their colorful inscriptions in the form of well-arranged circles and lines. The inhabitants of Tarim usually use bright colors in inscribing some verses of the Holy Quran or poetry on walls. Some old houses have large louvered vents from inside. Tarim's gorgeous houses constitute a good reference for the architectural art predominating in the Valley. There are many historical sites and archaeological monuments in Tarim. Irrigation canals, water wheels, bastions and fortresses, walls and towers. More particularly, mosques stand out as a historic evidence of human achievement in Tarim. The most famous of these is the AlMuhdhar Mosque, with its 40-meter-high adobe minaret (150 ft). The minaret was designed by the local poet Abu Bakr bin Abdul Rahman Shihab, and built by famous Master Awadh Sulaiman Afif and his brothers. Finished with lime wash paint, the minaret stands out as one of the architectural marvels of the Hadhramaut valley. Other historical mosques include Al-Wa'l Mosque and Al-Jami' Mosque. Tarim boasts a large number of ancient zaways (Islamic religious compounds), qubbets (domes), teaching centers and mausoleums, all named after renowned prominent scholars and religious figures. These include the zawiya of Sheikh Hussein bin Abdullah AlAidarous (in Ba-Shaâban Mosque) and the Ali bin Abu Bakr Al-Sakran zawiya. Religious landmarks and Maz_rs (tombs and mausoleums) found in Tarim have huge cultural significance. These include the AlMuhdhar Mosque with its towering minaret, the Tarim Mosque, and the mausoleum of Ahmed bin Abbaad bin Bichr (situated in the village of al-Lisk). The city has countless remarkable tourist spots and prestigious mud-brick mansions that recall the impressive architectural design of the Hadhramaut valley, with the influence of Asian, African and Greek design. It is most famously renowned for its wall, strongholds, citadels, dams and reservoirs. 57

Culture

Conference on Astronomers in Islam and their contribution to world history of science

Dr. Halit Eren speaking at the Conference on Astronomers.

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Culture

International symposium on 'ICT Impact on Municipal Service Development: Towards E-Government'

Dubai Municipality, represented by its Director General (R), receives one of the awards presented at 12th OICC by Doha Director General (C) and re-elected OICC Secretary General Omar Abdulla Qadi (L).

Doha, Qatar - The 12th General Conference of the Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) was hosted by Doha in parallel with an International Scientific Symposium entitled 'ICT Impact on Municipal Service Development: Towards E-Government' co-organized by the OICC and the Doha Municipality on 18-20 May 2010. An exhibition on 'ICT and Achievements of Islamic Capitals and Cities' was also held in parallel to the symposium. The 12th OICC general conference was opened with the presence and under the auspices of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani and in the presence of the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani. The Conference discussed over three days a host of issues related to OICC's policy and activities during the coming stage, as well as its general budget and took the appropriate decisions. The Conference of the OICC called for scaling up the efforts to solve the problems facing the Muslim cities particularly the holy sites in Palestine. In the second day of the three-day gathering, representatives of over 147 cities highlighted the urgency of adopting innovative solutions to the challenges facing their cities. They urged for adoption of a common stance against the risks facing the Palestinian cities at the hands of the Israeli occupation authorities. In his address to the conference, head of Palestinian AlKhalil (Hebron) Municipality Khalil Al-Asali lobbied for the Palestinian bid to include the West Bank city, the Old City of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem into the World Heritage

List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). "This move is of vital importance under the ongoing Israeli violations of the sanctities of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories," Al-Asali underscored. In a statement issued at the close of the session, the OICC conference also rejected Israel's expansionist policy and its intransigence while dealing with international community and the UN resolutions, the separation between Palestinian cities and the measures it took to vacate the Palestinian land, to evict Palestinians and to Judaize the holy city of Jerusalem. The conference asserted a new the Islamic and Arab entity of Jerusalem, Hebron and the other Palestinian cities, stressing its support for the registration of Hebron and the other Palestinian historical cities on the UNESCO list. The Conference approved the estimated budgets of both OICC and the Cooperation Fund for the Year 2010, 2011 and 2012 and to abide by them. It also selected the topic 'Environment Protection Legislations: Towards Sustainable Development' as theme for the scientific symposium to be held in parallel to the OICC's 13th General Congress in 2013. The General Conference approved unanimously to hold the 13th General Conference of the OICC in the holy city of Makkah Al Mukarramah. It also approved to hold the 29th session of the Administrative Council of the OICC and Cooperation Fund in Rabat. The Scientific Symposium was organized with the following objectives: * To emphasize the importance of utilizing the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and eGovernment as a tool for the achievement of sustainable development and enhanced decision making. * To define the basic, current and prospective needs, obstacles and electronics-related priority issues in the field of e-government and municipal services. * To define the strategic and empirical considerations for implementing electronic municipal and e-Government services, and e-service documentation and processes. * To exchange experiences between the different municipalities and specialized agencies, in the field of local e-Government services, and presentation of the best practices at both regional and international levels. The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), presented two papers, 'e-Government Readiness: The Performance of the OIC Member Countries' and 'A Novel Cooperation Initiative among Islamic Capitals and Cities: Vocational Education and Training Program for OIC Member Countries (OIC-VET)'.

Message of OIC Secretary General on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development I am pleased to state that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) joins the international community in the observance of May 21, as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/249 entitled, “Culture and Development”. The Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the value of cultural diversity and its importance towards sustainable peace, security and development in the present day globalized world.

of this linkage that OIC has devoted resources and energies on social development of the OIC Member States. The OIC General Secretariat along with our subsidiary, specialized and affiliated institutions have remained committed to addressing the pressing social and developmental issues concerning human rights, women, children, youths, health care, education, housing, poverty alleviation and humanitarian assistance to natural and man-made disaster affected people.

ternational community against stigmatizing a particular religion or civilization with the proponents of terror, who have no respect for human lives and values of inter-civilizational amity. It is heartening to note that our efforts and commitment to raising global awareness against Islamophobia and its related implications appear to have made an impact. We see encouraging responses from our partners in the west geared towards combating this common threat to all cultures and civilizations.

The OIC is fully cognizant of the crucial relationship between culture and development, and the important role of information and communication technologies in this relationship. It is important to assess and optimally utilize the interconnection between culture and development, and the elimination of poverty towards bridging the digital and development divides. It is based on an understanding

The centuries old recognition accorded by Islam to the concept of diversity, as the essence of human existence, serves as a source of inspiration for the OIC. We are committed to upholding cultural and religious diversity through engagement and dialogue. We took the first steps to foster interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue and spoke out strongly against all forms of violence and terrorism, and cautioning the in-

In observing this Day, we believe greater weight and visibility must be accorded by the international community to the theme of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, since the protection of cultural diversity is closely linked to the larger framework of the dialogue among civilizations and cultures, and its ability to achieve genuine mutual understanding, solidarity and cooperation.

Ihsanoglu speaks at the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy In his speech at the International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy held in Berlin, Germany on 8 June 2010 under the title 'Relationship between globalization, culture and international relations over the next two decades', OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that analyzing the role of international organizations in building intergovernmental consensus and promoting intercultural understanding at the grass root level has been identified as one of the objectives of the symposium. Hence, the OIC believes in according primacy to multilateralism towards bridging divergent views and finding political solutions to the whole range of challenges faced by modern human existence. The interdependence and interconnectivity in today's world termed as globalization - is a fact of life. From an economic stand point, we have received frequent reminders and attention notices towards the fact that “poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere” and it is

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cultural diplomacy is integral to the maintenance and preservation of global peace and security. about time that we addressed the situation accordingly. The international organizational infrastructure is of utmost importance in this regard and must be governed in a democratic and consensual fashion. OIC believes that this can be best accomplished by sharing resources and evolving an inclusive approach aimed at an equitable distribution of the fruits of globalization. “We have taken some important initiatives to that end by launching a poverty alleviation fund, a program for development in Africa, concluding a preferential trade agreement among Member States and joining hands with other international organizations in the areas of health and humanitarian assistance. We intend to

continue to promote international cooperation in this regard,” he said. At the conclusion of his speech, Ihsanoglu said that cultural diplomacy is integral to the maintenance and preservation of global peace and security. To be effective, the concept needs to be accorded a more focused attention by the international community. It also needs to be acknowledged that respect for cultural diversity constitutes the starting point of cultural diplomacy. It cannot be left only to diplomats and politicians for its success. It requires the active participation and contribution of all segments of society. Through the march of civilization, human existence has been enriched and made meaningful by the diversity of traditions and sharing of experiences. There is no option but to embrace diversity and promote multiculturalism towards ensuring peace, prosperity and stability in this globalized world. This is something that should prominently on the global agenda over the next two decades. 59

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International symposium on 'ICT Impact on Municipal Service Development: Towards E-Government'

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Culture

Kimah: Symbol of excellence and pride on Omanis' heads

Muscat, Oman (dpa) - The national dress in the Sultanate of Oman has some particularities that are not only the result of its uniqueness in the Gulf region but also of what it represents to the Omanis. The national dress is a sensitive issue, one which expresses their affiliation to the land, history and heritage passed on from their forefathers and which has become a symbol for them. The Kimah or the headgear among Omanis is one of the important components of this dress that adds further particularity and makes the identification of an Omani national rather easy. It is one of the most defining symbols that set the Sultanate apart from its other Gulf neighbors. Except in Oman, most nationals of the Gulf countries wear the head cover called Ghutra topped with the Iqal, a black frame that beautifies and holds the Ghutra in place. The Omanis however are known for the Kimah, which is very close to the simple cap called Taqiya, but has two levels, as they say. In addition to its particularity as traditional attire, the Kimah is also unique relative to other aspects of the Omani dress. This is because it is worn uniformly by men in all regions of Oman despite the differences in dressing determined by the region one hails from. There is for example a dress unique to the people of Zafar and another one to the

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people of Muscat and Suur. The Kimah as an Omani headgear is one of the essentials of official dressing for men without which the uniform is not complete. The Kimah, together with the Omani dishdasha and Musyr (turban) set the Omani man apart from other nationalities. The Omani man does not step out of his house without the turban or Kimah on his head, which are indications of dignity and respect. Ali Bin Salem Al Maqrashi, a researcher on Omani heritage told the Dutch Press Agency (dpa), “The Kimah is known as Al Qahfiya in the Omani slang. There are no official records to explain the history of its use or to give credible detail about the origin of the Kimah, but it is considered as an essential accessory in the traditional Omani dress.” Ali added, “But it is widely known as the Omani Kimah or the Muscat Kimah. It is also called the Zanzibar Kimah, owing to its wide use in Zanzibar because of the Omani presence in Zanzibar, as well as in East Africa and its Islands from the 16th century up to the third quarter of the 20th century and because of the movement to and settlement of many Omani tribes in these regions.” Up to this day, the Omani Kimah is still known in Zanzibar, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Comoros Islands, Madagascar and other regions in East Africa. The Kimah and Musyr are alternatively worn as head cover for men. However the Kimah is not used on official occasions and during office hours, whether in government offices or private establishments. They are substituted with the Musyr, which is considered a form of official dress. The Musyr also comes in many colors subject to individual taste. But on the whole, Omanis prefer the white Musyr with colored embroideries, and the colors vary from pastel to bright. The Musyr is usually placed on the Kimah. A trader in the Matrah Commercial Centre, one of the popular markets in Muscat, Muhammad Bin Sabeel Al Balushi, said that, “there is no compulsion on a particular color since, in the first place, the choice of color is a matter of personal taste.” Colors started to appear in the sewing of the Kimah some 20 years ago. Despite that, one would find a link among multiple colors through adornments and embroideries, which is what gives it a special nature and a common denominator despite the multiplicity of the colors and the variety of decorations. Al Baloushi confirms that the price of the Omani Kimah at the Matrah market, which is frequented daily by many tourists, ranges from $10 to $50 and some are priced up to $200 depending on the quality of the materials and threads. Regarding buyers enthusiasm for the Kimah, Al Baloushi asserts that there is high demand for wearing and buying the Omani Kimah by the youth and young boys. He added that it is not bought ready-made from the market but that most people prefer to buy the material they want and choose someone to sew it. The sewing of the Kimah is part of the Omani heritage industries, which continue to be practiced in the regions and states of the Sultanate, particularly the state of Quryat, which is popular for this craft practiced by some women who are skillful in sewing it in their houses.

