About OIC The year 2005 is considered a turning point in the history of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (formerly the Organization of Islamic Conference) when it launched its reform process. That year witnessed the holding of the Third Extraordinary Islamic Summit at the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on 7-8 December, which adopted the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. As a result of the continued developments experienced in the Islamic Ummah, it had become clear the need for a new headquarters suitable for the OIC, the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. Saudi Arabia, the host country, gave great care and attention to this matter and decided to build a new permanent Headquarters for the OIC. During the historic Makkah Summit in 2005, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud unveiled the cornerstone of the new OIC Headquarters. Soon after, the OIC General Secretariat announced an international architectural design competition for its new headquarters. More than one hundred participants from around the world submitted their
designs. On 17 May 2006, the jury announced the outcome of the competition, selecting the design submitted by Bramberger (architect) & Thomas Pucher of Austria. When the design was presented to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques he expressed his admiration and gave his generous approval of the project for immediate implementation. In line with this gracious patronage, the Saudi Government allocated a 40,000sm plot of land in Qasr Khuzam district in Jeddah as the location for the Headquarters. The Austrian architecture team completed the final plans in July 2009; and the Saudi Ministry of Finance presented the detailed plans, estimated budget and design model to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques who gave his approval. The OIC Headquarters will be an international landmark in the skyline of Jeddah and a beacon for joint Islamic action, Muslim culture and its rich heritage. It will also provide a wonderful site for an international prominent institution. The design incorporates and entwines traditional Islamic architecture with modern necessities.
Main entrance hall
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (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. Originally named The Organization of the Islamic Conference, it 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 new 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 25 to 57 states. In 2011 in Astana, Khazakhstan, the 38th Council of Foreign Ministers endorsed changing the emblem and name to Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 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
Conference hall
Cornerstone of the Headquarters
OUR MESSAGE
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu OIC Secretary General
Sectarian strife…a road to the abyss Reports of the bloodshed and terrorism as a consequence of sectarian strife across parts of the Muslim world are utterly shocking, painful and alarming. The risks of drifting into the abyss of sectarian strife and sedition as a result of politically motivated parties using religion to further their selfish agendas are glaringly obvious. We should not stand idly by watching while fear, suspicion, divisions, social disintegration, terrorist acts and civil war erupt here and there even in countries that never witnessed such sectarian conflicts. Leaders of the Muslim Ummah are obligated to take a united and firm stand against those who fuel hatred and incite violence. The multiplicity of schools of thought in Islam is an irrefutable historical fact demonstrating the richness and diversity of Islamic thought. Over centuries, there has never been such conflict among the followers of these schools in the Islamic world as is the case today. We should be aware, above all, that diversity is mercy for the Ummah and should not be at all a source of dispute and rift. It is heart wrenching to see what is happening in Iraq of killing and destruction, especially after the success OIC achieved in bringing reconciliation among the warring sects in 2006 with the signing of the Makkah Declaration. It is time to revive the principles agreed to in that Declaration and bring peace back to Iraq. The consequences of these sectarian animosities seen in various Muslim countries would be felt for many years in the psyche of the people, the social fabric of the community, and the political integration of the country. Today, these countries that are suffering from sectarian violence are burdened with political instability and economic stagnation. In some cases, it is feared that it could lead to the breaking up of the country based on sectarian lines. That is a horrible prospect to fathom and agonizing to accept. Before it is too late, I call upon the political leaders, religious scholars, leaders of thought and opinion, media practitioners, and all Muslims to stand united in the face of this current that drifts us to the moors of side battles in which there will be no winner. We need to have a clear and loud message to counter the destructive narrative of sectarianism. Initiatives encouraging dialogue among the Islamic schools of thought should be endorsed and implemented at all levels of society. Security measures against the sponsors, instigators and perpetrators of violence should be strong and unyielding. More importantly, the problem of using religious diversity as justification for political ambition at the expense of human lives and state sovereignty and territorial integrity should be addressed. The line between religion and politics must be respected. It is a long battle of will, ideas and means.
OIC Journal
A WORD
Issued by The Organization of Islamic Cooperation Editor - in - Chief Isam Salim Shanti General Supervisor & Managing Editor Maha Mostafa Akeel Editors Ahmed Salem Abdelhamid Salhi
by Maha M. Akeel
Incitement to violence and
Layout & Design Mohammed Abdelqader Qalaba Advisory Board Ali Abolhassani Shahreza Hasan Oker Gurler Address: Madinah Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah-21411 Saudi Arabia Tel: 6515222 Fax: 6512288 Telx.: 601366 Islami SJ. Website: www.oic-oci.org For comments, enquiries 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
Journal do not necessarily represent the views of the OIC, but are the personal of
the
authors
OIC
reserves
themselves. the
Freedom of expression is not an absolute freedom, according to the European Convention for Human Rights. It is subject to certain restrictions and interferences by the state provided that this is done in strictly defined cases and only when the threshold is crossed; that threshold is using freedom of expression to commit or incite a crime. The European Court of Human Rights protects all forms of speech even those that are shocking, disturbing and offensive, as long as they do not cross the threshold. Those who are shocked, disturbed or offended may use the same rights and freedoms to express their views, as long as they too do not cross the threshold.
In addition to the burden of monitoring every hate-filled and racist blog, tweet, Facebook page, underground group, etc., this brings us to another delicate matter, proving in court the intent to commit or to incite violence.
authors of the articles published in OIC
However,
There is a very thin line between incitement to cause terrorism and freedom of expression. This was underlined in the workshop held at the OIC with the United Nations Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
However, if there is something criminal in those expressions, the speaker must bear the consequences, including being put under surveillance and interrogated.
The views expressed by the writers/
views
stopping the violence being incited
right/
discretion to amend, revise, edit, delete or scrutinize any part or portion of the text as and wherever deemed necessary.
On the other hand, these distasteful and objectionable utterances can act as alarm bells of what ails the society, and might give a chance to authorities, the media and civil society to provide counter narratives and intercommunity dialogue. The real challenge is anticipating and preventing acts by self-radicalized individuals, which is an increasing trend around the world.
World Affairs Ihsanoglu calls on International Donors to Contribute to Darfur Development Bank OIC Secretary General underlined his enduring support for Kosovo
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Inauguration of OIC Mission to the European Union in Brussels
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Workshop on combating terrorism held at OIC in cooperation with UN
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Culture Tripoli: 2013 Islamic Culture Capital for the Arab Region
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Health Sixth OIC Steering Committee on Health
Two Ministerial Meetings for Supporting Al Quds and Palestine State
4 OIC calls for investigating violations of human rights in Myanmar
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Economy Islamic Development Bank triples authorized capital to US $150 billion
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Experts group finalizes the Draft Statute of the OIC Institution for Food Security
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Labor Ministers adopt Framework for Cooperation on Labor, Employment and Social Protection
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OIC Related Links
OIC Calendar: August – October 2013
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 Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf (ISF) www.isf-fsi.org
28- 30 Aug.: 18th Meeting of the Committee on Coordination of Joint
Specialized Institutions and Organs The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) www.isdb.org International Islamic News Agency (IINA) www.islamicnews.org.sa The Islamic States Broadcasting Organization (ISBO) www.isboo.org The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat (ISESCO)www.isesco.org.ma 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
Islamic Action – Tehran, Iran. 4- 6 Sept.: 3rd Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies – Istanbul Turkey. 5- 6 Sept.: Training Program for Officials in charge of Information Sector in the Member Institutions of the Committee on Coordination of Joint Islamic Action in the field of Dawa – Cairo, Egypt. 9 -11 Sept.: Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) Preparatory to the 40th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 10- 11 Oct.: 4th Islamic Conference of Ministers in Charge of Childhood – Baku, Azerbaijan. 21 Oct.: 7th Part-I Meeting of the Steering Committee on Health – Jakarta, Indonesia. 22- 24 Oct.: 4th Islamic Conference of Health Ministers – Jakarta, Indonesia. 24 Oct.: 7th Part-II Meeting of the Steering Committee on Health – Jakarta, Indonesia. 28 -30 Oct.: 15th Private Sector Meeting – Tehran, Iran. 28 Oct.-1 Nov.: 14th Islamic Trade Fair – Tehran, Iran.
IN FOCUS
Endorsing Financial Support for the
Wajdi Sindi Baku, Azerbaijan - Nothing on earth equates one’s dignity, respect for one’s history, and protection of one’s sanctities. Proceeding from this premise, the leaders and dignitaries of the OIC Member States engaged in a profound consideration of ways to protect the Muslims’ first qiblah – The City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif – and to consolidate the Palestinian human element there, in a way that would counter the Israeli occupation’s illegitimate practices against the Palestinian land and people and against the Islamic and Christian historic sites in the Holy City of al-Quds. During a long working day at the Azeri capital, on June 11, 2013, the OIC Member States’ ministers of foreign affairs sounded the alarm bell and announced the launch of practical action in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians in the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) and for the protection of its heritage and sanctities, the consolidation of its inhabitants steadfastness and the defense of the City’s Arabo-Islamic 4
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identity. This action came in the form of a donor conference to finance a developmental strategy for the city of Al-Quds AlSharif, as adopted by the 2012 Makkah Extraordinary Summit, and in implementation of the resolution issued by the Twelfth session of the Islamic Summit Conference held in Cairo in February 2013. The convening of the donor conference for the development of Al-Quds, together with the conference on establishing an Islamic financial safety net in support of Palestine, represent a first step on the right path in support of the resistant Palestinian people, particularly in the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and an encouragement for them to persist in their steadfast attachment to their homeland. The OIC Foreign Ministers affirmed in the Baku Declaration that the strategic developmental plan for the vital sectors in Al-Quds, which sets the priorities on urgent requirements, represents a reference for the mobilization of resources and implementation of projects there. They also committed to
Development of Al-Quds and Palestine
Adoption of a strategic plan to develop 12 vital sectors in Al-Quds at a cost of $500 million
finance the plan and contribute to the constructions of social projects and adequate infrastructure, pledging to start action on these commitments as soon as possible in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat and in close coordination with the State of Palestine. The Baku Conference opens the way for the OIC to take additional measures to provide the necessary financial support for the implementation of developmental projects in Al-Quds and for the extension of support to the State of Palestine. The ministers have indeed asserted their commitment to work with the relevant international bodies in favor of supporting the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif. The ministers called upon the international community to take every necessary measure to compel Israel, the occupying power, to put an end to its chronic exactions in withholding the tax collections and customs revenues due to the Palestinian people, imposing a siege on the Palestinian towns and forcing constraints on their trade exchange with the outside world, all of which constitute a glaring violation of international law, in addition to being a tangible form of collective punishment against the Palestinian people. In his address to the donor conference in support of the City of al-Quds al-Sharif, the OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsnaoglu urged the Member States and the donor financial institutions and funds in the Islamic world to mobilize the required financial resources for the implementation of the strategic plan to develop the Holy City, which encompasses 12 vital sectors, at an overall cost of $499.16 million, in implementation of the Islamic Summit Conference held in Cairo in February 2013. Ihsanoglu recalled that the issue of Al-Quds Al-Sharif was the main catalyst for the inception of the OIC, over four decades ago, and stressed again that the City of al-Quds remains the foremost cause for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Secretary General further added that the past few years have witnessed the success of joint Islamic action at the level of international fora, as illustrated by Palestine’s access to UNESCO’s full membership and to an observer status within the fold of the UN. However, he warned at the same time, that despite the key role played by the OIC in the international political arena, the protection of the Holy City remains an issue that demands special efforts. The Secretary General laid particular stress on the need to support the educational sector in Al-Quds, which is facing a critical deficit in terms of financial resources, with over ten thousand Palestinian school children in the occupied Eastern Jerusalem being incapable of attending school, and with the health sector faring no better, as hospitals and social clinics are faced with acute shortages in equipment and resources and are therefore unable to provide the required health services to the Palestinian citizens. Ihsanoglu added that the housing sector has become the target of many Israeli constraints aimed at creating a demographic Jewish outnumbering in Al-Quds. 5
OPINION OIC Media Forum (OMF) Is a Reality Now: Bringing Muslim Media Together Dr. Isam Salim Shanti Chief Editor
The OIC Media Forum (OMF) held its Preparatory Meeting in Ankara, Turkey on 24- 25 June 2013 to adopt its Draft Statute. The meeting also recommended for obtaining an affiliated status for the OMF at the 40th Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Guinea for final approval. The Organs of the OMF will comprise: the General Assembly, the Executive Board, and the Secretariat. It was agreed in Ankara Meeting that the OMF shall enjoy the status of fully-fledged legal entity as an international organization, using its full legal capacity to exercise its functions and fulfill its objectives. This newly established media institution was first officially approved during the Ninth Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM), held in Libreville, Gabonese Republic, from 19 to 20 April 2012, with the aim to enable the Muslim world to present its views on world developments, to stress the importance of media coordination among media institutions in Member States, to unite journalists and other media specialists under one umbrella and foster communication among them, and to strengthen cooperation and partnership with the International Federations of Journalists. The Headquarter of the Forum shall be located in Istanbul, Turkey. The host country shall provide all necessary facilities for its smooth functioning including providing premises, equipments and necessary benefits, concessions, diplomatic immunities and privileges similar to those granted to subsidiary and specialized organs framed in the Article 34 of Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation which should be determined by bilateral agreement between the OMF and the hosting state. The drafted charter of the OMF chiefly calls for promoting common civilization values, belonging to common ethnic and cultural identity, affiliation with the common region, consisting of Member States of the OIC constitute significant opportunities for development of media and communication expertise in the Muslim World within the broad framework of political economic, social and cultural development. 6
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The OMF reaffirms the commitment to the principles of the OIC Charter, universal human rights and necessity of dialogue among civilizations, which provide the basic grounds for the cooperation among the media members and institutions of the OIC countries and their counterparts worldwide. In addition, the OMF acknowledges the important role of the classical and social media movement, which plays in the development of OIC countries, is determined to consolidate the cooperation among media institutions of the OIC countries, to cooperate in developing OIC societies, and advancing great values of Islamic civilization resting inter alia on the principles of justice, tolerance and non-discrimination, at the international level. The drafted charter of the OMF determined the following clear set of objectives. First, the OMF will contribute to the strategic role of OIC in the world affairs. Second, it will promote international public understanding and awareness of noble Islamic values, true image of Islam and Muslims in line with the Paragraph 12 of Article 1 of the OIC Charter. Third, the OMF will promote equality of access to reliable public information worldwide and encourage the highest standards of journalism that emphasizes accuracy, balance, fairness, and accountability. Fourth, the OMF will become a focal point capable of ensuring greater exchange of news and information among media members around the world and sharing of similarities and differences in social, cultural, political and media experiences. Fifth, the OMF will analyze the current state of the member states’ media and its development, and facilitate the professional improvement. Sixth, with the aim capacity improvement of the Islamic media, the OMF will discuss the current issues affecting the development of the member states’ media market by providing a platform of discussion on the role and position of the OIC in the global development and peace building processes; and by creating opportunities for building new partnerships and developing innovative cooperation models. Seventh, the OMF will strengthen Muslim media with the purpose of reaching the goals of the right to know, right to access to information and freedom of expression by the respecting human dignity and human rights in accordance with the Paragraph 12 of Article 1 of the OIC Charter. Finally, it will undertake an active role in combating Islamophobia, racism, and discrimination against Muslim communities and minorities in line with the Paragraph 16 of Article 1 of the OIC Charter. The OIC wishes all the success to this important and key institution, which will further promote and enhance the quality of Islamic media action and help with the realization of the objectives of the OIC Charter and the Ten-Year Programme of Action of 2005.