OIC establishes Family Affairs Department Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has established a department within its Cultural and Social Affairs Directorate General to deal with issues relating to families, women, the youth and children. The Family Affairs Department's main goal is to establish a mechanism to face the new challenges of the 21st century, said its Director Jan Agha Iqbal. “Many issues concerning families, women, children and the youth have been raised at OIC meetings and summits; this is the outcome,” he added. The department has been founded after the OIC decided at its 10th Islamic Summit Conference in 2003 to establish a unit that deals directly with family issues. Two ministerial conferences on women were held - one in Istanbul and the second in Cairo - to discuss and identify the political, economic, cultural and social issues that need to be addressed. “We need to work harder to promote the status of women, children and the youth,” said Iqbal, explaining how education is a major challenge that will be covered by the new department. Despite different countries having their own individual challenges, the OIC does not formulate separate strategies for Member States. Instead, the 57 Member States work together to produce single uniform plans. “There are specific challenges but at the same time there are many common ones that we all face. The OIC's

role is to coordinate with ministries to help develop strategies and to implement resolutions relating to family affairs,” said Iqbal. Although the Family Affairs Department has only been established this year, the OIC has been dealing with issues facing women for quite some time, said Iqbal. “We have come a long way since 2005. We have held two conferences on women. The OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) was the result of the First Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of the OIC that was held in Istanbul in 2006,” he added. The plan was adopted in the second ministerial conference in Cairo. In his message on International Women's Day and the United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said the OIC remains committed to the rights of women. He also said that in order to empower women, the OIC is dedicated to working in coordination with Member States and other international stakeholders. The First Ministerial Conference on the Role of Women in the Development of the OIC covered issues like gender equality and women's empowerment, and that the participation of women is crucial in eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development.

ICYF-DC hosts international conference for young leaders of South East Europe Istanbul, Turkey - Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) organized on June 21-22, 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey the International Youth Conference with other international partners under the theme 'Youth of South East Europe for stability and cooperation' aimed at reinforcing the main purpose of South - East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). One of the major goals of the conference was to promote cooperation among the young potential leaders of the region, a process which is called 'Building Regional Young Leaders Network'. During the conference, young leaders from different parts of the South East European countries with different cultural and religious backgrounds, representing national youth institutions active in the field of inter-cultural dialogue, social and business entrepreneurship, closely worked together towards developing of vision, priorities, and mechanisms for the future of regional politics in regard to the creation of better understanding among countries of the region. Balkans Regional Young Leaders Network for InterCultural Dialogue and Cooperation has been established to emerge as one of the practice-oriented outcomes of the Conference. The outcomes of the Conference were delivered by partner institutions to the SEECP Official Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Summit of Heads of

State and Government held on 21-23 June 2010. As a result of intensive deliberations, young leaders representing broader youth platforms have adopted a Declaration which includes, among others, the following: • to establish a Network of youth activists and youth organizations of the region to be called “YLOSEECP” to promote the ideas of this conference and those of SEECP and work on sustainable basis toward achievements of conference goals; • to establish South East European Regional Young Entrepreneurs Network as a part of Islamic Countries Youth Entrepreneurs Network (ICYEN) to enhance and develop business skills, facilitate growth of the SEECP economies through promoting youth entrepreneurship to provide necessary knowledge and coordination between young entrepreneurs of the region as well as other business ventures; • to work closely in the areas of media, formal and informal education, conflict resolution, promotion of intercultural dialogue with SEECP and the secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC); • to strengthen and enhance cooperation with the incoming Chairmanship country in the days to come; and • to support innovative projects and ideas presented during the working session by participants and to provide a reliable environment to carry them to international business market.

Culture

Kimah: Symbol of excellence and pride on Omanis' heads

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Education

Religion

FUIW General Conference endorses Islamic Universities Business Network Project

The fifth session of the General Conference of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW)

Baku, Azerbaijan - The fifth session of the General Conference of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), which closed its proceedings on May 13, 2010 in Baku, Azerbaijan, adopted the 'Project of Islamic Universities Business Network' and the 'Mechanisms for the Activation of the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation'. The fifteenth session of the Executive Council of the FUIW commenced its proceedings On May 10 in Baku before the General Conference. On this occasion, an address by Dr. Abdualaziz Orthman Altwaijri, the Secretary General of the FUIW was read out on his behalf at the opening session by ISESCO Deputy Director General, Dr. Hadi Azizzadeh. In his address, the FUIW Secretary General said that the present session of the Executive Council would pore over five academic projects prepared by the General Secretariat of the FUIW. These projects chiefly aim to promote the Federation, enhance its performance, update its programs, methods and mechanisms towards further progress and modernization, enlarge its scope for action to better meet the needs of member universities and perform to the highest standards, and by so doing attain the objectives stated. The fifteenth session of the Executive Council approved thirteen applications to join the Federation and invited ISESCO to host the Islamic Virtual University (IVU) at its headquarters in Rabat, under the supervision of the FUIW. The Executive Council accepted the invitation extended by Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University to host the second meeting of the Board of Trustees of the IVU to be held in Riyadh, 62

in 2011, together with the university's proposal to host the General Secretariat of the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers. In the same vein, the Council endorsed the recommendation calling for headquartering the Islamic Body for Quality and Accreditation at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The virtual university will offer higher education degrees in science and technology through partnerships among the federation's members and other leading universities. Besides developing training and educational programs, it is hoped that the university will also catalyse educational reform and collaboration within the Islamic world. The business network will focus on promoting the commercialisation of technology and on developing innovation-based businesses. It will offer training programs and help better communicate science from university and research institutes to interested parties in the public and private sector. At the General Conference, the Federation's General Secretariat presented the project of FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers, stressing its importance in promoting scientific research in Islamic countries, addressing the low standard of research in the Muslim world, and keeping abreast of knowledge and technology advances in the third millennium. After deliberations, the Conference endorsed the project, and also approved the proposal of Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University to host the General Secretariat of the FUIW Prize for Academic Research Papers. In a bid to foster the role of Member Universities in addressing the phenomenon of Islamophobia, the General Secretariat submitted to

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

the Conference the Draft University Education Action Program to Counter Offences against Islam and Muslims. The Conference adopted the Program, and invited Member Universities to materialize this project in their programs and activities in coordination with the FUIW's General Secretariat; and approved a proposal to hold an experts' meeting at AlAsmarya University for Islamic Sciences, in Libya, to consider the document and devise an action plan to concretize it. Thereafter, the Conference adopted the Secretary General's Report on the General Secretariat's Activities between the Fourth and Fifth General Conference Sessions. In the same vein, the Conference expressed its appreciation of the efforts exerted by the Secretary General to implement these important projects and activities in spite of the Federation's limited financial resources. It then endorsed the Secretary's General Financial Report, urged the universities having failed to honour their financial contributions to settle them together with arrears, and decided to exempt universities from their arrears as of the date of their joining the Federation should they pay up their contributions in full for the years 2007-2009. The Conference then adopted the Action Plan and Budget for the Years 2010-2012, expressing its appreciation of the Plan's diversified contents, integrated vision, appropriate reaction to the rapid mutations in university education in the age of science and knowledge, and effective response to current challenges, thanking the Secretary General and his assistants for their efforts in laying down this plan, and inviting Member Universities to contribute to the implementation of the Federation's activities. On the other hand, the Conference invited ISESCO to host the Islamic Virtual University at its headquarters under the supervision of the Federation of the FUIW, and decided to establish a technical support office for the university, in the United Arab Emirates. The Conference elected Dr. Suliman Abdullah Abu Al-Khail, Rector of Al-Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, as Chairman of the FUIW Executive Council.

Istanbul hosts the 20th Session of the World Council of Islamic Call Istanbul, Turkey - The 20th Session of the World Council of Islamic Call was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 25-27 April 2010, with the participation of a large number of scholars and intellectuals from different countries of the Muslim world. In his speech to the Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, mentioned that Da'wa is an essential and important element in the field of joint Islamic action, which the Islamic world is willing to disseminate through the activities of official and popular associations in the Member States. In a speech delivered on his behalf by the OIC High Commissioner in charge of Da'wa Affairs Ambassador Salem El-Houni, the Secretary General added that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is following with keen interest the achievements of these organizations which serve the causes of the Islamic Ummah. He highlighted the importance of promoting cooperation with organizations and institutions working in the field of Da'wa and deepening the foundations aimed at coordinating the positions of Da'wa, relief and charity among all Islamic institutions with a view to avoiding contradiction and duplication of work, and thus serving Islam and Muslims in this important and vital field. Ihsanoglu insisted on the important role played by the Committee for the Coordination of Joint Islamic Action in the Field of Da'wa, which operates under the umbrella of the OIC, commending in this regard on the important and vital role of the World Islamic Call Society as a fundamental stream of Da'wa and for the dissemination of Islamic culture and a channel for the projection of the true image of Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance, with its values and tenet. He also emphasized that the OIC is willing to foster and deepen its cooperation with the World Islamic Call Society (WCIS) and highlighted its willingness to fortify its foundations and support it in a way that serves the causes of the Islamic Ummah. He indicated that the Islamic world is facing considerable challenges brought about by the current international situation, hence the importance of owning scientific, intellectual, pedagogical and civilizational capabilities. The situation also requires that the method and the way of addressing these challenges be regularly developed to allow

the Islamic Ummah to have an influential and effective position amid present and future regional and international balances. The Secretary General maintained that the phenomenon of 'Islamophobia' has become a serious concern to all the peoples of our Islamic Ummah with the increase of the instances of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, and with the growing detrimental acts targeting the principles, symbols and sanctities of Islam, as well as the stereotyping of Islam and Muslims who are often associated with violence, terrorism and human rights violations in the media, education and art. All these acts take place under the pretexts of the freedom of opinion and expression, stating that Switzerland's decision to ban the construction of minarets in the country helps establish hostility against Islam and Muslims. Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Al-Sharif, Secretary General of the Islamic Call Society delivered a speech in which he raised the importance of the issues to be addressed by the session. He highlighted the responsibility placed on the conference to implement the resolutions of the General Conference of Islamic Da'wa held in Tripoli, Libya, in October 2008. The agenda of the 20th Session of the World Council of Islamic Call included the review of the report of the General Secretariat on the achievements in the different activity sectors of the Society during the period between the 19th and 20th sessions of the Council. The session also reviewed a report on WCIS's joint activities with regional and international organizations, and a report on the Islamic Da'wa College and its branches, the Muslim College in London, and on other current Islamic issues. The members of the Council discussed these issues raising a number of questions on some points included in the reports. The members also discussed most fields of work in the five continents and reviewed the activities implemented and the actions planned, as well as the major difficulties and problems facing implementation, which are mainly of financial character. The opening of the Conference was attended by a representative of the Turkish Government, namely the State Minister Faruk Ă&#x2021;elik as well as by the Vice-President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Mehmed GĂśrmez.

The Conference of African Ulema Dakar, Senegal - The Conference of African Ulema was held under the patronage of President Abdoulye Wade in Dakar, Senegal on 7-9 June 2010. In his message to the Ulema Conference, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu highlighted the role of all stakeholders including the Ulema to strengthen the profile of OIC as an agent of change for socio-economic development of the Ummah. The OIC activities envisaged under the Ten-Year Program of Action supporting development and poverty alleviation in Africa were highlighted. These activities include infrastructure development, cotton development program, Dakar-Port Sudan Railway Line Project, food and nutrition security, trade promotion and investment, polio and malaria eradication campaigns, higher education and research. The Secretary General called upon the Ulema to support OIC's efforts in bringing about socio-economic development through promoting Islamic solidarity in line with Islamic principles of brotherhood and good neighborliness. The General Secretariat was represented by Assistant Secretary General Amb. Abdul Moiz Bokhari, Secretary General's Advisor Ahmed Lajimi, and Director of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy Dr. Mohamed Abdul Alim.

Education

Religion

FUIW General Conference endorses Islamic Universities Business Network Project

The fifth session of the General Conference of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW)

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Religion

Agreement in principle that electrical stunning of chicken does not kill it A project to place OIC logo on Halal food Wajdi Sindi

The Secretary General participating in the opening session of the meeting

São Paulo celebrates Da'wa meeting, issues special OIC stamp A road map to project Islam's genuine image

Ayman Aboushi São Paulo, Brazil - A host of Da'wa organizations have embarked on developing a roadmap in order to improve the Da'wa discourse and upgrade it in line with today's reality in such a way that it can benefit mounting generations and communities outside the Muslim world. This goal could be achieved by making the best of modern-day digital tools and technologies and harnessing top notch technologies to serve Da'wa's noble mission in disseminating the true image of Islam, its tolerance and its ability to accommodate change. The 17th Session of the Joint Islamic Action Coordination Committee in the Field of Da'wa, held over 31st May - 2nd June in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, recommended the formation of a working group to be composed of members of the Committee under the auspices of the OIC Secretary General. The working group would be tasked with the follow-up of the ramifications emanating from the phenomenon of Islamophobia, and would prepare an expanded meeting of experts and professionals who would develop effective executive programs. The Da'wa organizations had convened under the umbrella of the OIC, as part of the 17th Session of the Committee. The meeting was organized by the Islamic Da'awa Centre for Latin America. The meeting's report emphasized the importance of the media in defending Islam and confronting the waves of hostility against it as well as improving Islamic discourse beyond ideological differences and sectarianism. The report also shed light on the need to encourage all initiatives for dialogue and openness vis-à-vis the 'Other' and to take advantage of Muslim heritage. The report further stressed the need to train preachers and educators to enable them to undertake Da'wa by

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

reflecting the true image of Islam, its openness, moderation, and its call for dialogue and cooperation in a bid to help achieve global security and peace. The meeting also recommended that priority be given to building educational institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean, and increasing the number of scholarships granted to Muslim children, especially in the various fields of media studies, communications, and information technology. Additionally, the meeting called for boosting the role of women in Muslim societies and empowering women so that they can take on responsibility for Da'wa and assume leadership positions both locally and across the continent. The meeting issued a statement condemning the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on its way to the Gaza Strip. The statement dubbed the Israeli crime a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law and international norms and rules, and undermines peace efforts in the region. Similarly, the city of São Paulo organized a cultural exhibition featuring Arabo-Islamic heritage. The exhibition was opened by the OIC Secretary General. The event showcased the cultural influence of Arabo-Islamic heritage on Brazilian culture. It put on display a set of photographs depicting various aspects of Islamic civilization, which was transported to Brazil and Latin America thanks to generations of Muslim immigrants. A series of lectures and seminars were held in parallel with the exhibition, presenting Muslim contributions to the cultural mosaic in Brazil. The municipality of São Bernardo do Campo in São Paulo, for its part, celebrated the visit of the OIC Secretary General, characterized as historic, by issuing special stamps bearing the OIC logo. The municipality also translated a book on the OIC history into Portuguese and put out a booklet on the OIC.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The pace of work on the project of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for issuing the standards of halal food has accelerated and the project is now in its final stages, especially with regard to the issue of electrical stunning of birds before they are slaughtered according to Sharia method. Once all aspects of the project are completed, the OIC logo will be affixed to all food products which meet all Sharia standards and specifications, namely slaughtering with the Islamic Sharia methods. This comes following the discussions held by a delegation from the OIC International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) with the officials of the Turkish Standards Institution recently. The IIFA delegation, which included the Acting Director of the Department of Research and Studies Dr. Abdulqahir Qamar, observed during its visit to four poultry production plants in Turkey Sharia-compliant slaughtering procedures using electric stunning. Reporting on the results of the visit, Dr. Abdulqahir Qamar stated that the delegation observed the practice of fowl slaughtering through electrical stunning. Birds are stunned with a specific voltage and remain calm for three minutes before regaining consciousness. This means that birds do not die from the electric shock but die only after being slaughtered in a lawful way. Dr. Qamar added that the meeting examined issues related to electrical stunning, namely the electric voltage and power, and the maximum duration of stunning. An in-principle agreement was reached that this specific voltage of electric current does not kill the birds. Dr. Ahmad Abdulalim explained from his side that it was agreed with the officials of the Turkish Standards Institution during the visit to hold a

birds do not die from the electric shock but die only after being slaughtered in a lawful way. meeting which will be attended by veterinary experts and some Muslim religious scholars to make recommendations on the extent of the implications of electrical stunning on the bird's life after being stunned and prior to slaughtering, as well as the effect this has on Sharia-compliant slaughtering. Dr. Abdulalim said that the recommendations will be submitted to the IIFA for a final decision, stating that the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Turkish Standards Institution will coordinate and agree on the date and venue of the meeting. He described the project of issuing specifications of halal food as being “important because if control is exercised by religious authorities appointed by the OIC, it will be a guarantee of food's compliance with Sharia. This will also limit certification to a single trustworthy authority and will prevent fraud and manipulation”. The new measures represent a review of the resolution adopted by the IIFA Council on 28 June 1997 which stipulated that “chicken should not be electrically stunned as experience proved that a good number of them die before their lawful slaughtering”.

Halal food certificate does not concern the food product alone but also packaging, transport, and hygiene. A meeting of the IIFA held in Jeddah on 10 October 2009 discussed the observations made on the halal food

standards concerning water animals, sub-slaughter tools, pre-slaughter stunning and machine slaughtering. It is worth mentioning that the elaboration of halal food standards was first mooted by the Government of Malaysia which raised the issue at the 32nd Conference of Foreign Ministers in Sana'a in 2005. The objective was to agree on a holistic understanding of the issue of 'halal food' and to set up a comprehensive regulation of the 'halal food certificate' to be applied all over the world. Halal food certificate does not concern the food product alone but also packaging, transport, and hygiene. These standards also require that preparation processes should be analyzed to guarantee conformity between halal food standards and the Islamic Sharia. The ninth meeting of Standardization Experts Group entrusted with the task of developing halal food standards held in Ankara in April 2008 decided to establish two committees; the first shall be in charge of preparing OIC Halal Food Standards and the second to determine the methodology for certification and accreditation for halal food standards. OIC Member States have different systems and standards, and have not reached so far a final agreement on standards. Meetings continue to be held with a view to reaching a consolidated version of these standards. The IIFA is playing a significant role in developing these standards. On another vein, the website 'halalfocus.net' specialized in halal food industry estimated the value of this industry worldwide at US$ 760 billion. Halal food consumption in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries reached around US$ 43.8 billion in 2009, according to the last report on halal food industry issued by Halal Magazine which expects consumption to increase by US 1 billion in 2010. Experts insist that lawful slaughtering is necessary. The flow-out of blood extends the validity and shelf-life of the product from six to nine months.

Religion

Agreement in principle that electrical stunning of chicken does not kill it A project to place OIC logo on Halal food Wajdi Sindi

The Secretary General participating in the opening session of the meeting

São Paulo celebrates Da'wa meeting, issues special OIC stamp A road map to project Islam's genuine image

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Environment - Health

Technology

The Advisory Panel on OIC Water Vision holds first meeting Dubai, UAE - The first meeting of the Advisory Panel on the OIC Water Vision was held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on 25-26 May 2010. The Meeting was organized in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and supported by International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). The Panel was organized following a resolution adopted by the 36th and 37th Councils of Foreign Ministers held in Damascus, Syria in May 2009 and Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May 2010, respectively. The resolutions requested that OIC Water Vision be prepared by experts for consideration by the conference of ministers responsible for water, the date and venue to be determined later. Several prominent experts from different regions of the OIC, on their personal capacity, were engaged. In addition, representatives of the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), the IDB, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM) participated in the discussions. Dr. Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), delivered an

opening speech at the Forum. In his speech to the Panel, Minister Fahad referred to the increasing challenges at scarce water resources in many of the OIC Member Countries; and indicated that these challenges would likely to get worse unless radical and innovative solutions were developed within the framework of a clear vision based on constructive cooperation among the countries. He expressed his full support for the efforts made by the OIC in this field. In his message to the Panel, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu highlighted the role and crucial importance of water sector for socio-economic development and well-being of OIC Member States and underscored the link between water and poverty eradication as well as the need to have an access to safe and sufficient water, and sanitation as basic human rights. He called on the experts to discuss and develop draft OIC Vision on Water Issues for the year 2025. The advisory panel of experts discussed and exchanged experiences in their respective regions and countries in resolving water issues. They proposed elements to be included in the OIC Water Vision document and agreed to meet again to consider the draft OIC Water Vision document. The OIC Water Vision document will form a basis for cooperation framework to tackle water issues in the OIC.