SPECIAL REPORT: 66PALESTINE UNGA/ACMFILE 2011
Conflict in Syria displaced two-thirds of Palestinian refugees Homs, Syria – The conflict in Syria has displaced more than two-thirds of Palestinian refugees living in the country, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said on May 22, 2013. “We have registered approximately 530,000 Palestinian refugees. We believe that almost all of them, certainly maybe 70- 80 percent, are displaced from their normal homes,” UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi told journalists on a visit to Syria. Between 12 and 15 percent of the Palestinian refugee population has fled the country altogether, Grandi added. “You can say that 12- 15 percent of the refugee population in Syria is now (made) refugee again in another country,” he said, speaking after meeting Palestinian refugees at a camp in central Homs province. UNRWA has nine registered camps for Palestinian refugees in Syria, housing those who fled or were forced from their homes when the state of Israel was created in 1948, and their descendants. Some of the camps, including Yarmuk in Damascus, have been the scene of heavy fighting in the conflict that began with peaceful anti-government demonstrations in March 2011. Grandi said the Palestinians were neutral in the conflict, and urged both government forces and the rebels to respect the neutrality of the refugee population and their camps. He also appealed to the Palestinians themselves to remain neutral, otherwise the situation, which is already very difficult, will become Filippo Grandi (epa)
even more difficult.
Ihsanoglu: International community to undo ongoing injustice against Palestinians
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – On the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Nakba (Tragedy), the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu emphasized the responsibility of the international community to compel Israel to abide by international legitimacy rules and remove ongoing injustice against the Palestinian people. He noted that this occasion coincided with a dangerous escalation of policies by Israel, the occupying power, on settlement, blockade, and Judaization of Jerusalem with the aim of destroying the City’s landmarks, altering its Arab and Islamic character, clearing it of its original citizens and isolating it from its Palestinian environment. The Secretary General underscored the international community’s responsibility towards finding a political solution to the Palestinian question, in accordance with international law and international legitimacy resolutions, ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and empowering the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable national rights, chiefly their right to realize the sovereignty of their independent state, with Al Quds as its capital, and the rights of the refugees to return in accordance with United Nations resolution 194.
OIC Chief strongly condemns intrusion into Al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel’s arrests of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
Al-Quds – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu strongly condemned the intrusion by tens of extremist settlers into the precincts of the blessed Aqsa Mosque, considering that such attacks come in the framework of a systematic policy pursued by Israel, the occupying power, against the holy sites in Al-Quds. 7
PALESTINE FILE The Secretary General held Israel fully accountable for potential consequences of the continuation of such serious and systematic assaults, carried out by settlers, in flagrant violation of pertinent UN resolutions and international conventions. The Secretary General also called upon the international community, in particular, the UN Security Council and UNESCO, to take expedient action for putting an end to these repeated violations. The Secretary General also strongly condemned Israel’s arrests of Sheikh Mohammed Hussain, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, and demanded the immediate release of the Mufti. The Secretary General considered this arrest as an illegal act and said it represents a serious violation of the freedom of worship, which coincides with Israeli settlers’ escalation of their aggression against the holy sites in Al-Quds. The Secretary General also held Israel fully accountable for potential consequences of the continuation of such serious violations, and called upon the international community to take expedient action for putting an end to these illegal actions. The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu discussed on 8 May 2013 in a phone call with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the arrest of the Mufti of Jerusalem who has been released later by the Israeli authorities. Both sides also discussed the latest developments in Syria and agreed to continue the consultations and the coordination on developments at the regional and international levels.
Ihsanoglu strongly condemns Israel’s decision to build 296 settlement units in West Bank and 1100 settlement units in Al Quds
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned Israel’s approval for the building of 296 new settlement units in the West Bank. He described this decision as a dangerous step which reflects the intransigence of the occupying force, Israel, in continuing its flagrant violations of international law and international legitimacy resolutions and its defiance of the will of the international community. Ihsanoglu stated that the Israeli settlement policy aims at consolidating occupation and imposing a fait accompli. He called on the Security Council and the Quartet, in particular, to assume their responsibility and compel Israel to stop the settlement activity which could undermine chances for peace and stability in the region. The Secretary General also condemned vigorously Israel’s decision to approve the building of 1,100 new settlement units in the occupied city of Al Quds. He pointed out that the accelerating pace of settlement building comes in the context of the Israeli occupation’s attempt to create new realities on the ground in order to isolate Al Quds from its Palestinian environment, adding that the continuing Israeli settlement activity is likely to kill the two-State solution. Ihsanoglu stated that the cause of Al Quds is a top priority for the OIC, pointing out that all settlement activities are illegal and constitute a blatant violation of the international law and the resolutions of the international legitimacy. He
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called upon the international community to shoulder its direct responsibility to put an end to the Israeli settlement policy in all occupied Palestinian territories, including in Al Quds Al Sharif. The Secretary General expressed his strong regret at the decision of the French court, which was made without taking into account many substantive issues on international law and the applications of the Geneva Convention and other international legal references. He vigorously condemned procedures taken by any governmental or non-governmental body in violation of international law, which may consolidate the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem. These include companies taking up jobs in favor of Israeli occupation. He also underscored the right of the OIC to take necessary legal measures against bodies that carry out such activities.
Israel prevents UNESCO’s Fact-Finding Mission from accessing Jerusalem Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the decision of UNESCO to form a committee of experts to study the case of the Old City of Jerusalem and its historic wall. Ihsanoglu stressed the importance of enforcing the task of this mission on time, in order to enable the international community to see the real situation of the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif. The Secretary General said that he highly valued the significant role of the Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova in this context, underlining that this mission would contribute to putting an end to abuses of the historical places and shrines in Al-Quds Al-Sharif by Israel the occupying power. Ihsanoglu expressed the readiness of the OIC to contribute in and cooperate with this important mission. However, after Israel initially agreed to allow the UNESCO mission to “investigate and assess” heritage conservation in Jerusalem’s Old City, for the first time since 2004, it later changed its mind. The Secretary General expressed his strong condemnation of Israel’s decision, the occupying Power, to prevent the visit by the Committee of Experts of UNESCO to the city of Jerusalem, which was supposed to start its work on May 15 and present its report before June 1, stressing that this decision reveals the extent of Israel’s disregard of the will of the international community and its insistence on hiding the crimes committed against the historical and religious places in Jerusalem. The Secretary General held Israel fully responsible for the consequences of this, stressing that Israel seeks through this to distance the international community from following up on the dangerous situations resulting from the continued policies pursued of the Judaization of the Holy City of Jerusalem. The Secretary General stressed again the need to work to implement the mission of the UN Committee, which will contribute to putting an end to the violations carried out by “Israel” against historical and holy sites in Al-Quds Sharif.
The Hope Fund opens doors for Palestinian students
Malek, one of the students from Gaza, at his graduation
The Hope Fund, founded in 2000 as a non-profit in the US by Dr. Fahim Qubain, secures and coordinates scholarships from US colleges for talented, driven Palestinian youth. “We focus on youth from poor families who cannot afford local university tuition; for example youth from refugee camps, for whom a higher education would otherwise be unattainable,” said Helen Qubain, Executive Director and daughter of Fahim. “We endeavor to enrich the lives of young people, creating hope out of despair while fostering familiarity and understanding between the two different cultures.” The story of the Hope Fund is an example of how a touching newspaper article can motivate a cause and with a little bit of money inspires hope. In December 1987, Geraldine Brooks wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal during the uprising in Gaza about a 15-year-old stone-throwing Palestinian boy, Raed, living with his parents and 12 younger siblings in a crumbling hovel, who dreamed of becoming a doctor but had no hope of a decent future. The article moved an ophthalmologist in Texas, USA to send a $100 bill to Geraldine in Cairo to hand it to Raed with a note promising to help him fulfill his dream. However, when she went back to the West Bank, she found Raed arrested by the Israelis for throwing a Molotov cocktail at an army patrol and was jailed, and his father, who worked on Israeli building sites, had also been arrested in a routine security sweep, and so the family was deprived of its only breadwinner. Geraldine gave the $100 to the mother which she desperately needed. Four years later in 1993, Raed was released from jail, but unfortunately Dr. Rex Repass had passed away and Geraldine not wanting to dash his hopes of finally making his dream come true, she and her husband decided to pay for his education. He completed high-school and was admitted to Bethlehem University, but at 21 he felt too old for medical school and instead decided to study education, and in 1998 he graduated with honors. In February 1999, Geraldine wrote another article in
The Washington Post about Raed’s long journey to his college education. This time the article struck a chord with a Palestinian-American doctor in Virginia, Fahim Qubain. He and his wife proceeded to establish the Hope Fund with a mission to find young Palestinian refugees, like Raed, who are academically gifted but whose poverty and circumstances made achieving their educational dreams almost impossible. Each student arrives with their own story of hardships overcome, and each student is a success story: Hanan Dahche from Ein el-Hilwed refugee camp in Lebanon completed her graduate and post-graduate degree in biochemistry; Khaled ElNimr from Beirut also completed graduate work in materials science engineering; Hiba Assi from Beqaa Valley who risked heavy bombing during the 2006 war to escape across to Syria to come to the US is now getting a PhD in physics; Yahia Abu Hashem barely made it across the border from Gaza into Egypt when the crossing was closed in 2007 to arrive and enroll in computer science and business, and now enrolled in graduate school in economics; and many other stirring stories. The Fund secures mostly full scholarships from US colleges and only have to raise donations for approximately 10% of the total cost of educating a student to cover expenses such as airfare, health insurance and books. In 2013, it raised $1.7 million in new scholarships and will only have to raise $170,000 to send 41 students to school for the year. The Hope Fund has already assisted 25 students in completing their undergraduate degrees, all with excellent grades. “We are growing dramatically each year and are seeking donors to assist us with this growth, specifically in order to help us strengthen an organization that can support a larger student base and student applicant pool,” said Qubain. The mission of HF has now expanded to encompass providing a high-quality college education to economically poor but talent-rich and motivated Palestinian students for whom higher education abroad would otherwise be financially impossible or otherwise inaccessible. It also seeks to nurture a culture of “civic engagement,” encouraging young Palestinians to become educated leaders, instill a sense of community responsibility, and foster a culture of active participation to help enhance the quality of life for the Palestinian people and to encourage them to become worthy emissaries of Palestine in the United States. For more information, contact Deya’ Dresner, Director of Development, at either +1 609 -730- 3946 or Deya@TheHopeFund.org. Another Palestinian student, Website: Manal, at science experiment lab www.TheHopeFund.org
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Ihsanoglu meets Mursi, Brahimi, Al-Arabi and Lavrov
OIC Secretary General continues his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis Cairo, Egypt - Mohamed Mursi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, received in his office at Heliopolis Palace on 4 April 2013, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during the Secretary General’s visit to Cairo. President Mursi, Chairman of the 12th Islamic Summit Conference, and the Secretary General discussed the major issues of the Islamic world, the bilateral relations between the two parties and the current situation in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the Syrian crisis. President Mursi explained his initiative for Syria, which he had suggested to the Fourth Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in August 2012 before its adoption by the Islamic Summit in Cairo last February. The two parties exchanged their views concerning the latest developments in this regard, as well as on means to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis and stop the bloodshed against the Syrian people, in a way that would help realize the aspirations for freedom, democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights. The Secretary General also met in his residence in Cairo on 4 April 2013 with the UN Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi. Ihsanoglu discussed with Brahimi the Syrian crisis and the latest developments in this regard. The Secretary General listened to a briefing on Brahimi’s latest contacts in the framework of his endeavors to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria. During the meeting, the Secretary General expressed support to Brahimi’s endeavors to reach a settlement that would end the crisis situation in Syria. Ihsanoglu and Al-Arabi stress on involving OIC and AL in Geneva 2: On another visit to Cairo, the OIC Secretary General met with Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, on 27 June, 2013. The meeting focused on the developments of the situation in Syria and modalities of cooperation between the two parties regarding the humanitarian aspects and the possibility of coordinating with the parties concerned in the international community for the convening of the Genera 2 conference. The two parties emphasized the need for the Geneva 2 conference on the Syrian issue, to be held at a broader regional and international level with the participation of the active institutions and parties, and a particular stress on the importance of the participation of both the OIC and the Arab League. In their meeting, Ihsanoglu and Al Arabi also underlined the need to intensify cooperation between them with regard to the degenerated humanitarian situation in Syria, in addition to the need for efforts to put an early end to the bloodshed there. In parallel, the two parties also discussed the developments 10
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of the situation in Iraq, expressed the deep concern over the rising violence, and reiterated their intent to put in further efforts in this respect. In Moscow, Ihsanoglu and Lavrov emphasize a political solution: Meanwhile, the OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, agreed during a meeting in Moscow on 7 June 2013 that a political solution is the only way out of the Syrian crisis which was the main subject of discussion between the two sides. The OIC Secretary General emphasized the need for a political solution to the crisis and reiterated his firm position, which he has expressed since the outbreak of the crisis: the need to resort to dialogue, and end the crisis peacefully. He also stressed the need for the OIC to participate in Geneva 2 for its important role and relations with the actors in the crisis, the majority of whom are OIC members. Lavrov agreed with the Secretary General on this approach and presented an overview of the efforts made by his country to resolve the Syrian crisis, and reiterated Russia’s full support for a political solution. The Russian minister explained in the meeting the efforts exerted by Moscow to hold Geneva 2, pointing out his country’s keenness on the success of the conference, consensus and the participation of all conflict parties in Syria. The meeting also addressed the Palestinian issue, the ongoing developments in the Holy City of Al Quds, efforts to resume the peace process, and the importance of achieving Palestinian reconciliation. Ihsanoglu reiterated once again that the Palestinian cause is central to the OIC and stressed the need to resume the peace process. He also praised Russia’s position and support for Palestine’s membership in the United Nations. The two sides discussed the current situation in Iraq and expressed their deep concern about the recent developments there. They also discussed the issue of Kosovo as well as other regional and international issues. Moreover, the meeting addressed mutual cooperation between the two sides in the areas of economy, science and t e c h n o l o g y, especially higher education. L a v r o v expressed his country’s desire and keenness to develop relations with the OIC.