Ihsanoglu urges for better environmental practices The World Environment Day is being observed on 5th June in the backdrop of growing realization about the dangers of environmental degradation and the climate change. The OIC fora at its various meetings has unanimously pronounced about the need for cooperation and adoption of effective measures to protect environment which is essential for the sustainable development of its Member States. The climate change poses an exis-

tential threat for many OIC Member States. Securing a fair and equitable agreement on climate change within the framework of existing instruments, therefore, remains a priority for our countries. Notwithstanding the need for active and effective participation by the OIC countries in the international environmental fora, it is gratifying to note that the Islamic Executive Bureau for Environment and the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers is fully seized of all

developments in the matter. Our Organization is poised to launch various important initiatives for promotion of clean and renewable energy, clean development mechanism, natural disaster management and alike, under the Islamic Environment Action Program. On this occasion, I urge the policy makers, the civil society and all stakeholders to join hands in promoting better environmental practices for ensuring the well being of our future generations.

OIC-US Health Dialogue Geneva, Switzerland - The Secretary General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States of America jointly hosted a Health Dialogue with Ministers of Health from the OIC Member States participating in the World Health Assembly on 17 May 2010 in Geneva in line with the provisions of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action and President Barack Obama's address to Muslim World in Cairo on 4 June 2009. The Health Dialogue discussed areas of mutual interest and proposed concrete steps to improve health situation in the OIC countries particularly to deepen collaboration on polio eradication, broaden cooperation to reduce maternal and child mortality and expand cooperation in immunization and disease surveillance. The Ministers of Health were briefed by a panel, comprising the 66

Minister of Health of Senegal in capacity as the Chairman of the OIC Summit and the Director General of the Department of Science and Technology representing the OIC Secretary General; the US Secretary of Health and Human Services and the US Special Envoy to the OIC. The Ministers of Health of the OIC Member States welcomed the initiative of the OIC General Secretariat and the US Government to organize the Dialogue. In their intervention, the Ministers highlighted the need to strengthen production of polio vaccine in OIC region, to hold meetings among partners and polio-affected countries to share good practices in engaging religious and community leaders to advocate polio immunization campaigns. The Ministers expressed their concern that the relevant Millennium De-

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

velopment Goals related to reduction of mother and child mortality have not been making good progress. Several Member States indicated the success of their bilateral cooperation with the US Government in health sector that assisted them to eradicate polio and to address maternal and child mortality. It was proposed to replicate these successful approaches in other OIC countries. The US Secretary of Health and Human Services pledged to continue cooperation in the eradication of polio and to expedite implementation of the cooperative project on mother and child health in the OIC Member States. The Ministers thanked the OIC General Secretariat and the US Special Envoy to the OIC in taking leadership in health cooperation and confirmed their readiness to engage fully in the joint efforts.

First time in Internet history, non-Latin characters for domains: Arabic is the first non-Latin script For the first time in the history of the Internet, non-Latin characters are being used for top-level domains. The first International Domain Name (IDN) country-code top-level domains (ccTLD) were inserted in the Domain Name System (DNS) root zone on 5 May 2010. The associated countries and their respective IDN ccTLDs are: Egypt:

(Egypt) dB

Saudi Arabia: (AlSaudiah) W œuF « United Arab Emirates: (Emarat) «—U « These are the first IDN ccTLDs to appear online as a result of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process, which was approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Board at its annual meeting in Seoul, South Korea on 30 October 2009. The first requests were received starting 16 November 2009. The process enables countries and territories to submit requests to ICANN for IDN ccTLDs, representing their respective country or territory names in scripts other than Latin. So far, ICANN has received a total of 21 requests for IDN ccTLD(s) representing 11 languages. A total of 13 re-

quests have successfully passed through the “String Evaluation” (the second stage of the process) and are hence ready for the requesting country or territory to initiate the request for TLD Delegation (the final stage of the application process). As of 5 May, the first three of these have been delegated into the DNS root zone, which means they are available for use. ICANN Board of Directors, in its meeting on August 5th, 2010, approved five more countries/territories to use their national scripts in the last portion of Internet address names, among which Occupied Palestinian Territory 5D K Tunisia f u Jordan Êœ—ô« Arabic has now become the first non-Latin script to be used as an IDN ccTLD. Arabic is among the most highly used languages on the Internet today. The Middle-East has an average Internet penetration of just over 20%, and shows a big potential for growth. Users in the region will now have easier access to the Internet, with the ability to use their primary language for the entire domain name. Source: http://www.icann.org/

A Workshop on Internet Security Rabat, Morocco - A regional Workshop organized in the Moroccan capital on 24-25 June 2010 on Internet Security in Africa came out with a call for concerted efforts to face up to transcontinental cybercrime. The participants in the Workshop, co-organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Malaysian Authority on Internet Security, laid emphasis on the need for regional coordination among the various centers concerned with cyber-security in the African region with a view to enhancing the protection of information systems. The participants, hailing from different Arab and African countries, also stressed the need to increase awareness on information security at the state level, and to boost competencies in the area of Internet security through training and specialized education. In his message to the workshop, delivered on his behalf by Mohamed

Al-Busefi from the IT Department, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said, “the active economic cooperation among OIC Member States is based on the realization that Islamic solidarity can only be meaningful if it is properly related to the principles of shared social values and economic cooperation.” He added, “The promotion of science and technology is one of the main buildingblocks of the economic progress that African Member States aspire to achieve in the twenty-first century.” Furthermore, the Secretary General added “Due to the importance of cooperation and solidarity among Islamic countries; and in a bid to encourage public and private national research institutions to invest in the field of advanced technologies, the OIC General Secretariat fully supported the establishment of the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team.” Al Busefi elaborated to the media that the key objective of the workshop is to raise awareness on the importance of having the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT),

a team that operates in the area of information security, as no one is immune against risks, which makes therefore coordination among the concerned states in this area a matter of imperative character. On his part, Abdelhamid Ben Makki, professor at the National Postal and Telecommunications Institute, voiced the view that security information systems would be impossible without the participation of all states, as transcontinental crimes have no geographical boundaries. Ben Makki added that the workshop seeks to train engineers that are fully aware of the electronic threats and to prepare specialized cadres that would help combat organized crime on the Internet. Rashid Meterji, in-charge of planning at the Moroccan Ministry of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies, called for intensified cooperation between the OIC countries in the area of upgrading security capacity on the internet network and for solutions to be envisaged for emergencies that could be faced by computers.

Environment - Health

Technology

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(Egypt) dB

Economy

6th WIEF calls for OIC Economic Summit to enhance economic growth and development

Participating leaders of the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) pose for photograph during the opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 19 May 2010 (epa).

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The three-day long 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), themed “Gearing for Economic Resurgence”, successfully concluded its proceedings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on 20 May 2010. The main forum was preceded by three major activities which included a separate pre-forum on businesswomen and another on young leaders. An exhibition on creative arts, bringing together international contemporary artists from all over the world in various genres of art such as calligraphy, painting, music, comedy and film, was also held concurrently with the Forum. The 2010 Forum was held against the backdrop of a world emerging from a financial crisis that has affected all nations. In the current challenging environment nine countries took advantage of the Forum to showcase trade and investment opportunities in their respective countries. The Forum explored the role of Islamic banking and finance in paving the way for a more stable global financial system, a niche market of the emerging economies of the Muslim world. This major

economic event is considered to be an ultimate business platform where world leaders in government and investors, fund mangers, entrepreneurs, bankers and other stakeholders of the business community can converge to discuss trade and economic issues affecting the globe. The 6th WIEF, which attracted 2500 delegates from 67 countries, was declared open by the Honorable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Patron of the WIEF Foundation. Special addresses were delivered by Heads of State and Government from a number of OIC member and non member countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Senegal, Indonesia, Kosovo, Maldives and Bangladesh. The Forum was moderated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and important presentations were made by members of key speakers from the public and private sectors. The Kuala Lumpur Statement issued at the end of the Forum included five actionable outcomes to be circulated to the Organization of the Is-

lamic Conference and other relevant international organization. The Forum called for convening an economic summit to focus on practical ways and means in which Muslim countries can enhance their own economic growth and development as well as explore how Islamic banking and finance can contribute to a more sustainable international financial system. Specific actions will be evaluated to advance the proposal of establishing a 'Clean Energy Development Bank'. The WIEF will also evaluate models of private sector-led social entrepreneurship, focusing on the special funding needs of SMEs and other enterprises throughout the Muslim countries with the aim to form a Social Entrepreneurship Foundation. Furthermore, the Forum decided to liaise with academic leaders and institutions to craft a pilot plan for the creation of 'Creativity and Innovation Incubation Centers'. Lastly, the Forum will initiate a pilot test in order to develop practical plans to harness the vibrancy of youth and prepare them for leadership roles in the future. The participants of the Forum unanimously accepted the gracious invitation by the Republic of Kazakhstan to host the 7th World Islamic Economic Forum in 2011 in Astana. Commenting on the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said it can be the platform to accelerate trade among OIC countries and achieve the OIC's growth target of 20% or US$250 billion by 2015. In his keynote address at the opening of the pre-forum and exhibition of the 6th WIEF, Yassin emphasized that “intra-trade between the OIC countries grew to 16.7% of the total exports of OIC countries last year from 13.6% in 2006.”

Development agencies urged to forge closer cooperation Abu Dhabi, UAE - The various Development and Cooperation Institutions (DCIs) in OIC countries are examining modalities for enhancing their role in promoting sustainable socio-economic development in OIC Member States. In his message to the Second Meeting of Development and Cooperation Institutions of the OIC Member States in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on 3 May 2010, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC Secretary General, enumerated the current efforts towards coordination of operations and strategies of the various development agencies in OIC Member States. He attributed the objective of this action to the need to increase the effectiveness of development assis68

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tance extended to OIC countries. Drawing on the OIC experience on mobilizing and coordinating emergency humanitarian relief assistance to member countries, the Secretary General emphasized that strengthening coordination and strategic partnerships among development agencies of OIC countries would promote a coordinated and efficient allocation of resources in responding to various development challenges in Member States. The meeting reviewed presentations on the experiences of the various DCIs within the framework of the evolving knowledge and expertise sharing among these institutions.

The 26th COMCEC Follow-up Committee meeting:

Building momentum on advancing project proposals Antalya, Turkey - The Secretary General of the OIC for immediate action. Ekmeledddin Ihsanoglu called on the OIC Member States, The Task-Force held its second meeting on the margins the OIC Institutions and the International community to of the OIC-UN Coordination meeting, which took place in work together to fight poverty, hunger and deprivation that Istanbul, Turkey, on 29 June - 1 July 2010. The Taskare wreaking much of the Muslim World. Force reviewed the draft documents “OIC South-South Ihsanoglu made these remarks in a message read on his Cooperation (SSC) Trust Fund for Agriculture and Food behalf by Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, Assistant Sec- Security" and “Matrix for Prioritizing Food Security Proretary General for Economic Afgramming Efforts in OIC Member fairs, at the 26th Meeting of the Countries”. The meeting agreed to Follow-Up Committee of the COuse these documents as the basis for OIC was committed to MCEC in Antalya, Turkey on 10th its continued support of national and strengthening economic and May 2010. regional processes on food security commercial cooperation among He further underscored that the in OIC Countries. OIC was committed to strengthenThe SESRIC organized the SecMember States, through various ing economic and commercial ond Meeting of the Monitoring and concrete measures, such as cooperation among Member Advisory Committee (MAC) of the energizing trade and investment, States, through various concrete OIC-VET Program on 11-12 May supporting the development of measures, such as energizing trade 2010 to discuss the progress that has Africa, alleviating poverty and and investment, supporting the debeen made since the last meeting of velopment of Africa, alleviating the MAC and to explore cooperation encouraging capacity building it poverty and encouraging capacity potentials among the National Focal its Least-Developed Member building it its Least-Developed Points (NFP) of the OIC-VET ProStates. Member States. gram. The SESRIC made presentaIhsanoglu called on the particitions on nine pilot projects to be impants to the 26th Follow-Up Complemented in 2010 in coordination mittee meeting to take stock of what had been achieved, so with National Focal Points of the Member States and confar, and how to expeditiously proceed with necessary ac- cerned OIC Institutions. The National Focal Points also tions to achieve the aspirations expressed in the OIC Ten- made presentations on VET programs in their respective Year Program of Action as well as the provisions of the Is- countries. After presentations the delegations discussed tanbul Declaration adopted by the COMCEC Economic various ways and means of enhancing cooperation and colSummit held in Istanbul in 2009. laboration among the NFPs varying from effective particiThe three-day Follow-up Meeting discussed a range of pation in the OIC-VET Portal to planning/implementing issues in the economic and commercial domain and pre- joint Pilot Projects. The Meeting also agreed to hold its pared the agenda for the 26th Session of COMCEC, sched- next session in May 2011. uled to take place on 5-8 October 2010. The highpoints of the meeting were the outcome of the OIC-FAO Working A consultative meeting was held between the General Group on Food Security; and the mandate to organize a Secretariat, IDB, ICDT and concerned Member States, Workshop for the establishment of both the Federation of such as Turkey, Cameroon and Senegal to discuss the Islamic Air Transport Associations (FIATA), and the Fed- progress on the implementation of the OIC Cotton Action eration of Islamic Road Transport Associations (FIRTA). Plan and the status of the Projects approved by the Project The latter is in addition to the disand Steering Committees and forcussions on the guidelines for the warded to IDB for funding. It was review of the Ten Year Program agreed that the next meeting of both of Action and the Plan Action for the Project and Steering Committees The meeting discussed various Economic Cooperation between would be held in Casablanca, Moaspects of selection criteria for OIC member-states. rocco in September 2010. It was also supporting national food security The Task Force on Food Seagreed that Member States whose programs, creation of new curity, comprising the representaprojects were approved would make programs and partnership for tives of the OIC General Secretariformal requests to IDB for funding implementation. at, COMCEC Coordination in accordance∞ with the procedures Office, Islamic Development followed by IDB. Bank (IDB) and United Nations The 26th Follow-up Committee Food and Agriculture Organizameeting succeeded in building furtion (FAO), held its first meeting on 9 May 2010. The ther momentum on advancing project proposals such as meeting discussed various aspects of selection criteria for 'the Establishment of the Federation of Islamic Air Transsupporting national food security programs, creation of port Associations', 'the Establishment of the Federation of new programs and partnership for implementation. The Islamic Road Transport Associations' and others for the meeting also agreed to prepare three documents on the benefit of Member States. This momentum will provide an food situation in OIC countries; the possibilities for devel- important basis for OIC General Secretariat, its institutions oping specific South-South cooperation programs for pri- and concerned Member States to more strongly engage ority technical areas; and a work plan of the Task Force with their effective implementation.

Economy

6th WIEF calls for OIC Economic Summit to enhance economic growth and development

Participating leaders of the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) pose for photograph during the opening ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 19 May 2010 (epa).

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

The 26th COMCEC Follow-up Committee meeting:

Economy

First meeting of stakeholders in Dakar-Port Sudan railway project

China, Russia express interest

Wajdi Sindi Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The first meeting of stakeholders in the Dakar - Port Sudan railway project held at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah on 26 May 2010 came out with several important decisions which are contained in the final report of the meeting. The meeting which witnessed the participation of 13 representatives of concerned countries decided that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) should continue its review and finalization of the terms of reference for the project's feasibility studies with the assistance of a consultancy outfit. The participating countries in the project would also complete feasibility studies relating to each of them and submit the studies to the IDB, indicating the extent of their readiness to execute the railway project that passes through their territories on the basis of priority. The terms of reference would be circulated to the participating countries in the project by the Bank within six months. The meeting decided that coordination be arranged with multilateral agencies with similar railway projects on the same route in order to avoid duplication and reduce costs. It called for the need to encourage private sector participation in the execution of the project provided there are adequate guarantees from countries participating in the project. Participants in the meeting emphasized the need to create a financing mechanism for the project, which would include holding donor conferences, setting up special trust funds and multilateral financing arrangements with donor countries and institutions, taking into account China and the Russian Federation expressing readiness to participate in financing the project. In addition, the participants decided to invite Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania to participate in the project. The meeting took note of the offer of a parcel of land for the headquarters of the project's office made by the Sudan The Dakar-Port Sudan project is part of the Organization of the Islamic Conference's development programs in Africa to eradicate poverty. This vital project is a quantum leap in the area of land transportation and trade exchange on the continent. The project is capable of giving 4 landlocked African countries access to the sea and providing them with a 10,100 km long vital railway artery across 7 countries between Sudan in the east and Senegal on the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The Port Sudan - Dakar railway line project announced 70

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by the OIC at the Dakar Islamic Summit from 13 - 14 March 2008 is one of the big development projects aimed at promoting trade exchange and uplifting the economies of the African Member States of the OIC. The railway line will pass through 7 African countries - Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. It will also link Gambia and Guinea in the west, Libya in the north, Cameroon in the centre and Uganda in the south. This would enable these countries to strengthen trade exchange among them in addition to easing transportation network from the east to the west of the continent and vice versa. There are two positive dimensions to this railway line. One relates to the interests of OIC Member States and the other to the international benefit it will bring to the transportation of goods from the east of the continent to the Far East and from the west to the Americas. It will also facilitate trade from various parts of the continent to Europe in the North through the Gibraltar. It would equally provide a window to the sea for 4 countries, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger as well as land transportation for the inhabitants of the cities spread across the continent. Informed sources at the OIC said that the international dimension of the project provides an incentive for concerned countries to get involved in the huge development operation required by the project. The OIC had held the first meeting to discuss the project on 19 - 20 July 2008 at its headquarters in Jeddah. In light of the inability of some states to execute all the phases of the railway line, the OIC considered mobilizing Islamic and international efforts to complete the project which is expected to cost billions of dollars. Within 9 months from the first ministerial meeting on the railway line project, a donors' conference was held in Khartoum on December 10 last year which was attended by the OIC, the Islamic Development Bank and various other bodies from different parts of the world as well as 10 countries with delegations headed by ministers. In its Final CommuniquĂŠ, the meeting called on Member States, bodies and affiliated organizations as well as non-OIC Member States and foreign bodies to participate in future donor meetings and conferences on the project. Remarkably, part of the 10,100 km long railway line project is linked to old lines constructed during the colonial era. However there is an urgent need to build up to 6,000 km of rail line and renew the remnants of previously built lines in some African countries.

IDB hosts a meeting on achieving food security Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) hosted a two-day meeting on 'Achieving Food Security in Member Countries in Post-crisis World'. The Meeting was held on May 2-3, 2010 at the IDB Headquarters in Jeddah. Experts from international organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were present at the Meeting. Delegations from a number of member countries, such as Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Turkey also participated in the Expert Group Meeting. The Expert Group Meeting focused primarily on developing the resilience of food security systems in the face of soaring food prices and the new challenges of recovery from

global downturn, climate change and energy security. It was also crucial to set an agenda for capacity building in the agriculture sector and enhance strategic partnership to promote food security through fostering investment and trade flows among member countries. IDB Group President Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali said in his speech to the Meeting that agriculture represents the main sector for improving means of living in more than 70% of OIC Member States. However, the sector is considered far from food production level, especially in the poorest countries because a large share of the population depends on agriculture to earn their daily living, he added. Furthermore, he warned that food prices are expected to rise exponentially in the coming years, pointing that most IDB Member States have not achieved selfsufficiency in food and continues to import what they need. Dr. Ali also

said that a large group of investors from the Gulf countries began in fact taking steps to support investment in food security in Islamic countries known for their agricultural activity, but these steps are considered in the early stages for developing a comprehensive system in food security in the IDB member states. The final outcome and recommendations from the Meeting were later distributed as a background document to the Bank's Governors for further deliberation during the IDB Annual Meeting on 23-24 June 2010 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where it enabled the IBD Group to develop an action plan to further enhance food security in its member countries.

Agro-Industry in the OIC member countries The OIC Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries issued a report on agro-industry in the OIC member countries. It concluded that most of the efforts used to meet the demand for agricultural products mainly focus on technological improvements with little attention being given to the value chain through which agricultural products reach final consumers within the country and abroad. The magnitude of the damage caused by this neglect becomes obvious if one considers the enormous added value and employment opportunities that can be generated along the value chain from producers to consumers. The OIC region accounted for 24% of the world total land area and 22.45% of its total population in 2009. It also accounted for 28.59% of the world agricultural area on which 38% of its total population is employed in 2007. Yet, the average contribution to total GDP in the group of the OIC is less than 20%, which is an issue that needs urgent attention as agriculture is still considered as a primary economic activity that is assumed to play a significant role in the economies of many OIC MCs. The OIC region is an important supplier of many agricultural products that are within the top 20 on a

world scale. It is a main producer of 14 of the top agricultural products with production shares larger than 10%: Cassava (37.26%), Tomatoes (28.05%), Buffalo Milk (27.48%), Rice (19.96%), Wheat (18.32%), Watermelons (17.76%), Dry Onions (17.72%), Grapes (17.25%), Barley (13.67%), Bananas (12.22%), Cow Milk (11.70%), Sugar Beet (11.23%), Apples (11.01%), and Potatoes (10.84%). The lack of direct data on agroindustries is adjusted through analyzing the production quantities after subtracting the quantities of food. The resulting quantities, as defined by FAO, are those wasted and/or used as feed. The analysis has been applied to those top five product shares of the OIC region; Cassava (37.26%), Tomatoes (28.05%), Buffalo Milk (27.48%), Rice (19.96%), and Wheat (18.32%). The analysis has roughly considered the level of agroindustry through commenting on the level of feed & waste in this respect. Excluding Buffalo Milk (Food data is not available), the analysis reached a very critical outcome that urgently needs to be treated as a huge potential for agro-

industrial policies. More than 41 Million Metric Tons of Cassava is wasted and/or used for animal feeding in only 4 OIC Member Countries; Seven Million Metric Tons of Tomatoes in only 5 OIC MCs; Almost 30 Million Metric Tons of Rice in only 4 OIC MCs; Thirty three Million Metric Tons of Wheat in only 7 OIC MCs. The table below shows the summary analysis, which indicates the agro-industry potentials in the OIC MCs. The mentioned agricultural areas in the respected countries constitute a very promising future only if the relevant policy makers seriously consider the issue.