Violence in Syria reduces refugees’ hopes to return home soon
Almafraq, Jordan (dpa) - Muhammad Hammad holds hesitantly a pack of US and Syrian money with his eyes filled with tears. Despite spending weeks contemplating the completion of this tough deal, Hammad, 40, says that he is accepting, with mixed feelings of joy and sadness, the selling of the house where he spent his childhood in Damascus, the Syrian capital. He adds, after a short while of signing the contract, in Almafraq city in Jordan which borders the Syrian borders, by which he sold the real estate to a relative of one of his neighbors that he dreamt of bringing up his children and grandchildren therein. “There are only nightmares now in Syria,” he added. Hammad is one of thousands of Syrians who rush to sell their houses, properties and cars in preparation for staying long periods in host countries, severing thus their ties with their homeland. After waiting for several months for their ‘eminent’ return, Syrian refugees say now they work vigorously to arrange for their other relatives, who are still alive, to join them in host countries, where this new life pattern as refugees has become more sustainable during the past weeks. Um Khalid, 52, mother of seven, said that she and her refugee colleagues waited for six months for the tension in Syria to end so that they may return to reunite with their
families. But then her husband sold their farm in Dara city, southern Syria, for 15 thousand US dollars, i.e. 10% of its market value. “We are now confident that the day to return will never come,” she said. The phenomena of ‘burning the prices’ of properties is due to the increasing number of refugees who make arrangements to facilitate the escape of their relatives and neighbors whom they left in Syria. These arrangements led to a mass exodus to neighboring countries including the flow of nearly 55000 refugees to Jordan last January alone. Another refugee, Muhammad Damashgi, 40, says that he arranged for selling his carpentry workshop in central Damascus in order to get the money he needs to pay for transporting 20 members of his family to Jordan, a trip that cost him US$ 10000. From the apartment he rented in the Jordanian city, Ramtha, which boarders Syria, Damashgi adds that Syrian refugees have been waiting for two years for the blood-shed to stop and for the international community to intervene to rescue the Syrian people. “It is clear now that we have been abandoned,” he adds. With the expectations of returning to Syria diminishing and amidst mounting pressure on the overcrowded refugee camps, displaced Syrians say that they are aiming to settle in other countries, hoping to acquire political asylum in Europe , the US or any other country. Ahmad Ammari, who pushes through with 400 other refugees in the registration office in Almafraq city, says “we have been in Jordan for six months but did not register with the UN, why should we if we were to go back home soon?” But now, he wants to make sure his family’s name is at the top of the list for Syrian wishing to stay in Jordan. Despite the absence of discussions at the official level on the resettlement of Syrian refugees, the Syrian say they are preparing themselves for what they consider to be a “forced” exile. They are saving money, making contacts with relatives abroad and even improving their levels in English and French to have a “competitive advantage” in any interview to get a job. Muhammad Sheikh says, during an English language class he gets haphazardly in his tent in Zatari Refugees Camp in northern Jordan, “we have learnt the lessons from steps taken before us by Lebanese, Palestinians and Iraqis to start a new life in the US, Sweden and Canada.” He adds, “If the international community is not willing to help us, it should get ready to host us”. 11
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Ihsanoglu calls on International Donors to Contribute to Darfur Development Bank Doha, Qatar – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called upon the international community to provide critical support to promote development and reconstruction in the province of Darfur. In his statement at the opening session of the International Donor Conference for Darfur held in Doha, Qatar, on 7 -8 April 2013, the Secretary General stated that this conference in itself was the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Darfur and gave new hope to the inhabitants of Darfur who have lived long years of hunger and fear. The success of the conference, he added, is a real challenge to the international community’s ability to entrench peace in Darfur. Ihsanoglu further stated that the fact that the conference was held did not mean that peace and security were completely established all over Darfur. A huge effort is yet to be put in by the Government of the Sudan and the Regional Authority in order to establish security and build bridges of communication and dialogue with the movements which are – unfortunately – still betting on the option of arms and war. The Secretary General stated that the OIC has, over the past ten years, supported all international and regional endeavors to achieve peace, security and stability in Darfur from Abuja peace talks to the recent Doha Peace Process. The OIC has manifested strong support through successive visits of its delegations to the Sudan and their meetings with all the parties. Furthermore, the OIC has issued a number of resolutions at the Summit and foreign ministers’ level in support of peace in Darfur. The Secretary General emphasized that, immediately after the signing of the peace document in Doha, the OIC took the initiative to hold the first donor conference to finance urgent
humanitarian projects in favor of Darfur community. Cosponsored by Egypt and Turkey, the Cairo Conference resulted in pledges amounting to 850 million US dollars, 78% of which has already been honored. He stated that the OIC is currently finalizing the establishment of the Darfur Development Bank which was one of the recommendations of the Cairo Donor Conference. “We have managed, with great and uninterrupted support from the State of Qatar, to complete all the administrative and technical arrangements for the establishment of the Bank. We look forward to see the Follow-Up Committee Meeting, which will be held immediately after this conference, finalize the process of opening a follow-up office in Khartoum, set a date for the shareholders’ meeting and officially announce the establishment of the Bank”. The Secretary General renewed thanks to the State of Qatar for donating 200 million US dollars to the capital of the Bank and called upon all participating donors to contribute to the capital of the Darfur Development Bank in order to make it an efficient mechanism leading the process of reconstruction and material and human development in all Darfur provinces. At the Conference, Qatar pledged $500 million in aid to Sudan’s Darfur as a grants and contributions for rebuilding Darfur. Germany pledged 16 million euros as other delegates expressed their support for development in Darfur without announcing their contributions. Britain offered at least 11 million pounds ($16.5 million, 13 million euros) for Darfur annually over the next three years to help communities to grow food and to boost skills for employment.
All parties in Darfur urged to join the Peace Process under the Doha Document
Doha, Qatar – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu once again urged all Darfurian parties and movements to join the peace process under the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). He called on them, in his statement at the 6th Meeting of the Monitoring Committee on the Implementation of Doha Peace Agreement in Doha, State of Qatar on 4th June 2013, to join hands in a bid to implement the DDPD as a way toward achieving peace security and development in Darfur within the unity, stability and sovereignty of the Sudan. In his statement, which was read on his behalf by Ambassador Habib Kaabachi, Director in OIC Political Affairs Department, the Secretary General said that the OIC welcomed the signing of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in Doha on July 14, 2011 under the patronage of the State of Qatar. In this regard, he took the opportunity to commend the initiatives and contribution of the State of Qatar towards achieving the collective objective of cementing peace in Darfur. He added that the OIC considers the Strategy for Developing the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation 12
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(DIDC) a very important and comprehensive one and hopes that the Strategy would contribute significantly to the peacebuilding process. He stressed that members of the DIDC Implementation Committee be capable of carrying out their responsibilities and emphasizes on the necessity to abide by the specified timeframe. On the other hand, he strongly condemned the killing of Mohamed Bashar Ahmed Abdulrahman, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan (JEM/Bashar) along with his deputy and others. The Implementation Follow-Up Commission (IFC) members noted that the killing of Bashar and his colleagues is not only an act of vengeance but a calculated and deliberate move to dissuade others who may be willing to join the peace process. The IFC members expressed strong concern at the deteriorating security situation in Darfur and the scale of newly displaced persons by violence this year. They urged that JEM/ lbrahim and all perpetrators of violence be held accountable and brought to justice. They further emphasized that there is no military solution to the conflict.
Ethiopia diverts Blue Nile for controversial dam build
Addis Ababa , Ethiopia - Ethiopia has started diverting a stretch of the Blue Nile to make way for a $4.7bn hydroelectric dam that has caused a dispute with countries downstream, state media announced on May 28, 2013. The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which is currently under construction, is part of a $12bn investment project to boost power exports. The Blue Nile is one of two major tributaries of the Nile - one of the world’s longest rivers. Egypt and Sudan object to the dam. They say it violates a colonial-era agreement, which gives them rights to 90% of the Nile’s water. The Grand Renaissance Dam, which is being built in the Benishangul-Gumuz region bordering Sudan, will eventually have a 6,000 megawatt capacity, according to the Ethiopian government. This is the equivalent of at least six nuclear power plants.
Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia’s deputy prime minister, said that diverting the flow at the site of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would provide hydroelectricity not only for Ethiopia but also for neighboring countries “The dam’s construction... does not cause any harm on any country,” said Alemayehu Tegenu Ethiopia Energy Minister. Ethiopia claims to be the source of about 85% of the total water in the Nile. The Blue Nile originates in the country’s Lake Tana and flows hundreds of miles north into Sudan and then Egypt before eventually flowing into the Mediterranean. Egypt is particularly dependant on the water supply, with growing populations placing it under increasing strain, although Sudan also relies on the source. Experts from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan are set to announce findings of a study into the impact of the Ethiopian dam on the Nile’s flow.
After one year in office Egyptian President Mursi ousted
Cairo, Egypt – Millions and millions of Egyptians took to the streets all over Egypt on June 30 to call for the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi. On July 3, the army, after it gave the President a 48-hour ultimatum to resolve the crisis, ousted the President and declared the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court caretaker leader. In a televised broadcast, flanked by military leaders, the highest Muslim and Christian authorities – Sheikh Al-Azhar and Coptic Pope – and political figures, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi effectively declared the removal of President Mursi. Sisi called for presidential and parliamentary elections, a panel to review the constitution and a national reconciliation committee that would include youth movements. He said a range of political groups had agreed to the road map. Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters and its political wing the Freedom and Justice Party denounced the army’s action as “illegal” and urged Egyptians to “resist the coup”. Following that, throngs of his supporters demonstrated in different cities, dividing the streets of Egypt between anti and pro Mursi and dividing world opinion and official reaction from around the world on whether it was a popular revolt or a military coup. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from its side called upon all Egyptian political parties to join their efforts and achieve consensus in this very critical stage in order to put Egypt's higher interests, security, and stability above all considerations. The OIC called on the great Egyptian people to unite ranks, shun violence and work together on a peaceful democratic process for the establishment of constitutional institutions, security and stability. It also called on them achieve the aspirations of the Egyptian people to political participation through transparent and credible elections, in total freedom and democracy, without exclusion and with peaceful transfers of power and the provision of the requirements of development and a decent living for all Egyptians. Emphasizing the need to end the transitional period in Egypt as soon as possible and to respect human rights, the OIC expressed its readiness to provide support and assistance
to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the current Chair of the Islamic Summit, at this decisive stage of its history. Mursi’s rule was marked by a spiraling economic crisis, shortage of fuel and often deadly opposition protests among other problems. He was democratically elected in 2012 after a popular revolution in 2011 toppled President Hosni Mubarak who ruled for over 30 years. Mursi was due to run until 2016. Chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as interim president on July 4 and he appointed an interim prime minister a few days later.
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Libya faces difficulties to reform and democratize
Tripoli, Libya (dpa) – Garbage bags accumulated in front of the destroyed cement walls of Azizia complex, which used to be the headquarters of the former Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Qaddafi until the summer of 2011, looked like sand bags that have narrow openings through which guns are poised. However, combating operations were over in the Libyan capital Tripoli despite the intermittent terrorist attacks and the local disputes which are sometimes settled by the use of firearms. It was reported that the building complex in which the former Libyan dictator used to live will be removed and replaced with an entertainment park. On the other hand, the local population is dissatisfied with the performance of the garbage collectors for their reluctance to remove the plastics bags. Traffic police also do not receive good performance marks. At midday, everyday, long lines of cars drudge through dusty roads. The central government and the local councils established by the Libyan revolution, fail to maintain law and order. Many of the revolutionary youth fill their idle time after returning to civil life by taking drugs. A noticeable incidence took place recently when drug barons broke through a crossroad using a tank during a clash with the police. Chronic corruption, which prevailed during Qaddafi’s rein, has not been eliminated since his violent death at the hands of rebels last October. Last December, the transitional government (TG) in Tripoli sent urgent financial allocations of 100 million Libyan Dinars (US $79 million) to the City Council of Benghazi (CC). This amount does not meet the needs of this city of 800,000 people. The central government authorities have neglected the infrastructure of this city for decades. Militias formed during the revolution still control different neighborhoods. They are not accountable to any institution including the TG and the CC. These militias have become more visible than normal in the streets of Benghazi, the second largest city in Libya. Its 14
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men are seen riding convoys of 4-wheel drive sports cars topped by machine guns on the road leading to the airport. Following the incident of the car bomb explosion in front of the French Embassy in Tripoli on 23 April injuring a number of people, all armed units in Libya were put on high alert both at the level of government troops and independent fighters. The issue of security is always high on the agenda of the Council of Ministers. The government headquarters itself was attacked by angry armed Libyan groups. The smiling Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Ali Zaidan, does not look like a man who was kidnapped for several days recently. Amal Jirari, Head of the Media Office of the Prime Minister describes the current government as a “crisis government”. Amal went to Benghazi only once for several hours. She says about the visit “the plane landed and I was looking around for the airport.” Benina International Airport, located outside Benghazi, is almost empty of any building. It looks like a waiting room in an old public transport station in an African country. This explicit statement made by Amal Jirari is not meant to underestimate the location. Heaps of garbage was seen in the city centre. They were higher than their counterparts in Tripoli. Garbage collectors went on strike for three days in an attempt to lobby for their demands to get their salaries which were not paid for weeks. Bullet shots, as well as screams and ambulance sirens may sometime be heard in central Benghazi. Such sounds do not seem to disturb any one walking down the street. Jalal Al-Jalal, the spokesman for the rebels’ Transitional National Council during the revolution, warns that “if Benghazi does not calm down, Libya will not calm down.” Although the transitional period for the transformation towards multilateral democracy is moving slowly, some measure of progress was made. In July 2012, following weeks of delay, Libyans elected a provisional parliament, the General National Conference. It is made of almost equal numbers of liberals, conservatives and Islamists belonging to the middle class. The small number of Salafi nominees did not win seats in the said parliament. The Provisional Parliament commissioned Ali Zaidan, last October, to form the government. Within about one month, the first elected temporary government assumed its tasks. The following step was to elect a constitutional assembly, which would comprise 90 members from the southern, eastern and western regions in Libya, with each region represented by 30 members. Once the constitution is elaborated on and adopted, through a plebiscite, a new parliament will be elected. By then, hopefully, the controversial problem of determining who was responsible during Qaddafi’s rein (1969- 2011) would be settled. They will be deprived of political work in future. The new government will also have to decide if Libya can spend more than one third of its budget, which comes mainly from oil and gas, on salaries and pensions.