Economy

First meeting of stakeholders in Dakar-Port Sudan railway project

China, Russia express interest

the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org May - August 2010

Economy

IDB increases its subscribed capital The Board of Governors re-elects Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali as President Baku, Azerbaijan - The Islamic Development Bank's (IDB) Board of Governors closed its 35th Annual Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 23-24 June 2010, by issuing various important resolutions, among which are the increase of IDB's subscribed capital, from its current level of 16 billion Islamic Dinar (ID) to 18 billion ID, and the approval of the increase in the subscription of Nigeria in the IDB capital to reach ID 1.384 billion (the Islamic Dinar (ID) equals one unit of the IMF Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali Special Drawing Rights). Following that increase, Nigeria now has the right to appoint a permanent Executive Director in the Board of Executive Directors, subject to paying the first share of the announced subscription in IDB capital. This will immediately result in the increase of the number of Executive Directors from 16 to 18, of which, 9 are appointed representing the nine countries with the largest shares, and 9 are elected by virtue of the decision taken by the Board of Governors. The President of Azerbaijan H.E. Ilham Aliyev inaugurated at Gulustan Palace in Baku the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB. The meeting was attended by Finance, Development, Economic and Cooperation Ministers from IDB member countries, in addition to diplomatic corps, and many regional and international organizations. President Ilham Aliyev delivered a keynote speech stating that the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB in Azerbaijan is a very significant event for the country. “I am confident that this meeting will be successful, the outcome of the meeting will serve the strengthening of relations between the member countries of the bank. And at the same time, there will be an extensive exchange of views on the prospects of the bank," said the President. According to the President, the relations between Azerbaijan and IDB have developed rapidly and successfully, as testified by the data presented today. “For long years, we have got huge profits from this efficient cooperation, and the Islamic Development Bank has great merits in Azerbaijan's successful economic development. I am sure that these relationships will strengthen over the next years,” said President Ilham Aliyev. According to the President, the economic reforms will be continued to ensure full development of Azerbaijan. Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister and Chairman of the IDB's Board of Governors, also addressed the meeting. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB President, expressed his deepest thanks and gratitude to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev for gracing this meeting with his presence and for opening the 35th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of IDB. He also thanked the Government and people of Azerbaijan for hosting this meeting. Representatives of African, Asian and Arab Groups also addressed the Meeting and expressed their interest in furthering partnership relations with the IDB. In his message to the meeting, delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, the OIC Secretary Gen72

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eral Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called for concerted efforts on the part of decision-makers in OIC countries to assist in reversing the growing phenomenon of donors' fatigue by pooling their internal resources for the execution of the numerous development projects included in the OIC Ten Year Program of Action. Emphasizing on the growing need for multilateral funding of the various development projects, the Secretary General opined that such intra-OIC measures would encourage interPresident Aliyev (epa) national organizations and partners to adopt complementary actions in giving technical and financial support to OIC countries. The Secretary General acknowledged the fact that the financial endowments at the disposal of the Muslim Ummah were sufficiently robust to expand collective prosperity and generate the much-needed investments within the OIC community in such critical areas as alleviation of poverty, infrastructure development and the general promotion of the welfare of peoples in OIC countries. The Board of Governors decided to devote the equivalent of 5% of the Bank's net income expected for the current fiscal year (2010) to fund Technical Assistance Grants for the next fiscal year (2011), provided that the amount scheduled is not below $5 million. The Board equally decided to dedicate an equivalent of 2% of the Bank's net income expected for the current fiscal year (2010) to fund the Scholarship program for outstanding students, in the form of Grants offered by the Bank for the next fiscal year (2011), provided that the amount scheduled is not below $2 million. The next Board of Governors' meeting will be held in Sana'a, Yemen, at the invitation of the Government of Yemen. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali was re-elected for a new term extending to 2015 as President of the Islamic Development Bank. The IDB Group Annual Meetings also included the holding of the 17th Annual Meeting of ICIEC's Board of Governors, the 10th General Assembly of ICD, the 3rd annual meeting of ISFD Board of Governors, and the 5th ITFC General Assembly. Alongside the annual meeting of the Board of Governors, the Supreme Council of the Al-Aqsa and Al Quds Funds met under the Chairmanship of Karim Joudi, IDB Governor for Algeria. The Board examined the role played by the Al-Aqsa Fund in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, as well as the role of Arab funds in general, in the development of Palestine. The Board expressed its thanks to the Arab Summit held in Sirte, Libya, for their decision to increase their support to the Al-Aqsa and Al Quds Funds by an amount of $500 million, as a contribution to the resistance of the Palestinian people. The Board also extended its thanks to the Arab Funds and financial institutions that contributed in the resources of Al-Aqsa Fund and helped it carry out its role in meeting the urgent needs of the Palestinian people. The Board expressed special thanks to the Arab Funds that allocated an amount of $70 million for the development projects, when they last met in April 2010 in Khartoum, Sudan. Owing to

the difficult circumstances and the continual degradation of the situation and the living conditions of the inhabitants of Al-Quds, the Board appealed to the member countries to hasten remitting their contributions within the framework of a supplementary assistance that will allow the Fund to do its utmost in order to ensure the minimum level of health care, education and housing to the population of AlQuds. The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Funds confirmed that, in the framework of the assistance provided through these two entities, an overall amount of $766 million was disbursed for various development projects, which included the building of thousands of houses, roads, and schools, in addition to the installation of water and electrical networks. The assistance was also extended to provide health care and education to the main victims, as well as rehabilitate hospitals, reclaim agricultural lands, dig wells for irrigation, print millions of textbooks, award scholarships for students of both sexes to carry on their higher education, notwithstanding interest-free loans for small projects and a $780 million subsidy to consolidate the Palestinian National Authority budget. On the sidelines of this year's Annual Meeting, many important meetings and symposia were organized; such as the 21st IDB Symposium “Achieving food security in member countries in the post-crisis world”. The Symposium came up with a number of conclusions and recommendations, which will be implemented by the IDB Group and member countries. During the Annual Meeting, the IDB Prize in the field of Islamic banking for the year 2010 was awarded to Professor Rifat Ahmad Abdelkarim (Sudan) for his efforts in developing the concept of financial services and Islamic Finance. Three prizes were awarded in the field of sciences and technology to encourage excellence in research centers in the member countries. For 2010, the prizes were awarded to Isfahan Sciences and Technology City (Iran), the Chem-

ical Research Institute of the University of Karachi (Pakistan) and the School of Engineering of the Islamic University of Gaza. A cash prize of $100,000 is dedicated for each prize. The prize is awarded to the winning institution with a commemorating medal and a certificate. On the same occasion, IDB Prize for women's contributions to development at the individual and institutional levels was awarded. The individual prize was equally awarded to two winners: Zohra Kiali (Morocco) and Maz Hing (China), i.e. $25,000 for each winner. The prize for women's institutions and NGOs, amounting to $100,000 was divided among three institutions, namely: the Sierra Leone organization Haykal for its pioneering role in providing vanguard education and women's empowerment ($40,000); Brastor organization (Tajikistan) for its role in encouraging women's empowerment ($40,000), and the Women's Committee for Islamic Education in Bahrain for its initiatives in strengthening social values and capacities among women ($20,000). A forum was held on Partnership Strategy with the member countries with a view to furthering consultation and dialogue with member countries towards improving the synergy of the Bank with those countries, and thus adopting a strategic approach to streamline the priorities for member country development. The partnership strategy is expected to enhance cooperation, complementarity and exchange of experience among the member countries. This program is in line with the IDB Group strategy to realize the IDB Vision 1440H (2020). The Forum also reviewed the Turkish-Syrian pioneering experience on such cooperation and the possibility of duplicating this successful experience in other countries. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB Group President, described the decisions adopted by the Board as extremely important, highlighting that such decisions will surely help promote multifaceted cooperation between the member countries, in the service of the interests and ambitions of the Ummah.

IDB Board of Executive Directors meets in Azerbaijan, Approves more than $241 million for new projects The Board of Executive Directors (BED) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which held its 268th session in Baku, Azerbaijan on 27 June 2010 under the chairmanship of Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB President, approved US$ 241.4 million for new projects in favor of member countries and Muslim communities in nonmember countries. The Board's approvals included new development projects in member countries i.e., Burkina Faso, Chad, Iran, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and Regional Technical Assistance Grant for youth employment in the Arab World (Engaging the Private Education Sector). It also approved technical assistance Grants from Wagf Fund for projects for Muslim communities in Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Sweden and Netherlands, and took note of approvals made by the IDB President

during the past and previous sessions of the Board. A progress report on IDB partnership with member countries was reviewed during the meeting, including IDB consultation with member countries aiming at developing partnership agreements with each member country focusing on the country's top priorities. In the same vein, the Board commended the partnership agreement signed, recently between IDB and Turkey as a good model which can be replicated with other member countries. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali stated that the Board was informed on three Emergency Relief Assistance approved by the President to the tune of $3.4 million to participate in relief efforts to assist victims of floods in Tajikistan, ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan and food crisis in Niger.

He added that in line with the BED's keenness to bolster Islamic banking, it agreed to the IDB to exercise the preemptive right in the equity capital increase of the Kuwait Turkish Participation Bank (KTPB), headquartered in Turkey. “The Board reviewed many reports, including Status Report on subscription to the 4th General Capital Increase of the Bank, IDB Reform, and the implementation of Jeddah Declaration, which was issued by the IDB Board of Governors at its meeting in Jeddah in June 2008 under which the Bank slated $1.5 billion to assist the Least Developed Member Countries in confronting the international food crisis,” Dr. Ali said. The BED was convened on the sidelines of the 35th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB.

Economy

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Economy

Turkey and three Arab states to establish cooperation council Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey, Lebanon, But Davutoglu said Turkey was Jordan and Syria agreed on June 10, 2010 equally determined to boost economic to set up a free trade zone, complete with cooperation with the Arab world to the a visa-free travel regime for their nationhighest level possible. "We want a vehials, stated a joint declaration. cle to leave from Turkey and reach MoThe four countries will establish a rocco without stopping at any border cooperation council "to develop a longgates," he said. term strategic partnership" and "create a In a speech to delegates at the forum, zone of free movement of goods and perPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sons among our countries," it said. called the imposition of UN sanctions on The deal was agreed by the foreign Iran a "mistake" and said that Turkey ministers of the four countries who met and Brazil would continue to seek a dipon the sidelines of a Turkish-Arab Ecolomatic solution to remove concerns nomic Forum in Istanbul. over Iran's nuclear program. The free trade zone will be based on Turkey and Brazil, both non"existing bilateral agreements and pracpermanent members of the UN Security tices on free trade and visa exemption" Council, were the only members of the between the parties, the statement said, 15-member Council to vote against the Turkish Prime Minister adding that Turkey and Lebanon were reimposition of new sanctions against Erdogan speaks during the Turkish-Arab Ecoquired to complete a bilateral arrangeIran. Forum in Istanbul, ment before the four-way process could nomic The forum opened with calls for an on 10 June 2010 (epa). go ahead. international investigation into the May "The quadripartite mechanism ... will 31 Israeli commando raid on a Turkish be open to the participation of all the other brotherly and aid ship bound for Gaza that killed eight Turks and an friendly countries in the region," it said. American of Turkish origin. "Are we going to remain siThe free trade zone “is not an alternative to the EU,” lent over the murder of nine people? We can't turn a blind said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "Turkey eye to this banditry in international waters," Prime Minisis determined to become a full member of the European ter Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "This can't continue as it Union," he told reporters. is."

2nd Consultative Meeting of the OIC Institutions on Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade Casablanca, Morocco - Within the framework of the implementation of the OIC Ten Year Program of Action (TYPOA), particularly within the context of the 'Road Map for Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade', the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) organized the 2nd Consultative Meeting of the OIC Institutions to review the progress on the implementation of the 'Executive Program of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets'. Among the objectives of the TYPOA is to raise the share of intra-OIC trade in the total trade of the OIC Member States to 20% by 2015. The Meeting was held at the ICDT Headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco on 31st May and 1st June 2010. The Meeting was attended by the representatives of the following OIC Institutions: the General Secretariat of the OIC, the COMCEC Coordination Office, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Investments and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). The Meeting was also attended by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, the Ministry of Finance of Kuwait, and the Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation. The Meeting aimed to review the progress in the im74

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plementation of activities and projects assigned to various OIC institutions to facilitate the implementation of the Road Map for Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade. During the deliberations, the participants analyzed and evaluated the implementation of the activities and projects of the OIC Institutions under the following five themes: Trade Financing, Trade Facilitation, Trade Promotion, Development of Strategic Commodities and Capacity Building. The representatives of the OIC institutions also presented their respective reports and briefed the Meeting about their completed activities and their planned activities scheduled to be implemented during the remaining five years of the OIC Ten Year Program of Action, till 2015. The ICDT also presented the outcome of a study titled 'The Guiding Principles and Foundations for Cooperation between the OIC Institutions active in the field of Economic and Commercial Cooperation'. The Meeting elaborated on this study in detail and adopted a set of recommendations unanimously. In this context, the Meeting also agreed to launch a new wave of joint activities based on integrated sector based program approach focused on targeted products and countries. The Meeting also decided to rename the OIC Consultative Meeting as 'Consultative Group for enhancing Intra-OIC Trade'. The Meeting also prepared the new updated version of the 'Executive Program of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets', which contains the activities and projects to be carried out by the OIC institutions for the period 2011-2015.

Dakar hosts the 1st Constr uction and Real Estate Exhibition of OIC Member-Countries

Dakar, Senegal - The capital of Senegal Dakar hosted on 24 June 2010, the first construction and real estate exhibition of member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The four-day event aimed at promoting trade and partnership in the sector. The event was a meeting point for promotion and exchange in the sector of construction, real estate, construction industry professionals and companies, architects, and authorities in charge of promoting the sector. The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Oumar Sarr, Minister of State and Minister of Housing and Construction of Senegal, and Amadou Niang, Minister of Commerce of Senegal, in the presence of Gakou Salamata Gassama, Minister of Housing, Construction and Land Matters of Mali, Allal Rachidi, Director General of ICDT, Baïdy Souleymane Ndiaye, Director General of CICES, Ambassadors accredited to Senegal, construction industry professionals and numerous guests. Following the welcoming address by Baïdy Souley-

mane Ndiaye, Director General of CICES, Allal Rachidi, Director General of ICDT gave an address in which he emphasized that the exhibition has a 'double-objective'. The first one is to promote intra-OIC trade in the sector of construction in order to increase exchanges at about $40 billion or even higher by the year 2015. The second objective is to create a platform of partnership on a highly bearing sector for intra-OIC investment. This view was shared by Amadou Niang, Minister of Commerce, who stated that despite the 2008 financial crisis, the construction industry sector in Senegal has maintained 'its dynamism', and achieved 10% growth. According to him, the exhibition should also help in achieving the objective of realizing a 20% level in intra-OIC trade exchanges by the year 2015. All speakers underlined the strong commitment of Maître Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal and Chairman of the OIC Summit, to the joint Islamic action since the success of the 11th OIC Summit held in Dakar in March 2008. They also emphasized the significant efforts of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of OIC, for his tireless efforts which he has always made in order to upgrade OIC's image within the concert of nations. Around twenty OIC member-countries participated in the exhibition with about sixty companies exhibiting their products and services. Daily conferences were held on the sidelines of the exhibition and during which participants talked about their experience and the situation in the sector of construction and real estate in their countries. Business to business meetings were also held everyday between business persons in the sector. Organizers agreed to hold the second edition of the exhibition in March 2012 in Dakar.

500 companies from 24 countries participate in the 15th International Food, Hotel, Propac Arabia Exhibition Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Saudi Company 'Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Limited' in Jeddah organized, under the auspices of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture, the 15th International Food/ Hotel/ PROPAC Arabia from 16th to 19th May 2010, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. The Exhibition is considered a window by many countries represented by national pavilions and enterprises and corporations, which have displayed the latest technical inventions in various agribusiness sectors. It is also regarded as an excellent opportunity to make known the products and expertise of these countries in this field, to conclude deals, boost investments as well as joint ventures. It indubitably contributes to enhancing the level of intra-OIC trade and economic cooperation, and strengthen complementarity among the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in this vital sector as well. Mahmood bin Saeed Ahmed, Director General for Agriculture Affairs, Makkah Region, inaugurated the 15th

International Food, Hotel, Propac Arabia (FHP Arabia) show, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture. Speaking to the press, Ahmed expressed his high appreciation of the qualitative leap he noted at the level of the products of the agribusiness industries of participating countries. It has indeed provided a real opportunity for buyers and sellers and a platform for businessmen to conclude deals and enter into partnerships. A total of 24 OIC member and non-member countries, with 11 having national pavilions, and 500 companies participated in the expo, which was held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture and enjoyed the support of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). On the sidelines of this show, two events took place, namely the 'Top Chef Arabia Contest' and the 'Art Table Competition' organized by the Saudi Arabian Chef Association in which the best chefs displayed their culinary skills and best table display. 75

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Dakar hosts the 1st Constr uction and Real Estate Exhibition of OIC Member-Countries

Economy

G20 leaders pledge to cut budget deficits in half

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressing theG20 Summit (epa)

Saudi King Abdullah and US President Obama speak to the media after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC, USA, on June 29, 2010 (epa).

Representative Office for ICIEC opens in Dubai Dubai, UAE - Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and IDB Governor for the United Arab Emirates, the representative office of the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) was inaugurated on 31 May 2010 in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). ICIEC is a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB). The ceremony was attended by Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); Younis Haji Al Khoori, Director General and Ministry of Finance; Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of the IDB Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ICIEC; Dr. Abdel Rahman El-Tayeb Taha, the CEO of ICIEC; and a great number of government officials, businessmen and bankers operating in the UAE. The objective of the representative office is to enable

ICIEC promote and offer its services which include the insurance of export credit, foreign investment for companies, banks and businessmen, as well as provision of reinsurance services to the Export Credit Insurance Company of the Emirates. It will also provide ICIEC services to neighboring countries, making use of the strategic location of Dubai as an international financial centre. The ICIEC office is now registered at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). “Taking into consideration the high levels of growth in Islamic countries and the fact that many conventional banks and financial institutions have started providing Islamic financial solutions, it is expected that Islamic Finance will achieve higher levels of growth in the years to come. In this context, we are pleased to welcome the opening of a representative office for the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) here in DIFC,” Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer said.

IDB launches an Online Database Information System Toronto, Canada - World leaders lined up behind a bold pledge by rich nations to cut budget deficits in half by 2013, despite concerns that cutting stimulus spending too quickly could hurt the global recovery. Meanwhile, the G8 summit, also held in Canada on June 25-26, wrapped up with a call to do more in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, reduce carbon emissions and ensure energy security. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, host of a summit of the world's 20 top industrial and developing nations on June 27-28, said that it's “imperative that we get our fiscal house in order.” The deficit-cutting goal would mean cutting the red ink in half within three years and getting the total debt stabilized by 2016. Leaders of the G20 nations agreed to have a “differentiated response” to the economic and financial crisis the world is facing today. Accepting a compromise on post-recession economic policy, the G20 leaders agreed to aggressive deficit-cutting targets, yet allowed the respective countries to pursue their own approach in meeting their national objectives. This was an apparent trade-off between US President Barack Obama, who favored continued economic stimulus spending to head off a double-dip recession, and the European leaders led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wanted G20 countries to move swiftly to reduce debts run up during the 2008-09 economic slowdowns. “Advanced economies have committed to fiscal plans that will at least halve deficits by 2013 and stabilize or reduce government debt-to-GDP ratios by 2016,” read the G20 communiqué. The leaders also agreed to support economic growth policies and recognized that some countries will start cutting their budget deficits later than others. “We are committed to taking concerted actions to sustain the recovery, create jobs and to achieve stronger, more sustainable and more balanced growth,” the communiqué said. “These (actions) will be differentiated and tailored to national circumstances.” The G20 has also concluded it will be left up to individual countries to decide whether they want to impose a bank tax or establish some kind of a rainy day fund to offset another financial collapse that sparked the worldwide recession. The final communiqué, while commenting on the issue of energy subsidies, emphasized the need to phase them out over time “based on national circumstances” and “taking into account vulnerable groups and their development 76

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needs.” The leaders also called on the world's emerging economies to allow their currencies to float more freely, so as to balance world trade. With heads of state and government from 20 developed and developing nations gathered around a large round table at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, the summit's host, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, laid out the challenge that confronted them, urging them to take decisive action on mounting national debts and warning that failure to act could derail a fragile recovery. He underlined the need to strike a proper balance between sustaining economic growth and pulling back fiscal deficits. “The recent skittishness of markets is telling us they are awaiting our actions, actions that must be decisive but also coordinated and balanced,” Harper said. “Here is the tightrope that we must walk, to sustain recovery it is imperative that we follow through on our existing stimulus plans,” he added. Addressing the G20 summit, the Saudi leader, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abduaziz, called upon consumer countries to establish effective financial and commodity markets to avoid fluctuations in oil prices. “The fluctuation in oil prices which the world witnessed in 2008 and 2009, caused damage to the producing as well as consuming countries,” he said. He also asked consuming countries to cooperate with the producing countries in order to ensure market stability and the flow of investments required for energy production. “It is important to enhance the capabilities of poor countries' access to energy through the adoption of policies and practical programs to implement the initiative of energy for the poor,” he said. King Abdullah met with President Obama at the G20 summit in Canada before going to Washington to talk oneon-one about Palestine and Iran. US President Barack Obama said that he and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah have agreed on the need to press for Middle East peace in a “significant and bold way,” including the creation of a Palestinian homeland. The two leaders briefly addressed reporters after finishing a private meeting and lunch. Obama said he and the King covered Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran's nuclear program and efforts to combat extremism. The President praised what he called a strong, strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is a key player in the Middle East.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, have launched an online database information system targeting Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions worldwide. The system, named IBIS (www.ibisonline.net), is to become a leading provider of information and knowledge to academic, research and industry professionals as a tool to increase awareness, develop products of Islamic banking and finance and

provide assistance in research studies. IBIS contains comprehensive information on Islamic banks, Takaful companies, and Islamic funds. Data is systematically collected from their main sources and information providers for a time period beginning from 1990. Users are able to search and analyze financial institutions online, and produce customized reports and download data. Types of downloadable data include raw financial state-