First Meeting of OIC Contact Group on Mali
OIC calls for renunciation of extremists' distortion of the true image of Islam
Ihsanoglu: OIC ready to contribute to Overall Plan for Stability in the Sahel
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The OIC Contact Group on Mali held its first meeting at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah on May 13, 2013, in implementation of the resolution of the Twelfth Islamic Summit Conference held in Cairo on 6- 7 February 2013. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, chaired the meeting that reviewed the situation in Mali and explored the ways and means to regain peace and stability there. The OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, Djibril Bassolé, the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General to Mali and the Sahel addressed the meeting in the opening session. Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, briefed the meeting on the latest developments of the situation in his country. The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Turkey, and Iran, then addressed the meeting' which also listened to the interventions of the Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, the State Minister of Bahrain, and to other members of the 22-member Contact Group. The meeting was also addressed by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Romano Prodi, who was visiting the region. The participants stressed that the presence of Prodi would play a significant role in strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the issue of Mali. In its final communiqué, the meeting agreed on a number of recommendations, notably reaffirmation of the position of the Member States towards the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of the Republic of Mali, and denouncing terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking there. It also expressed concern over the effects of these activities on the stability of Mali and the Sahel region in general. The communiqué called for the need to expedite spreading security in Mali and help it extend its sovereignty over all its territory and urged all OIC Member States to lend a helping hand to the transitional authority in Mali towards this end. It also urged the Member States to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of hundreds
of thousands of Malian refugees and displaced persons as well as financial aid to promote the development process. It also called upon them to take such measures to ensure the establishment of a fund for the benefit of Mali according to the resolutions of the Cairo Summit. The meeting condemned all acts that contradict with the Islamic values of peace, tolerance, and moderation in Mali and called on the OIC institutions to launch an enlightenment campaign in Mali in coordination with the Malian authorities to spread the correct Islamic values and refute the negative image of Islam propagated by these acts perpetrated by extremists in this country. In the meantime, in his speech at the opening of the meeting, Ihsanoglu indicated that the OIC is ready to contribute to the overall plan that emerged from the high-level meeting on Mali held at the United Nations last September. The OIC Secretary General stressed that the objectives of the transitional phase in Mali can be achieved through dialogue and comprehensive internal reconciliation. On his part, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, said that his country emphasized the need to address the crisis in Mali from a holistic perspective that deals with several tracks, notably the intellectual track associated with the spread of the true principles of Islam, pointing out that Egypt would continue its contribution in this regard through the role of Al-Azhar in spreading the teachings of the true religion, and qualification and preparation of Malian imams. He added that Egypt would also contribute to strengthening the security track through consolidating cooperation among the countries of the region and building their capacities in the areas of border control and the fight against organized crime, as well as cooperation in the development process.
Interim Agreement signed between the Malian Government and Touareg armed groups
The Secretary General of the OIC welcomed the successful negotiations led by the ECOWAS mediation under the leadership of Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso and co-chaired by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, which have paved the way for the signing on 18 June 2013 in Ouagadougou of an Interim Agreement by the parties involved in the Malian Conflict. Ihsanoglu expressed his appreciation to the ECOWAS mediation and the international community for its continuous efforts to help Mali recover its integrity and sovereignty. The OIC Secretary General, while appealing the Malian parties to commit themselves to the full implementation of the accord, assured them that the OIC will actively play the role assigned to it under the agreement in order to restore durable peace in Mali. 15
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UN: Over 1000 killed in Iraq in the month of May
OIC urges Iraqi government and religious leaders to pursue dialogue
Iraqis gather after a bomb attack outside a Sunni mosque in Baquba city, northeast of Baghdad, 17 May 2013 (epa)
Baghdad, Iraq – More than a thousand Iraqis died and over two thousand were injured in outbreaks of violence across Iraq in May, according to a UN body. It’s the highest monthly death toll in the country since 2008. One thousand and forty-five Iraqis were killed in May, according to estimates released by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on June 1, 2013. Eightytwo of those were members of the Iraqi Security Forces, with the bulk of the casualties registered among civilians. The capital Baghdad was most affected by acts of violence, with homemade explosives, car blasts and suicide bombings responsible for the vast majority of deaths. The terror attacks were carried out in both Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods. The UNAMI death toll figure for May is far higher than the April 712 casualties, which previously were described as the record-breaking figure since the country’s sectarian violence spike of 20062007-. The escalating death toll sparks fears that sectarian unrest in the country might be turning into a civil war. The recent escalation in violence is seen as instigated by
the April 23 crackdown on the Sunni protesters in the northern town of Hawija by security forces, controlled by the Shiitedominated government. More than half of those killed were in the greater Baghdad area. Car bombs and other explosives were responsible for the bulk of the casualties across the country. Iraqi authorities believe the local offshoot of al Qaeda and other Sunni-backed militant groups are responsible for much of the violence. But a series of attacks on Sunni mosques that have left more than 100 dead in May is raising concerns that Shiite militants are also behind some of the violence. Iraq witnessed its deadliest bout of violence between 2006 and 2007, when the country was on the brink of civil war and armed men roamed the streets of Baghdad. At the peak of the sectarian bloodshed between Shiite and Sunnis, more than 3,000 were being killed every month. The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has repeatedly expressed its strong condemnation of the excessive use of force by members of the army and police against unarmed Iraqi civilians during peaceful demonstrations and its condemnation of the continuing terrorist attacks. The Secretariat renewed its pressing call on the Iraqi government and the rest of the political parties in Iraq to pursue ways of dialogue and peaceful means and to respond to the demands of the demonstrators in order to ensure peace and security and preserve the unity of the Iraqi people. The OIC General Secretariat also called for all the Iraqi religious figures and authorities to continue to play their constructive role in the scope of applying the Mecca Document to promote reconciliation between all spectrums of the Iraqi people.
55 percent of refugees are from OIC member states
Number of globally displaced people at two-decade high Geneva, Switzerland – Every 4.1 seconds a person was driven to leave their home last year, pushing the number of people forcibly displaced to a two-decade high of 45.2 million. Figures by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) showed 1.1 million people fled across international borders last year, while 6.5 million were internally displaced. The Office of the UNHCR released on June 20, marking World Refugee Day, its Global Trends report, which showed that at the end of 2012, more than 45.2 million people were in situations of displacement, compared to 42.5 million at the end of 2011. The report also pointed to the conflict in Syria as a major factor for the spike in displacement and noted that nearly half of all refugees are below the age of 18. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed that figures give “only a glimpse of this enormous human tragedy.” “Finding durable solutions for the displaced will require
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more solidarity and burden-sharing by the international community,” Ban said. Currently 81 per cent of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing countries and more than half, 55 percent, of refugees come from just five war-affected countries: Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Sudan. The largest number of refugees still come from Afghanistan, and Pakistan remains the world’s top host nation in 2012. UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres drew special attention to the situation faced by families in Syria, where some 1.6 million people have been displaced since the crisis started over two years ago. Guterres said he feared “that an entire nation is being left to self-destruct as it empties itself of its people,” and was worried that “with no clear political resolution in sight, this civil war is in real danger of sliding into a regional conflict.”
OIC Secretary General discusses Bosnia’s full membership in OIC with Bosnian officials
Ihsanoglu (c) with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Radmanovic (L) and Bosniak member of the Presidency Izetbegovic (R)
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu had fruitful meetings in Sarajevo with Members of the Presidency, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina during which he discussed bilateral cooperation and the issue of Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming a full member state in the OIC. During the two-day official visit, on 15 -16 April 2013, by the Secretary General and his accompanying delegation, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Nebojsa Radmanovic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency H.E. Bakir Izetbegovic, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers H.E. Vjekoslav, and the Foreign Minister H.E. Zlatko Lagumdzija all showed great willingness to further boosting cooperation with the OIC including the potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming a full member state of the OIC. They expressed appreciation of OIC’s, and particularly the Secretary General’s, continued support to Bosnia and Herzegovina during and after the war and hoped to have stronger relations with the OIC and its member states. The Secretary General on his part pointed to the advantages of becoming a full member in the OIC; Bosnia and Herzegovina has been an observer member since 1994. He assured them of OIC’s full support of Bosnia’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity and the government’s efforts to preserve national unity. He indicated his wish to enhance the activities of the OIC Fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina that assists returning refugees. During the visit to Sarajevo, the Secretary General also met with Reisu-l-ulema (chief mufti) of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein Kavazovic and discussed cooperation with OIC and its relevant organs. Ihsanoglu also gave a lecture at the University of Sarajevo in which he touched on the relationship between the OIC and Bosnia and Islam’s position in Europe citing Bosnia and Herzegovina as an example of peaceful interfaith coexistence. He reiterated his call for a historic reconciliation between Islam and Christianity hoping that with the new Pope in Rome some initiatives would be taken to achieve this objective. At the end of his visit, the Secretary General toured Gazi Hurev Bay’s Library, a historic place from the Ottoman era that was destroyed during the Bosnian War but has been rebuilt with a donation from Qatar and all its items have been restocked. The Library is part of a Waqf complex consisting of a mosque and a madrasa built by Gazi Hurev Bey, the mayor of Sarajevo in 1521. Bosnia and Herzegovina is an observer state in the OIC since 1994. The OIC has established a Contact Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina that meets annually to follow up on the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement signed in 1995, which put an end to the Bosnian War where the OIC is represented by Turkey at the Peace Implementation Council. The OIC has also set up a special fund to assist the refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the fourth visit by Ihsanoglu to Bosnia and Herzegovina since he took office in 2005, and he is credited for strengthening the relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Muslim world and increasing their support for it during his earlier capacity as Director General of IRCICA. He has been vocal in advocating the legal and political initiatives aimed at redressing the impacts of the Srebrenica genocide, which is commemorated annually within the OIC based on a decision by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary General welcomes the appointment of Canada’s Special Envoy to the OIC Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Arif Lalani as Canada’s first-ever Special Envoy to the OIC as recently announced by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. The Secretary General stated that the appointment of a Special Envoy to OIC by Canada is yet another indication of the growing interest on the side of the international community
to establish close dialogue and cooperation with the OIC and expressed the readiness of the OIC General Secretariat to work closely with Ambassador Lalani within the framework of his new assignment. With this appointment, Canada became the 5th non-OIC state to appoint Special Envoy to the OIC. United States was the first non-OIC state to appoint a Special Envoy to the OIC followed by the United Kingdom, Australia and France. 17
WORLD AFFAIRS
OIC Secretary General underlines his enduring support for Kosovo
Ihsanoglu receiving “Ibrahim Rugova” medal from President Atifete
Prishtina, Kosovo – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) arrived in Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, on May 1, 2013 on a two-day official visit. He met the Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and the Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj and discussed with them the means for strengthening bilateral relations between OIC and Kosovo and mobilizing support for Kosovo’s recognition by the international community, particularly by the OIC Member States - 32 of which had already did, the last being Pakistan and Guyana. Ihsanoglu also congratulated the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister on the historic agreement reached with Serbia under European Union facilitation as an important step towards peace in the region and looked forward for its implementation. The EU-brokered agreement, signed on April 19, 2013 in Brussels by Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, provides some autonomy within Kosovo’s legal framework for the roughly 40,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo who steadfastly refuse to recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia. Foreign Minister Hoxhaj pointed out that since independence Kosovo has had political stability, a 5% economic growth, built state institutions and a multiethnic integrated society and started a process of dialogue with Serbia, which culminated in the signing of the first agreement ever between Albanians and Serbs. At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, Ihsanoglu assured Kosovar people of OIC’s support being the largest voting bloc in the UN. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaci said implementation of the agreement with Serbia will be respected as a whole and that concrete action will be taken. Later, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was decorated on 1 May 2013, with the State Medal “Ibrahim Rugova” of Kosovo by President Atifete Jahjaga as a token of his support to Kosovo. In a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Jahjaga presented the Medal to Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and expressed her country’s appreciation for the continued support of the Secretary General towards gaining recognition of Kosovo. The Secretary General on his part expressed his utmost gratitude for the honor bestowed on him 18
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and reiterated his commitment to the just cause of the Kosovar people. The OIC has expressed solidarity with Kosovo and is keen on extending necessary support to restore peace and stability in Kosovo and the Balkans in general. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Kosovo had paid visits the OIC Headquarters earlier and also attended the 39th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Djibouti in November 2012 and the 12th OIC Summit in Cairo in February 2013. Resolutions and discussions during the 39th CFM and 12th Summit welcomed the progress made towards strengthening democracy in Kosovo and the institutional work at all relevant levels, and encouraged further cooperation of Kosovo with the OIC economic and financial institutions. On the other hand, the OIC fully supports the process of dialogue and normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Before addressing the Assembly of Kosovo, Ihsanoglu met the Speaker of the Assembly Jakup Krasniqi where he again expressed his wish to see Kosovo be part of the OIC and integrated within the Muslim world. Addressing the Assembly of Kosovo on May 2, the Secretary General said that his visit reflects the OIC’s and his personal commitment to support strengthening bilateral relations between Kosovo and the OIC. The Secretary General recalled the historical moment of the declaration of the independence of Kosovo on 17 February 2008 which he followed while at the 11th Islamic Summit in Dakar, Senegal and his personal efforts to gain recognition for Kosovo by the Member States at the Summit, and afterwards. Since Kosovo’s declaration of independence, the OIC have established close political dialogue with the Government of Kosovo at all levels. A number of resolutions adopted by the OIC at the level of the Heads of States and Governments and Foreign Ministers, including at the recent Cairo Summit, called upon the Member States of the Organization to consider recognizing Kosovo based on their free and sovereign rights as well as on their national practice. The Secretary General pledged to continue encouraging the OIC Member States that have not recognized Kosovo to do so. As of today, 32 out of almost 100 UN member states that have recognized Kosovo are OIC member states. Ihsanoglu also called upon Kosovo to join the OIC as a full member, once it takes its rightful place at the UN. Finally, the Secretary General expressed support for the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia under the EU’s facilitation and congratulated both parties on their recent historic agreement. The Secretary General’s program included a visit to Kosovo Islamic Community Center, as well as visits to Prekaz, Mitrovica, Decan and Prizren where he was presented with ‘Honorary Citizenship Award’ by the Prizren Municipality. OIC Chief with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Thaci
The OIC Secretary General and his historic visit to Kosovo Mahmoud. A. Arnaout
Director of Shiekh Arnaout Cultural Centre, lecturer at the Islamic Studies Faculty, Pristina , Kosovo
Prof. Ekmeldinne Ihsanoglu, the OIC Secretary General visited Pristina, Capital city of Kosovo, on 5 May 2013 in an official two-day visit . He led an OIC delegation that included Dr. Halid Erin Director General of IRCICA. The special guest was given a grand reception upon his arrival to Adam Yashary Ariport, the Official airport of Pristina. His visit was met with popular and official joy which also prevailed in official scientific and religious quarters as they appreciated his declared support for Kosovo’s independence since the date of its announcement on 17 February 2008. A program was prepared for his visit rarely paralleled by another program for other official and international personalities who visited Kosovo since its independence. On the first day of his visit, he was received by the President of the Republic who granted him the highest decoration. He was also given an overwhelming welcome by the Prime Minister who accompanied him to the Parliament premises where a special welcome session was held. The session was opened with a touching statement by the Speaker. Then MPs and guests listened to the statement of the guest in which he reiterated his personal endeavors to ensure the recognition by all Islamic States members of the OIC of the independence of Kosovo, in order to make a significant contribution in acquiring the membership of the UN, EU and OIC respectively. The guest was also given a warm welcome by the Mufti General of Kosovo and the Chairman of Islamic Mashiakha therein. The meeting was attended by a large number of sheikhs and administrative staff at the Mashiakha and the head of the faculty at the Islamic Studies Faculty and some of its members. Some journalists working in the Islamic Knowledge Magazine, issued by the Mashiakha, also attended. The visit to the Mufti also provided a valuable opportunity to show Ihsanoglu some models presented by architectural offices inside and outside Kosovo for the construction of the Grand Masjid therein. The Foundation stone for this Masjid was laid last year. He was asked to contribute by selecting the most appropriate model. Prof. Ihsanoglu was accompanied in this visit by Dr. Halid Erin and Dr. Tajab Boya, Kosovo Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The Grand Mufti presented an appreciation certificate to the distinguished guest. He also presented him a copy of the Index of Arabic manuscripts at the Islamic Mashiekha library in Kosovo. Ihsanoglu expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Eminence the Mufti General and his
colleagues. Some family photos were taken before his departure. During the day, Ihsanoglu paid a visit to the city of Prizrin, one of the Ottoman architectural masterpieces. With its streets, Masjids, Turkish baths, and its reputed castle, he was given a warm reception by the city governor who presented him an honorary certificate of citizenship of the city, the top award to be given to visitors of the historic city at the official level. He met a number of dignitaries and sheikhs. He and the accompanying delegation prayed Jumaa in the Shadroun area of the city where major markets are found. A large number of this city’s population speak Turkish and entertain close scientific, cultural and commercial ties with Turkey. Some even call it “little Istanbul”. That marked the end of this historic visit of the OIC SG to this newly independent Balkan State. Popular and official quarters pin great hopes that this important visit will have important results.
Ihsanoglu addressing the Assembly of Kosovo
A view of the city of Prizrin
OIC Chief presented with honorary citizenship and key of Prizrin
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WORLD AFFAIRS
Third Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan Endorsement of 6 plans of confidence building measures
Almaty, Kazakhstan – On April 26, Kazakhstan hosted the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan. More than 50 delegations led by the foreign ministers of the participating states and others, gathered in Almaty for the Conference. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev inaugurated the event. It was co-chaired by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov and Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul. The group endorsed six implementation plans of confidence building measures (CBMs) to consolidate the regional countries’ efforts to promote trust, security and result-oriented cooperation on Afghanistan and reaffirmed its commitment to expand collaboration based on the principles of friendship, respect and mutual benefit. In his welcoming remarks, President Nazarbayev highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and outlined Kazakhstan’s contribution and consistent role in the international community’s plans on Afghanistan. He noted that Kazakhstan had been providing political, economic and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan starting in the 1990s. The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu attended the Conference in Almaty on 26 April 2013. On the sidelines of the Conference, he had bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of Iran and Afghanistan as well as with the US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest. In his statement at the meeting, Ihsanogu stressed again on the need for regional cooperation as a crucial avenue towards achieving peace, security and development in Afghanistan adding that a stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. “A regional approach should therefore focus on exploring common opportunities and interests for building a shared future in the region,” he said. Ihsanoglu stated that the OIC supports the adoption of the implementation plan concerning the six CBMs and has already expressed its readiness to take part in all the CBMs, especially on infrastructure and trade, commerce and investment opportunities. 20
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He pointed to the OIC Plan of Action for cooperation with Central Asia, which also includes the participation of Afghanistan, was adopted in Astana, Kazakhstan at the Conference of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in June 2011. The Plan identified areas of cooperation in political, economic, science and technology and socio-cultural fields including, among others, peace and security, infrastructure and human capital development, trade and investment promotion, environment, development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). With the approval of various projects, the implementation of the Plan has commenced already and there are efforts in place to fast track the process of the implementation. Thus, as an important vehicle for regional cooperation, the OIC Plan can be aligned in a way to facilitate the implementation of the CBMs as well. Ihsanoglu concluded by reiterating the commitment of the OIC to remain engaged in the Istanbul Process and the sustained support of the OIC in the process implementation of the CBMs. "Let me also assure that the OIC is committed to peace, reconciliation, reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, a country rich in human and natural resources with strategic location and historical standing at the “Heart of Asia”, and to the promotion of security and cooperation in the region." The participants in the meeting adopted a declaration of continued support of Afghanistan, reconfirming their resolve to build greater confidence, trust and cooperation within the region. They adopted specific action plans for each of the six packages of the confidence-building measures of the Istanbul Process. The event has allowed countries in the region to harmonize their approaches toward Afghanistan and to identify concrete measures of cooperation in the fields of education, economic development, anti- terrorism, anti-drug trafficking, and relief from natural disasters. Afghan Government takes over security responsibilities Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed the handing over security responsibilities of the whole Afghanistan from NATO Forces to the Afghan security and military forces, which marks the final stage of the long process of taking control of the country by the Afghan forces. On this occasion, he congratulated the people and Government of Afghanistan for this historic achievement. On the other hand, on 16 June 2013, Abdul Rahim Sayedjan, Afghanistan Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OIC, deposited the Instrument of Ratification of his country for the OIC Charter.
Ihsanoglu at 10th US-Islamic World Forum:
Time for Obama to exercise determined leadership for better relations with Muslim world
Doha, Qatar – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed that the United States remains a vital partner for the OIC and must continue to play an active role as the leading power in the world. He called on President Barack Obama to exercise ‘determined leadership’ to fulfill his call for better relations with the Muslim world. Ihsanoglu pointed out that recent history reminds us that allowing problems to remain unsolved does not help maintain peace and security in the world; Palestine is a good example of that. The Secretary General was speaking at the opening of the 10th US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar on 9 June 2013 being held under the theme ‘A decade of dialogue’. He said that the Palestinian issue remains at the heart of the most pressing concerns of the OIC and the international community. Referring to Obama’s famous June 2009 statement in Cairo and 2010 speech at the UN General Assembly, he said that President Obama raised expectations among the entire Muslim world for the long awaited establishment of a Palestinian state. Ihsanoglu stressed that the recent General Assembly’s recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state constitutes a timely and crucial opportunity to give renewed momentum to the currently deadlocked peace process. Organized jointly by Brookings Project on US Relations with the Islamic World and Qatar, the three-day conference concluded on June 11. Besides the OIC Secretary General, the forum hosted President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, former US ambassador to the United Nations Thomas Pickering, Egyptian Minister for International Co-operation and Development Amr Darrag, and Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs undersecretary Tara Sonenshine, among others. This year’s forum titled “A Decade of Dialogue” represented its ongoing commitment to fostering improved relations between the United States and Muslim societies around the world. It focused on the conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria, political change in Pakistan and a number of Arab nations, as well as the need for greater economic opportunity within the world’s emerging democracies. “The 10th annual forum comes at a time of transition and
conflict for several nations,” said Brookings vice-president and director of foreign policy Martin Indyk. “Through frank and honest dialogue, we hope to contribute to greater security and stability for those countries and peoples currently at greatest risk.” Meanwhile, the Secretary General said in his statement that as the world’s second largest intergovernmental organization, the OIC is committed to cooperate with the United States and the international community to promote and consolidate global peace, stability, harmony, security and development. Since he came into office in 2005, he has worked hard to develop strong partnerships with the US, which resulted in the appointment of the first US Special Envoy to the OIC in 2008, a visit by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to OIC Headquarters in 2010 and his meeting with the US President the following year as the first OIC Secretary General to be invited to the White House. Ihsanoglu pointed out that there are many examples of successful OIC-US cooperation, which are symbolized in the joint efforts to eradicate polio, promote maternal health, encourage youth entrepreneurship, develop greater opportunities for women in education and science, as well as efforts to counter radical extremism and other international security issues. However, perhaps the most significant example of OIC-US cooperation is in the consensual passage of UN Human Rights Council resolution 1618/ on combating religious intolerance. The Secretary General co-launched with Secretary Clinton the Istanbul Process for a consensual implementation of this resolution in July 2011. The 10th US and the Islamic world Forum concluded with declaration of a set of recommendations calling for enhancement of freedom of expression, freedom of religion, social change and prevention from economic collapse. It also called for religious tolerance and encouraging governments to conduct reforms in a transparent manner and involve the public in decisions making with a view to achieving development, justice and the establishment of a strong economy and the fight against corruption and the involvement of women in economic activities in the medium term. The recommendations also included the need to provide greater assistance to countries in transition period through increasing coordination and partnerships and the exchange of knowledge and expertise. The Forum also recommended enactment of laws and cultural norms and adopt approaches that encourage women’s participation in political affairs and economic activities for the desired economic change according to the context of each country. The Forum also stressed the importance of working to find common interests in this ever-changing world as well as promoting religious and diplomatic coordination in support of peace and stability and the values of human rights. It also called for supporting the peace process in the Middle East to achieve the principle of the two countries. 21
WORLD AFFAIRS
Calls for investigating violations of human rights
OIC Contact Group Meeting on Rohingya Muslims
Condemns Spread of Violence in Myanmar
OIC Secretary General opening the Contact Group Meeting on Rohingya Muslim Minority
Maha Akeel Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Upon the invitation of the Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Contact Group on Rohingya Muslim Minority convened at the Ministerial level on 14 April 2013 at OIC Headquarters to discuss the critical situation of the Muslims in Myanmar. After a round of discussions, the Contact Group stressed the need to respect the universally accepted human rights and norms in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It condemned the spread of violence in Myanmar and the continuing disregard of international law and its detrimental implications for regional and global peace, stability and security. The OIC Secretary General in his speech at the opening of the meeting said that there is an urgent need for action and yet there is a lack of response to OIC initiatives by the Government of Myanmar. Ihsanoglu urged for active communication with the international community to implement the Makkah Summit recommendations and suggested requesting the OIC Contact Group member countries that have diplomatic missions in Myanmar to use their good offices to take this matter forward. Moreover, he stressed that OIC is willing to coordinate positions for the provision of the support needed to improve the situation of Muslims in Myanmar in order for them to restore all their legitimate rights and return to their land. The Foreign Minister of Egypt Mohamed Kamel Amr in his intervention said that the member states have to send a clear message to the Government of Myanmar that the international community is watching what is happening in that country. He suggested that host countries of Rohingya refugees conduct a media campaign to raise awareness of their plight and the challenges of hosting them. Dipu Moni, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, one of the neighboring countries most affected by the flight of Rohingyas escaping persecution in Myanmar, urged for the need to establish environment conducive to dialogue between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanmar and the need to prepare humanitarian assistance for the Monsoon season. Speaking 22
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to the OIC Journal, Minister Moni said that Bangladesh appreciates the initiatives taken by the OIC to help the Rohingya because it is a major problem in the region, but she stressed that the solution lies within Myanmar. “If the Rohingyas are given their citizenship rights and economic opportunities and security to live in their homeland and live a decent life, their problem would no longer be there,” she said. As for criticisms made of Bangladesh not doing enough for the Rohingyas, Moni said that those who criticize do so without knowing the realities on the ground. She went on to explain that there has been mass exodus from Myanmar into Bangladesh, which has been carrying this burden for over 30 years without much international burden-sharing. There are more than 29000 Rohingya refugees in two camps and nearly 500,000 undocumented Rohingyas within Bangladesh territories creating a huge problem economically, environmentally and legally. Furthermore, she said that although there are some foreign NGOs working there, most of the burden of assistance is carried by Bangladesh. She also pointed out that Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world and it cannot go on taking this burden. After discussions and due considerations, the Contact Group reiterated its firm and unwavering demand for an immediate halt of the unlawful acts perpetrated against Rohingya and other Muslims in Myanmar. It called upon the Myanmar authorities to ensure that extremists put an end to the use of force and violence and calls upon political and religious leaders in the country to give precedence to peaceful resolution through dialogue towards national unity. It also called upon the Myanmar Government to grant unhindered access of humanitarian aid for the victims of the violence in the Rakhine State as well as in other parts of Myanmar. The Group appreciated the humanitarian aid and financial assistance provided by many Member States to the Rohingya Muslims, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and others. It commended the initiative announced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the 4th Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, of the donation by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of US $50 million in assistance to the Rohingya minority in Myanmar and for donating the amount of US$ 1.9 million to build housing units to accommodate around 75000 Rohingya displaced persons through the Saudi Development Fund and the UN High Commission for Refugees. The Contact Group recommended that the OIC Member States take appropriate action for the adoption at the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution to condemn the ongoing atrocities, press the Government of Myanmar to carry out its responsibilities vis-à-vis its Muslim citizens,
and to urgently dispatch an independent commission of inquiry on Myanmar to investigate all violations of human rights in Myanmar by establishing the facts that may amount to such violations with a view to holding the perpetrators accountable and ensuring that the perpetrators will not have impunity. It also recommended that the OIC Member States explore all possible means through engagements with the United Nations including the tabling of a resolution specific to Myanmar to the UN General Assembly at the 68th Session. The Meeting called on the OIC General Secretariat to intensify efforts with the Government of Myanmar to open the OIC Humanitarian Office in Yangon to effectuate the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Government with the OIC in September 2012, with an emphasis on readiness to provide material and humanitarian support necessary to improve the living conditions of all the affected people both within their region or in the camps for displaced persons. Furthermore, it called upon the Government of Myanmar
to quickly respond to OIC’s request to arrange for a ministerial delegation of the Contact Group on Rohingya to visit Rakhine State and other areas where Muslims reside in Myanmar and to expedite the visit of the Secretary General to Myanmar. It also called upon the Government of Myanmar and political and religious leaders to actively promote intercommunal dialogue and reconciliation in the Rakhine State and to recognize the need for promoting the participation of all communities in the socio-economic development of the Rakhine State for their peaceful co-existence. Moreover, the Meeting called for implementing the proposal by Turkey, as co-sponsor of the Alliance of Civilizations, to host a meeting between the respective parties to resolve the outstanding issues between the Buddhist and Muslim communities through dialogue. It also suggested that the OIC should arrange a dialogue meeting between Muslim and Buddhist intellectuals, religious and opinion leaders in order to promote inter-faith dialogue.