African private sector recognizes the potentials of SPDA Yaoundé, Cameroon - More than 150 participants, including the Ministers in charge of Economic Development and leaders of the private sector from Central, Eastern and Southern Africa sub-region, as well as representatives of the regional and international development partners attended the Second Edition of the Ministerial Forum on the Implementation of the Special Program for the Development of Africa (SPDA), which was held in Cameroon on 8-9 June 2010. The Forum was jointly organized by the OIC and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with the Government of Cameroon to sensitize decision-makers and private sector operators on the investment and financing opportunities of the SPDA. In his message to the Forum, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu underscored the immense potentials of SPDA aimed at alleviating the pervasive phenomenon of poverty and mitigating the constraints of low agricultural and industrial outputs as well as food insecurity in the

least developed countries of the Organization. He also explained that SPDA envisages huge investments in development projects, with emphasis on the development of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises and the expansion of the role of the women and children, who constitute majority of the vulnerable groups. In his speech before the Forum, the President of IDB Group, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, enumerated the four pillars on which the SPDA's pro-poor strategy was based, namely: poverty alleviation; human and infrastructure development; regional integration and development of the Private Sector. Among the far-reaching recommendations of the Forum is the consolidation of relations between OIC/ IDB on the one hand, and CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States)/CEEAC (Economic Community of Central African States) and their specialized organs on the other hand.

ments, 81 analyzed data items, and financial ratios per bank, rating and ownership information. Users are able to view scanned copies of annual reports and financial statements published by the issuing institution. It includes a Shari'ah Databank comprising all published Fiqh opinions of distinguished Shari'ah scholars on Islamic banking and finance, a glossary of Islamic economic terms, an encyclopedia on “Islamic Financial Products in Fiqh”.

First General Assembly of SMIIC Ankara, Turkey - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, hailed the entering into force of the Statute of Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC). In his statement before the 1st General Assembly meeting of the SMIIC, which took off at the Turkish Standards Institute in Ankara on August 2, 2010, the Secretary General of the OIC expressed his conviction that the establishment of SMIIC has the potential of further increasing the volume and quality of trade exchanges between OIC Countries. He also stated that action of SMIIC would contribute to efforts towards poverty alleviation, resource utilization and capacity building among the OIC Member Countries. Ihsanoglu called for SMIIC to proceed with urgent actions to promote economic cooperation and free trade through harmonization of standards and the establishment of common accreditation and certification mechanism, which will facilitate exchange of goods and services among the OIC Member States. 77

Economy

G20 leaders pledge to cut budget deficits in half

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressing theG20 Summit (epa)

Saudi King Abdullah and US President Obama speak to the media after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC, USA, on June 29, 2010 (epa).

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Book Review

Country Profile

THE ISLAMIC WORLD IN THE NEW CENTURY: The Organization of the Islamic Conference, 1969-2009 By Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (London: Hurst & Company 2010, 326 pgs.) Reviewed by Maha Akeel This book answers the question: what has the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) done in the past forty years of its existence? It courageously addresses some existential questions of its relevance and place in today's complicated, interconnected and multi-clustered world. Written from an insider's standpoint, it is a fairly objective recount of the Organization's successes and failures with much self-evaluation and criticism. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is the current secretary general of the OIC since 2005. He is the ninth, and first democratically elected, secretary general of the OIC, but his association with the OIC goes back to 1980 when he took office as founding director general of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), one of the OIC subsidiary organs. The book is a very informative and useful study of the history of the OIC within the context of the history of the Islamic world and international events during the past forty years. It provides a clear perspective on the OIC as an organization, what it stands for, its role and objectives, and how it came into existence and why. However, it is not just simply a historical narrative of events, but more importantly an in-depth analysis of the background and circumstances that prompted its creation and influenced its function. In that, the book is valuable in its honest evaluation of the OIC in terms of meeting objectives and expectations by admitting to its weaknesses and shortcomings, particularly with regards to inadequate financial and human resources as well as political will and support from the member states. The book falls in nine chapters, in addition to an annex of statistical indicators of the OIC member countries and appendices of important documents such as the Ten Year Program of Action, the new OIC Charter, Makkah Declaration on the Iraqi Situation and selected speeches of the secretary general. The first chapter sheds light on the period following the abolition in 1924 of the last Caliphate, an institution under which many Muslims had lived for centuries as a united entity, nurtured and comforted by the feeling of belonging to one nation, the Muslim Ummah. Muslim world leaders had made several calls and taken several initiatives to convene Islamic fora to revive that concept of Islamic unity and solidarity in the contemporary world. However, it was not until 1969, when an arson attack by a fanatical Australian Jew caused extensive damage to Islam's third holiest sanctuary, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, that steps to form a representative of the Muslim world became more urgent. 78

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Thus, the OIC was established as the first intergovernmental Islamic organization of the modern era. Ihsanoglu takes great care in clarifying the position and weight of religion as a frame of reference, drawing the line between religion and politics. He states that Islam provides a source of likeness amongst the OIC Member States, which came together in an organization based on the participation of sovereign states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thus it is the nation state that is the principle unit in this organization,â&#x20AC;? writes Ihsanoglu. Chapter 2 details the formative years of the OIC and its subsequent expansion and development in terms of membership from 25 to 57 countries and the establishment of standing committees, subsidiary, specialized and affiliated institutions, which were created to meet the various objectives and mandates of the OIC in different fields including the political, economic, cultural and scientific. The third and fourth chapters are very interesting as they chronicle and explain the reform and restructuring process of the OIC, which is the primary theme of the book, from its early attempts culminating into the historic milestone achievement of the Third Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Makkah in 2005, which heralded a new era for the OIC by launching the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) and was further endorsed by the adoption of a new charter at the Eleventh Islamic Summit in Dakar in 2008. Thus, the principle mission that the OIC assumes today is to achieve modernization and moderation in the Muslim world shaped by the guiding concept and vision of the TYPOA and motivated by the motto 'Solidarity in Action'. The following chapters delve into the various activities of the OIC undertaken in fulfillment of its role which were expanded on, reframed or added based on the new charter and TYPOA. Hence, the book documents OIC action with regard to some political causes of the Muslim world, particularly Palestine, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Jammu and Kashmir, Iraq and Somalia, as part of its role in promoting peace and resolving conflicts, which also includes addressing issues of Muslim minorities and communities in different parts of the world. It also highlights the new challenges and aspirations tackled by the OIC such as Islamophobia, post-disaster humanitarian relief, reinvigorating science, technology and innovation, attaining better economic and commercial cooperation among the member states and strengthening socio-economic development. Ihsanoglu argues that representative government, free speech and equal rights for all citizens are critical for Muslim societies, and as OIC is the voice of the Muslim world, he envisions the need to reform the OIC as a necessary step towards renewing the Muslim world. This book points to the achievements of the past five years in reaching that goal and the yet to be achieved.

Kyrgyzstan Full Name: Kyrgyz Republic Capital: Bishkek Population: 5,309,000 Area: 199,900 km2 Official Language: Kyrgyz (State), Russian (Official) Major Religion: Islam Monetary Unit: Sum Geography Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian "mountain paradise" and a country nestled between Fergana valley of Uzbekistan, steppe lands of Kazakhstan, severe highlands of Tajikistan, and scarcely populated and arid plains of West China (Xin Jiang). Two most great mountain systems stretch out across the whole territory of Kyrgyzstan: TianShan and Pamir, with world-high class peaks like Peak Pobeda (7439 m), Peak Lenin (7134 m) and just next to the Peak Pobeda, most beautiful pyramidal Peak KhanTengri (6995 m). Due to its majestic mountains and pleasant continental climate, Kyrgyzstan has a right to boast its largest glaciers, enormous and extensive high-altitude snow fields, impetuous rivers rapidly rushing down valleys, turquoise crystal-clear high-mountain lakes, charming motley-grass alpine meadows and rich diversity of flora and fauna. The Kyrgyz Republic possesses enormous reserves of fresh water. Three main rivers of the country are: Naryn (nearly 535 km long), Chu (221 km) and Chatkal (205 km). Kyrgyzstan has hot summer, rather cold winter (particularly up in the mountains), greater contrasting seasonal and daily temperatures and very uneven distribution of atmospheric precipitations. Kyrgyzstan is a multinational, unitary state. Administratively, it is subdivided to seven provinces: Batken, Zhalal-Abat, Naryn, Osh, Talas, Chuy and Issyk-Kul provinces. The Kyrgyz people represent the title nation of the Kyrgyz Republic, which is one of the most ancient people in the world. The first written evidence of the Kyrgyz people as a nation is found in Chinese chronicles dated as far back as 2,000 BC. The million-population-big city and the country's capital city, Bishkek, is located in close proximity to the northern foothills of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range in the central part of the fertile Chuy Valley at the altitude of 700m - 900m above sea level. Bishkek was founded in 1825 by the Kokand Khan as a fortress that acquired a name of a nearby Kyrgyz village (ayil), and since 1991 the city got back to its historical name of Bishkek.

Economy and Tourism Agriculture is an important sector of the economy in Kyrgyzstan. By early 1990s, the private agricultural sector provided between one-third and one-half of some harvests. In 2002, agriculture accounted for 35.6% of GDP and about half of employment. The mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan accommodates livestock raising, the largest agricultural activity, so the resulting wool, meat and dairy products are major commodities. Main crops produced include wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, cotton, tobacco, vegetables and fruits. Agricultural processing is a key component of the industrial economy as well as one of the most attractive sectors for foreign investment. Kyrgyzstan has many touristic attractions. Some of the most popular locations for camping are southern Osh, the area between Naryn City and the Torugart pass, and the mountains and glaciers surrounding Karakol in Issyk-Kul. Local guides and porters can be hired from many different tour companies in Bishkek and in the oblast capitals.

Book Review

Country Profile

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Our Message

Viewpoint

OIC mid-term review of its Ten-Year Program of Action: Increased ownership and financing of projects under focus

Amb. Nabika Diallo, Advisor in the cabinet of the Secretary General

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Preparing the OIC for humanitarian challenges in the Muslim world

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