Arakan Rohingya Union adopts Charter Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Organization of Islamic Rohingya Union during the last period. He was re-elected as Cooperation (OIC) hosted the second meeting of the Arakan Director General for a 6-year term. The meeting also looked Rohingya Union (ARU) on 7 -8 July 2013 in Jeddah where into the strategy and action plan of the Union in the next the members of the Union adopted its Charter and elected a session and elected a Regional Coordination Council for a Chairperson. 2-year term as well as an Advisory Board for a 5-year term. In his speech at the meeting, the Secretary General of Speaking to the OIC Journal on the sidelines of the the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called on the Government meeting, Adam Coogle from Human Rights Watch (HRW) of Myanmar to eliminate all forms of discrimination said that in many parts of the world there is a dearth of against Muslims by prohibiting extremists from preaching knowledge about the situation of the Rohingyas and the against any section of society. He said this includes the crimes being committed against them which includes, discriminatory 2005 regulation which imposes a ‘2-child according to what HRW determined, ethnic cleansing and only’ policy to all Rohingya Muslim families within two crimes against humanity. Therefore, he believes that the new townships - Buthidaung and Maungdaw in Arakan State - constituted ARU can conduct international advocacy and which violates all international standards of human rights. raise the profile of this issue. “This could be helpful to bring The Secretary General pointed out in his speech, which pressure to bear on the Burmese government to put an end was delivered on his behalf by the Director of Minorities to this problem,” he added. Department Talal Daous, that the violence perpetrated Coogle said that OIC could play a major role in bringing against the Rohingya Muslims last June and later against this issue to international fora such as the UNHRC and Muslims in other regions has led to killings, destruction of UNGA. “We are hopeful that OIC will put forward a property, and the creation of tens of thousands of refugees, Rohingya resolution at the next UNGA, and HRW will and internally displaced person. “Such violence should not support that.” He also called on the countries with friendly continue. It is the responsibility of the authorities to address relations with the Burmese government and the international the root causes of the issue and safeguard the lives and organizations to make clear to the Burmese government that property of all the peoples of Myanmar,” he stressed. abuses are being committed under their watch and they are Ihsanoglu acknowledged that the ARU, in the past two obligated to stop them, otherwise they are complicit. years, has achieved good progress given its many challenges and limited resources. He added that the ARU has a vital Properties of Muslims destroyed by Buddhist extremists (photo by Mathew Rains from HRW) role to play as the legitimate representative of the Rohingya people around the world, to advocate for their cause, improve their conditions in Myanmar as well as around the world, and help in finding a lasting solution to their suffering. The ARU was established by the OIC in May 2011 to unite the Rohingya refugees around the world. The Director General of the first session of the Union, Dr. Wakar Uddin, presented his report on the achievements of the Arakan 23
OIC NEWS Bangladesh decorates Ihsanoglu with the “Bangladesh Friendship Medal”
Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Secretary General of the always been and would always remain a friend in its true Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin sense to Bangladesh. Ihsanoglu was decorated with “Bangladesh Friendship Earlier in the day, the Secretary General addressed the Medal”, the highest civilian honor of Bangladesh. inaugural session of the 19th Conference of the Islamic World The medal was conferred on him by the Honorable Prime Academy of Sciences as the Guest of Honor. Ihsanoglu was Minister of Bangladesh Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina on visiting Bangladesh upon the invitation of the Honorable 6 May 2013 in Dhaka in recognition to his extra-ordinary Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. During the course of the contribution to the Organization in particular and to day, the Secretary General also had bilateral meetings with the Muslim World in general, introducing long awaited the Honorable Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In both reform in the OIC as well as his role in strengthening the meetings, current international and regional issues, OICfruitful cooperation between the OIC and Bangladesh. Bangladesh bilateral relations and issues related to mutual The Secretary General on his part expressed his utmost cooperation were discussed. He made a courtesy call on the gratitude for the honor bestowed on him and said that he had leader of the opposition as well.
Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs visits the OIC Headquarters Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Upon the invitation by the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Turkish Minister for the European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis paid an official visit to the OIC Headquarters on 2425 May 2013. On the occasion of the visit, Minister Bagis and the accompanying delegation was received by the OIC Secretary General followed by extensive consultations with the attendance of the senior officials of the OIC General Secretariat. During the meetings, Minister Bagis was briefed by the OIC senior officials regarding the OIC programs and activities in the political, economic, science and technology fields and the current state of the Palestinian cause as the core item on the OIC’s agenda. Both sides also exchanged views on further development of relations between the OIC and Turkey as well as between the OIC and the European Union and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to this end. On the second day of his visit to the OIC Headquarters, Minister Bagis gave a lecture with the attendance of businessmen and diplomatic and consular corps in Jeddah where he informed the audience about the state of affairs on
the Turkey-EU relations as well as its impact on Turkey’s relations with the Islamic world. In his lecture, Bagis stressed that Turkey has always been a bridge between East and West politically, economically and culturally, and while it is reaching out to the West it is not ignoring its Eastern roots. He pointed out that Turkey is the only Muslim-majority country that is a member of OIC, NATO, OECD, OSCE, ECO, and the Mideteranean Union and aspires to be a member of the EU. He said that at different periods of its history Turkey has leaned towards one side or another, but now it is emphasizing relations in all directions at the same time. Commentıng on the frequently asked question of whether Turkey is now shifting towards the eastern axis, Bagis said that Turkey is not shifting anywhere, it is rising. He stressed that Turkey can play a very unique role in Europe, pointing out that in the old days political relations determined economic reality, but today it is the reverese, economic reality determines political relations. Turkey today is the fastest growing economy in Europe. Turkey’s application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Negotiations were started on 3 October 2005.
OIC reiterates its support for the security and stability of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated the Organization’s firm position in support of the unity and stability in the Kingdom of Bahrain and reject any prejudice to its own security and safety. The Organization also renewed rejection of any interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain in line with the Charter of the Organization, which affirms the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States. 24
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The Secretary General welcomed the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain in response to terrorist elements that target the security and stability of the country, referring to the importance of taking advantage of the dialogue platform which is made possible by the Bahraini leadership in order to achieve the desired reform and support for national consensus for the welfare and interests of the Bahraini people.
First visit by an OIC S.G. to member states in S. America OIC Chief discusses bilateral relations in Suriname
Paramaribo, Suriname – The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was decorated with “the Grand Ribbon in Honorary Order of the Yellow Star”, the highest civilian honor of Suriname. As the first ever OIC Secretary General to visit Suriname, Ihsanoglu was on a two days official visit to the country. The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu arrived on 27 May Ihsanoglu decorated with the "Yellow Star" 2013 in Paramaribo, the Capital of Suriname, on an official visit, the first by an OIC Secretary General to an OIC Member State in South America. He was received at the airport by Foreign Minister Mr. Winston G. Lackin. The Secretary General had meetings and exchange of views with the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Governor of the Central Bank, Members of the Parliament, Private Sector representatives and members of Inter Religious Council on Suriname (IRIS). In the meetings, OIC-Suriname bilateral relations and issues related to mutual cooperation in particular economic and financial cooperation issues in support of socioeconomic development of Suriname were discussed at length. The “Yellow Star” medal was conferred on him by the Acting President of Suriname His Excellency Robert L A Ameerali on 27 May 2013, the first day of the visit in Paramaribo on behalf of the Honorable President His Excellency Desire Delano Bouterse, who was out of the country, in recognition of his extra-ordinary contribution to the OIC and introducing long awaited and extensive reforms in the Organization. The award was also in recognition of his efforts to activate and strengthen relationships between the OIC and Suriname. The Secretary General on his part expressed his gratitude for the honor bestowed on him and said that he took the issue of reenergizing the dormant relations between the OIC and its certain member states, Suriname being one of them, as one of his prime reform objectives. Today’s honor vindicated that he succeeded in his endeavor, he said. Leaders of different faith based communities of Suriname including Muslim leaders also met the Secretary General under the framework of IRIS and discussed different aspects of peaceful coexistence through practicing tolerance and respect for each other. Secretary General Ihsanoglu qualified the multicultural experience of Suriname as an asset for the OIC and the humanity.
Ihsanoglu encourages Guyana to be more active in the OIC
Georgetown, Guyana – Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), arrived on 29 May 2013 in Guyana in a two-day official visit. This was the first ever visit by an OIC Secretary General to the country since it became a member of the Organization in 1998. During the visit, Ihsanoglu was received by the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for bilateral talks. He met and exchanged views with a number of other Ministers, leaders of the Central Islamic Organization in Guyana (CIOG) and leaders from different faith based organization. He also visited the Headquarters of CARICOM and had a meeting with its Acting Secretary General. The principal objective of his visit to both Guyana and Suriname was to encourage these two South American members of the OIC to be more active and enjoy the privilege of being full members through benefiting from the socioeconomic development programs of the Organization. Issues related to south-south cooperation and international and regional issues of mutual interest were discussed during his meetings with the high authorities of Guyana. His Excellency Donald Ramotar, the President of Guyana reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to the OIC and informed the Secretary General of his Government’s decision to ratify the OIC Charter and to initiate required procedure of signing the development agreements of the Organization. Ihsanoglu was honored through a citation given and read out by the President recognizing his relentless efforts to introduce long needed reforms in the activities of the OIC to make the Organization effective as well as his consistent role in encouraging the member states to be proactive to make the best use of its potential. The meeting with the Foreign Minister concentrated more on ways and means of advancing bi-lateral cooperation issues. Ihsanoglu visited the headquarters of the CIOG and was also honored by the Organization for his outstanding role in promoting moderation and modernization in the Muslim World. He also observed the construction works of the Queenstown Masjid, the biggest Mosque to be built in the CapitalGeorgetown. Guyana was first granted observer status within the organization on September 27, 1995, and became a member on October 1, 1998. Guyana and Suriname are the only two CARICOM countries which are members of the OIC. OIC Chief with the President of Guyana
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Ihsanoglu in USA raises awareness about OIC’s work in human rights, religious tolerance and humanitarian relief
Washington DC, USA – The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu concluded his four-day visit to Washington DC on June 4, 2013. The main objective of the visit was to address the US institutions and public opinion to raise awareness about the OIC’s engagement with the US and activities in particular in the field of human rights, promoting religious tolerance and humanitarian relief efforts. To this end, the visit of the Secretary General centered around interacting with members of Congress as well as two important institutions established by the US Congress: the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USIRF) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The Secretary General had roundtable talks with the Commissioners of the USIRF, a bipartisan independent
commission on freedom of religion, faith and beliefs, exchanged views with the Human Rights Watch high officials, interacted with some faith based leaders, and delivered a lecture at the USIP. He also had bilateral talks with Democrat Congressman Jim McGovern and Republican Congressman Kerry Bentivolio. The topics of discussion included inter alia OIC-US relations and ways and means to strengthening further mutualcooperation with special emphasis on implementation of the UN Human Rights Council resolution 1618/, human rights and humanitarian issues in particular in Myanmar and ways to move ahead towards political solution in Syria ahead of the Geneva II Conference.
Algiers, Algeria – The Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ambassador Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Alim, participated in the 4th Arab Maghreb and Sahel Regional Workshop on implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1624 (2005) on combating incitement to terrorism, organized by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in Algiers from 16 – 18 June 2013. In his address to the workshop, Ambassador Alim stressed the principled and constant position of the OIC which condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and rejects any attempt to link it with Islam, the religion of tolerance, moderation and non-violence. He expressed his conviction that combating the danger of terrorism and incitement to it,
whether by action or by word, cannot succeed except through strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation and consolidating the culture of dialogue, respect for the right to disagree and support for economic and social development in the countries of the region. The workshop brought representatives of governments of the Arab Maghreb and Sahel states together with experts and representatives of non-governmental international and regional organizations and civil society institutions. Discussions at the workshop highlighted the challenges of combating terrorism, effective countering of incitement to terrorist acts, and ways of advancing short and long term cooperation among states of the Arab Maghreb and Sahel region in order to build and boost counter-terrorism capacities.
OIC stresses on centrality of strengthening regional and international cooperation in countering incitement to terrorism
OIC Secretary General congratulates people of Iran and their President-elect
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warmly congratulated the Iranian people for their massive turn-out and their orderly conduct during the successful Presidential election held on 14 June 2013. While also congratulating the newly elected President Hassan Rowhani, the Secretary General expressed the hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran, a founding and active member of the OIC, would be led to greater prosperity, development and success in all fields during his tenure.
Ihsanoglu congratulates Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on assumption of rule in Qatar
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), issued a congratulatory message on 25 June 2013, to Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on the occasion of the announcement of his assumption of rule in the State of Qatar. The Secretary General paid tribute to Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani for his announcement on 25 June, of his handover of powers to his Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, as a bold step that leads the way toward a new stage in the forward progress of the State of Qatar with a new generation taking up the helm. 26
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A new phase in OIC-EU relations, Ihsanoglu inaugurates the OIC
Mission to the European Union in Brussels
OIC Secretary General meets EU Commission President Barroso
Brussels, Belgium - The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu inaugurated the OIC Mission for the European Union on 25 June 2013 with the attendance of officials from the EU Commission, Parliament and Council, representatives of the Belgium Foreign Ministry, and Ambassadors of OIC Member States and other countries in Brussels. The Secretary General considered the opening of OIC Mission to the EU as a new phase in OIC-EU relations. In his welcoming statement at the opening ceremony, Ihsanoglu invited the Ambassadors, the EU and the Belgium Foreign Ministry to work with the Mission to have a better relationship between the Muslim world and Europe. Speaking on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton, Hugh Mingarelli, the Managing Director of Middle East and Southern Neighborhood at the EU, said that there are two issues in particular that the EU and OIC can focus on and that is promoting common values of respect and tolerance and the need to strengthen cooperation to be more effective. The Head of Belgium Foreign Minister’s Cabinet, Francois de Kerkhove, expressed satisfaction at the OIC’s opening an office at Brussels and assured complete cooperation. During his meeting with the EU Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, the OIC Secretary General said that he hoped OIC-EU relationship would now be more institutionalized and that they can work together substantively.
Ihsanoglu met with Barroso at the latter’s office at the EU Commission earlier on 25 June and their discussion focused mainly on developments in Syria. They both expressed their concern and called for a political solution and stopping the bloodshed while supporting the convening of Geneva 2 as the best chance to reach an agreement. Regarding the situation in Africa, particularly Mali, the Secretary General warned of the potential increase in radicalism, violence and conflict there and the need to take action. Ihsanoglu also brought up the issue of the Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar and urged EU to take affirmative steps in support of their rights. The Secretary General also had a working lunch with the EU Political Security Committee 27 permanent representatives during which they exchanged views about OIC’s activities in terms of conflict prevention and resolution and potential areas of cooperation with the EU. Meanwhile, the Secretary General had met on 24 June with the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva. The deteriorating situation in Syria was high on their agenda, both urging on the need for immediate humanitarian assistance as the number of refugees continues to increase. They also discussed the situation in the Sahel Region, Somalia, Yemen and Myanmar where Ihsanoglu stressed on the need for pressuring the Government there to allow access of international humanitarian agencies to the Rohingyas.
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Workshop on combating terrorism held at OIC in cooperation with UN
Combating incitement to terrorism: The challenges, threats and implementation of measures a great danger to global peace and security. A number of measures were advanced that would facilitate the combat against acts of terror, and Member States of the UN were called upon Amb. Alim opens the Workshop on Combating Terrorism at OIC to fully implement those measures. The united Maha Akeel Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Organization of Islamic Nations Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) was Cooperation (OIC) held a joint workshop with the United mandated to monitor the implementation of the Resolution by Nations Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee member states. Addressing the workshop, Chief of Section within the UN Executive Directorate (CTED) on the implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolution 1624 related to combating CTED, Ahmed Saif El-Dawla said terrorism has continued incitement to terrorism at the OIC Headquarters in Jeddah on to pose a danger to the international community. He added that some self-centered elements have evolved a method of 28 May 2013. Twenty-four Member States, five observer States, the UN, distorting the true meaning of Islam and portraying it as a the African Union, League of Arab States and a number of religion that allows the killing of innocent lives. On measures to combat terrorism, he emphasized the need NGOs participated in the workshop. The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to addressing the environment that breeds the evil act. States delivered a statement at the opening session of the three- should also have a critical look at the funding source and that day workshop, which was read by Ambassador Abdullah efforts should be made to cut the financial flows. Saif presented an overview on the approach to the SC bin Abdul Rahman Alim, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs who presided over the session. The statement resolutions 1624 (2005) and 1963 (2010). The workshop sessions discuss challenges, threats and emphasized the OIC’s principled position that emerges from the teachings of Islam, religion of peace and tolerance, which implementation: The first session looked at the challenges of incitement considers terrorism in all its forms and manifestations among to commit terrorist act from an international framework. the most serious crimes. The Secretary General stated that the OIC aims in the Some key elements were discussed – the need to spread three-day long workshop to explore ways and means of moderation, eliminate discrimination, protection of human combating incitement to terrorism at its roots, whatever its rights and addressing the environment that is conducive to possible underpinnings. This stand of the OIC is evident in its breed terrorism. One major challenge that was confronting the endeavors to mobilize efforts to fight incitement to terrorism, international community was on the definition of the concept which resulted in issuing in 1994 a Code of Conduct and the terrorism. The debate is still ongoing at the UN and states were establishment of the Convention on Combating Terrorism in encouraged to accelerate agreement in that regard. The second session was a discussion on assessing the threats 1999; perhaps the only Convention that defines terrorism. The statement also mentioned the eight points presented by in States from a regional perspective. The Panelists made an the OIC Secretary General in September 2010 in Geneva to find evaluation on the threats of incitement and violent extremism. out a broad consensus to combat stereotypes, discrimination and An overview presentation was made based on sub regional intolerance based on religion. The UN Human Rights Council, experiences - Africa and the Arab League. On Africa, it was based on these points, adopted resolution 16 /18 on Combating discovered that minors, the gullible, and the unemployed have intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and become targets. They were able to succeed in that direction discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against because of poverty in the region and unsecured borders. The region has been identified as the second most affected by persons based on religion or belief. the acts of terrorism. On the Arab side, it was identified that Security Council Resolution 1624: In 2005, the United Nations Security Council in its resolution the threat of terrorism was as a result of extremism and the 1624 (2005) decided that it has become absolutely necessary to misinterpretations of the religion. The panelists emphasized combat incitement to terrorism in all forms and manifestations. on the need of a legal instrument that clearly criminalizes Concerned by terrorism’s growing threat, the Security Council incitement. In session three, the panelists discussed challenges identified the concept of incitement as the key element that of incitement with emphasis on the definition of challenges leads to the commission of acts of terrorism and hence poses of incitement, the legal dimension and the role of Internet. 28
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One area of importance discussed here was on the need for the protection of human rights. It was identified that a thin line exists between incitement to cause terrorism and freedom of expression. However, freedom of expressions was not an absolute freedom. The discussion in session four centered on working in partnership to address the challenges of incitement and violent extremism. Speakers pointed out that states should evolve a kind of counter organization and coordination strategy, to be able to have an effective counter measures on terrorism. It should be contextual and specific. Internet was seen as a valuable means to utilize. Members should also make legislation to criminalize incitement and radicalization. And session five focused on further reflection on the threats in the OIC Member States. Session six focused on policy response, incentive and effectiveness. Speakers identified the importance of coming up with a common position on fighting terrorism at the international level by setting up an umbrella at the UN level. The seventh session was an interactive discussion. Some of the highlights presented include the legal challenge concerning the lack of definition of the term terrorism; the use of internet to counter incitement; having a definition of terrorism at national levels; having a declaration from OIC towards national approach; the UN CTED working with OIC; the role of the media in educating the society; identifying the root causes of terrorism; having a counter narrative approach; and the role of political and civil societies. Furthermore, the participants agreed that there was a need to embrace a holistic and over-arching approach that would enhance both local ownership and national leadership and to design workable and incremental strategies away from any idealistic or impractical policies. They also stressed that any counter-terrorism policy, to be truly effective and efficient, should address the root causes, be they political or socioeconomic, of terrorism. The international community also needs to deploy greater efforts toward resolving some of the most intractable conflicts across the world that usually exacerbate the sense of alienation and injustice. In closing the workshop, the OIC ASG Amb. Alim assured participants that OIC will continue to cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism. Important outcomes and moving forward: At the end of the workshop, Nicole El-Khoury, legal officer at CTED, said to the OIC Journal that the importance of the workshop is that it included national experts who had technical expertise in that regard because it is not sufficient to present international standards and requirements but to see how they are actually reflected at the national level. On the differences of opinion expressed on how to deal with incitement, she said that what is important to notice and what this meeting reflected is that the topic of incitement was dealt with from different perspectives. Asked about some countries concern over stereotyping and the need to recognize cultural sensitivities, El-Khoury stressed that the fight against incitement in the world scene is not taken from a regional perspective or targeting a specific religion. During the session on the challenges of incitement, Amb. Kristian Barthalon from the Council of Europe, made an interesting statement on the European perspective on freedom
of expression. Speaking to the OIC Journal he explained that when it comes to freedom of expression it is enshrined in Europe in Article 10 of the European Convention for Human Rights, and the overarching idea is that freedom of expression is not an absolute freedom; it is subject to certain restrictions and interference by states provided that this is done in strictly defined cases and only when the threshold is crossed of using freedom of expression to commit or incite a crime. He added that the European Court of Human Rights issued in 1986 a decision on freedom of speech that the potential of Article 10 is not only about protecting those utterances that we agree with in society but also those that shock, disturb and offend; they have to be accepted as long as they do not cross the threshold. Barthalon pointed out that these provoking, unpleasant, disturbing and highly offensive utterances are not by a state authority but are private opinions and therefore the state has no right to interfere. Asked about people like Anders Behring Breivik in Norway who accessed material that incited him to commit a massacre in 2011 even though the material itself might not have directed him to act, he said that the Norway case is a very sad case of a trend in terrorism and that is self-radicalism; similarly the cases of the Boston Marathon bombing and the London shooting. Under most European constitutions, Breivik had the right to put out his views in the public sphere, but once they are out in the public sphere he must bear the consequences if in those writings there is something criminal, explained Barthalon. However, he pointed out that it is difficult to prove in court the intent to cause a terrorist act unless clearly stated. Furthermore, people with those views will attract the attention of security officers and may be put under surveillance or interrogated, which is legal as long as these people pose a threat. “Putting your views out there does not mean you are protected against any form of action by the state on the basis of those views, it only means that you can express them without prior censorship.” But calling for genocide, racial hatred or targeting specific people to be killed, these are criminalized both by international laws and domestic legislations. Meanwhile, commenting on the challenges to combating incitement to terrorism identified at the workshop, Seif said to the OIC Journal that there were several challenges. The legal definition and the different components was one, particularly the universal definition of terrorism. The UN has definitions of particular offenses but the pending issue of the comprehensive universal definition would definitely boost additional consensus to have everyone on board, said Seif. Another challenge with the definition is the issue of human rights because the states might issue a catchall clause criminalizing certain behavior but this has to be clearly defined to ensure that it tackles what it should and avoid any potential misuse by anyone intentionally or unintentionally to prevent any possible violations of human rights. He also added resources as another challenge; all the measures need allocation of resources – human and financial – in order to sustain it. There is also the need to prevent terrorists from exploiting loopholes because there will always be loopholes. “We all here lack a privilege that terrorists actually do have. We have to be successful every day; they have to be successful only once.” 29
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Challenges of humanitarian action in Islamic jurisprudence and international humanitarian law Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The headquarters of the The workshop covered a variety of topics relating to the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic rights of victims of armed conflicts and the protection of Cooperation in Jeddah hosted on 1011- June 2013, a humanitarian workers. It also featured specific presentations workshop entitled: “Humanitarian Action in Today’s on experiences and practices in the area of protection. World: Reality and challenges in the context of Islamic The workshop aimed to provide knowledge-based jurisprudence and international humanitarian law.” assistance to those working in the humanitarian field, The OIC’s Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the develop their skills, and promote their awareness and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the knowledge of the principles of humanitarian action International Islamic Relief Organization co-organized in light of Islamic jurisprudence and international the workshop, which was attended by a constellation humanitarian law. Moreover, it aimed at building more of scholars and experts of Islamic jurisprudence and bridges of communication and cooperation between the international humanitarian law, such as Shaikh Ali three bodies organizing the workshop and their partners. Mohiuddin Qara Dagi, and the international expert Dr. The workshop brought together more than 20 organizations Amer Shermaly as well as other scholars and experts. and 80 participants.
Joint OIC-OCHA partnership mission to the Philippines takes stock of humanitarian problems in Mindanao
Mindanao, Philippines - A joint OIC-OCHA humanitarian partnership mission visited the Philippines on 1620- June 2013. The mission, which was led by Ambassador Atta El Manaan Bakhit, OIC ASG for Humanitarian Affairs, and Rashid Khalikov, Director of OCHA Geneva, went to Cottabato and Davao where its members met with local officials and different humanitarian stakeholders. To this end, the joint mission was provided with an opportunity to take stock of the humanitarian problems prevailing in the region of Mindanao and also to have first-hand experience of the issues faced by the Philippines in tackling natural disasters nationwide.
In addition, members of the joint mission exchanged views with Philippines Ministers and senior officials on the role of the humanitarian system in supporting national and local efforts to develop preparedness and resilience in face of recurring natural disasters such as the recent Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), which caused large scale devastation in its trail. Finally, the Mission also expressed its thanks and gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Philippines and to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for their active support in facilitating the success of this mutually beneficial partnership between the OIC and OCHA.
OIC Humanitarian Report on Gaza:
Impending water crisis within two years
Gaza, Palestine – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has warned in its monthly humanitarian affairs report of an impending water crisis that could be faced by the Gaza Strip, in light of the critical water deficit registered there, estimated at 80 million cubic meters. The OIC’s Humanitarian Affairs Department has noted in its report on “The humanitarian situation in Gaza” that the polluted state of the Southern reservoir, together with the 3.5% demographic increase compounded with Israel’s extraction of the subterranean waters there, in addition to the low level of rainfall in the region, will lead to a water crisis within the coming two years. The report indicated that the Gaza Strip will also be faced with an electric power crisis during the summer season in view of the rising use of electric machines on the one hand, and the curtailed power supply on the other. In this connection, the OIC Humanitarian Affairs 30
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Department called in its report for the extension of support for developmental and relief projects focused on the actual needs in Gaza, in addition to support for the project aimed at setting up a data bank to provide an actual picture of Gaza’s humanitarian and developmental needs, as well as for the creation of a coordination organ comprised of public and governmental institutions to streamline the efforts of visiting delegations. The report stated that the Gaza Strip had received, since March last, 25 humanitarian delegations, out of which 18 had come from OIC Member States, the other seven being from different non-OIC States. The OIC Humanitarian Affairs Department, annexed to its monthly report a list of the various aids extended over the month of March, which covered various areas including education, health, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, youth, women and children, in addition to a review of seasonal and emergency assistance.
Saudi Arabia leads the international community on Somali reconstruction and development projects
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi National Campaign of which had signed a bilateral agreement to strengthen for the Relief of the Somali People, in cooperation with the coordination and cooperation on providing assistance to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has concluded Somalia. all operational procedures to commence implementation In the same vein, the Department of Humanitarian of the first set of programs for the reconstruction and Affairs in the OIC confirmed the readiness of its office development of Somalia. This package worth US$24 million for humanitarian assistance coordination in Somalia to covers education, health and agricultural sectors in addition optimally distribute this humanitarian package in order to to rehabilitation of displaced persons and all aspects of reach the beneficiaries. social welfare. The program will cover the entire regions Ihsanoglu sent a message of thanks and appreciation of Somalia. to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and a similar For his part, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin letter to His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Nayef Ihsanoglu called on member states, humanitarian bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the organizations in those states and civil society institutions to reconstruction and development of Somalia. contribute to the OIC’s assistance programs for Somalia. He The letters of the OIC Secretary General coincided expressed high appreciation for past and present gestures with the launch of the first package of the projects of Saudi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership National Relief Campaign of the Somali people, which of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah includes more than 20 specific projects in the areas of health, Ibn Abdulaziz in the area of humanitarian action and in education, welfare, social development, and agriculture, as consolidating the meaning of Islamic solidarity among OIC well as drilling (50) wells for drinking water in the first phase, Member States. funded by said campaign as part of its continuing efforts The Saudi campaign program is the first of its kind towards the reconstruction and development of Somalia among the international community’s contributions towards under the OIC supervision. An inauguration ceremony was reconstruction and development in Somalia. This is being held in Mogadishu on 9 June 2013 under the slogan “Saudi done in collaboration with the OIC and as part of Saudi Arabia is Pioneer in Supporting Brothers.” It was attended Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to support the Somali by Abdi Farah Shirdon, Somali Prime Minister, and a people under the Somali reconstruction and development number of ministers, members of the Somali parliament, program, which is under the direct follow up and supervision dignitaries and leaders of civil society organizations, and of His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad Ibn Nayef Ibn media personnel. Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and overall supervisor of The OIC Secretary General added that this program is Saudi relief committees and campaigns. an extension of the close and evolving cooperation between The Saudi national campaign had provided more than the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organization of 10,000 tons of relief assistance to Somalia during the famine. Islamic Cooperation, not only in Somalia but also in other Currently, it is building 150 artesian wells to solve water parts of the world. There is no doubt that this is a model problems, which had been approved by His Royal Highness of cooperation between the Islamic donor countries and the late Prince Nayef Ibn Abdulaziz. the OIC reflecting positively on mitigation of humanitarian This phase is a continuation of the close cooperation between the OIC and the Saudi National Campaign both disasters, especially in Islamic countries. 31
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Medecins sans Frontieres’ activities in favor of Palestinians:
Addressing the long-term effects of the conflict People’s exposure to unrelenting violence in Gaza and the West Bank, but also Syria, has medical, psychological and social consequences. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) runs programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to try and meet needs that are not covered by the Palestinian health system. In Gaza, MSF provides specialised surgery post-operative care and is involved in intensive care activities, while in Nablus, Hebron and East Jerusalem, MSF runs a number of medical and psychosocial programmes. MSF also runs medical and mental health projects in Lebanon for Palestinian and Syrian / Palestinian refugees. The Israel-Palestine conflict and inter-Palestinian violence have the dual effect of increasing people’s need for medical and psychological care while simultaneously reducing the availability of the drugs and medical equipment needed to treat them. Restrictions on movement and the blockade of the Gaza Strip have also limited the opportunities for Palestinian medical and surgical staff to receive further training or stay in touch with new developments in their field. MSF, which has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1989, currently focuses on addressing the long-term effects of the conflict that the overstretched local health system is simply not able to cover, providing people with free-of-charge specialised care that they would not otherwise receive.
In Gaza, specialised surgery to burns
In Gaza, MSF’s focus is on plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery and hand surgery for patients who have suffered serious burns, trauma and other debilitating injuries. In 2010, a special surgical programme was opened at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Most of MSF’s patients at Nasser hospital are children with burns injuries caused by domestic accidents, which are increasingly common since the blockade began, with electricity shortages forcing people to find other means of cooking or heating their homes. In 2012, the team in Khan Younis began specialist hand rehabilitation. Over the course of the year, a total of 282 patients were operated on, 56% with burns injuries and 19% with trauma-related injuries, while 18% had abnormalities dating from birth. A further 136 patients have received specialist surgery this year. The post-operative care, including physiotherapy and dressings, are provided from an MSF-run clinic in Gaza City. It helps patients who have undergone surgery to be fully rehabilitated and live normal lives. MSF also provides assistive devices and burns rehabilitation material, such as pressure garments and silicone face masks. In January and February 2013, MSF staff carried out 648 dressing sessions and 723 physiotherapy sessions for patients who had had surgery. MSF medical teams work in close partnership with 32
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Nasser hospital medical staff. In addition to treating patients directly, they provide specialized training to their Palestinian colleagues, transferring skills and the latest scientific knowledge. Most recently, they have provided training in cardiac physiotherapy. Since 2013, MSF also supports Nasser hospital Intensive Care Unit team in providing adequate clinical management to patients with acute reversible illnesses.
Mental health support in the West Bank
In Nablus Qalqilya and Hebron, Palestinians and Israeli settlers continue to live at close quarters, giving rise to violence and putting enormous psychological pressure on the districts’ residents. The patients in MSF’s mental health programme are all direct or indirect victims of the IsraelPalestine conflict and inter-Palestinian violence. In the cities of Nablus and Hebron, MSF offers medical, psychological and social support to people affected by conflict. In 2012, the number of psychological consultations in Hebron increased by 50 percent, while MSF expanded its services in East Jerusalem to cope with the increased demand after the number of patients tripled. Almost half of MSF’s patients are under 18, and most are suffering from anxiety-related conditions. Depression, behavioural issues and post-traumatic stress are all common. MSF’s goal is to restore an acceptable level of medical and psychological health to patients whose daily lives have been blighted by stress, anxiety and depression.
Humanitarian relief in Lebanon
MSF also runs medical and mental health activities in Lebanon, aiming to provide humanitarian relief to Palestinian and Syrian / Palestinian refugees, either residing in Lebanon or fleeing unrest in Syria. MSF is providing support in Ainel-Helweh and in Shatila refugee camps. In Saida, MSF has been running a community-based mental health programme since April 2011, working in five health facilities and targeting both the Palestinian population of Ain el-Helweh and other vulnerable populations groups. Since 2012, MSF teams have also being distributing blankets, hygiene and kitchen kits, mattresses and diapers to the refugees in a total of three camps. *This report is special for OIC Journal by MSF, a humanitarian partner of OIC
Consensus First, Majority Later By Aiman Abboushi Arab Media coordinator Dept. of Information, OIC
Following a series of democratic reforms in the Arab world, a question has been raised about the interpretation of the idea of the social contract and the definitions of citizenship. To what extent can democracy, meant to be a safe haven for a turbulent state, be suitable for individuals seeking to employ it for their interests? Relations among members of a community used to be characterized by central states with absolute power over other members of the community. That is no longer the case. What we have now are multi-directional loyalties of various opponents who seek power through elections, a truly complicated process marked by controversial dialogue among stakeholders. In the last two decades, the cosmetic consensus introduced by the dictatorship led to rampant corruption, favoritism and restriction of the wealth to a limited category of people. After repressing the opposition, this semblance of coherent state succeeded in maintaining the unity of state power and the loyalty of the security and military institutions to the regime. Consequently, this regime imposed its own view and achieved a nominal stability despite accusations, criticisms and numerous mistakes. The so-called temporary success of the authoritarian models in comparison with the democratic experience in the Arab world cannot obscure the obvious contradiction between the two, given the sectarian, ethnic and class differences that are clearly visible among the components of the society. Those accumulated differences have been further amplified by media incitement, demagoguery, political polarization, marginalization of others, absence of partnership for the purpose of nation building and more importantly, the lack of consensus on a new definition of citizenship and social relations. All this resulted in a radical disagreement about new constitutions for those emerging democracies. The gradual fall of the Arab Nationalism in the past 23 years is the main motive behind the move to change the
concept of citizenship; otherwise the status quo is alerting new wave of secessions in the countries of the region. In this regard, the ideological and cultural vacuum has created separatism, particularly during the transitional period in which the state became weak on account of internal struggle and the mutual media campaigns targeting the social fabric which may culminate in civil wars. The paradox is that a democracy serving the legitimate rights of minorities has become the main factor of pitting various categories against each other under the pretext of freedom of expression and the rights to protest. Added to that, democratic empowerment, a method for ousting dictators has turned into a muscle flexing-policy among political rivals. Accordingly, the “Arab Spring” democracy has ensured a wide range of freedoms in a transitional period, while the people who are expected to rule themselves are incapable of determining their goals and achieving the needed consensus for the historical and fateful decisions especially when a solid infrastructure for a democratic state requires unanimity instead of the majority. The benefit of building a strong state is not a matter for controversy. More important is the need to consolidate the state in its infancy in order to overcome the contentious issues that it may face later. It has been said time and again, that democracy is still the ideal way of reaching a final settlement for any subject. However, it can also be said that, while this is true, democracy has failed to solve the exceptional matters that determine the basis of establishing the democracy itself. Thus the multiparty state was the main factor for the dissolution of the traditional one-party state, but it couldn’t construct the real democratic alternative. In fact, the democratic process committed to the results of ballot boxes didn’t provide the expected stable country with a strong leadership that is well-connected to its people and thus capable of handling challenges. Undoubtedly, criminalization of peoples and considering democracy as a failure are reprehensible ideas. Democracy is a well-known political method for ending dictatorship, enforcing law, combating corruption in order to achieve sustainable development projects for the prosperity of the people. However, those targets are yet to be fulfilled and there is no sign that any of them can be achieved in the near future as long as there is no new understanding of the social contract that could bring the society’s antagonists under a unified identity of the new state; a state well-protected from external polarization.
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OIC hosts 3rd international experts meeting on implementing HRC Resolution 16/ 18 Geneva, Switzerland – The menace of terrorism, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United incitement to hatred, discrimination, and violence cannot Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG); Bacre Ndiaye, Director, and must not be ignored, stressed the Secretary General of Human Rights Council and Special Procedures Division – the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He warned of the OHCHR; Ambassador Michael G. Kozak, Acting Principal risks involved if the agenda is hijacked and set by radicals Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human and non-state actors, and called instead for the need to act Rights, and Labor – US Department of State; Ambassador to wrest the initiative away from the street to the table of Mariangela Zappia, Head of the European Union Delegation meaningful and result oriented multilateral discourse. to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva; Speaking at the opening of the three-day Istanbul Ambassador Jean-Marie Ehouzou, Permanent Observer of Process Meeting on the Follow-up and Implementation of the African Union to the UN in Geneva; and Ambassador Human Rights Council Resolution 16/ 18 on “Combating Zamir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, UN and Coordinator of the OIC Group for Human Rights and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence and Humanitarian Issues in Geneva. against persons based on religion and belief” in Geneva, The meeting exchanged a number of views and ideas which concluded on 21 June 2013, OIC Secretary General on how best to combat religious intolerance and continue Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that events like this meeting are building on the consensus reflected in Resolution 16 /18. increasingly important. “Our deliberations here must aim There was agreement on the utility of the 16/ 18 approach. at squarely addressing interrelated issues with particular There was also unanimity of views on the importance and reference to the grey areas. We need to evolve approaches efficacy of the Istanbul Process, and continuation of the that can remove the gaps in interpretation, implementation process would be important towards sustaining such a debate. or information on a consensual basis,” urged Ihsanoglu. He Naturally, there were areas of lesser convergence, but such proposed looking areas were fewer in into the prospect number compared to of developing soft agreements. There law that could continues to be a reflect the common difference of opinion understanding on the threshold of international of criminalization community on this important issue. It could be in the form of warranted in Article 20 of ICCPR. However, there is an some principles, guidelines or a declaration, he suggested. agreement on criminalization. The divergence relates to the The international experts meeting in Geneva is the third situation in which such a criminalization would come into within the framework of the Istanbul Process, which was play. It is only a matter of threshold that needs to be agreed initiated by the Secretary General with US Secretary of State upon. The limited time at the disposal of this meeting was Hillary Clinton and the EU High Representative for Foreign not expected to reach a conclusion on this rather complex Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to build further legal issue. on the consensus building that went into Resolution 16/ 18, In his closing remarks, Ihsanoglu said, “On the way adopted in March 2011. The first two were in Washington forward, I think it would be important for future meetings DC in December 2011 and London in December 2012. to aim at deeper analyses on certain points. I would like In the first Session of the Geneva meeting, the to reiterate my proposal of exploring options with regards distinguished panelists lend the benefit of their perspectives to soft law. The examples narrated at this meeting in the and expert opinion on the importance and urgency of speaking European context could form a basis for further discussion out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious and work to that end. Some kind of principles, guidelines hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility and/or policy recommendations would indeed be helpful. or violence. The Second Session of the Meeting touched I think the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the upon a most important element of Resolution 16/ 18 due High Commissioner for Human Rights will have important to the divergence of views on the adoption of measures to contributions to make at different stages of this process. The criminalize incitement to violence based on religion or belief. OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission And the Third Session focused on the need to recognize that (IPHRC) needs to play an active role in this matter…We the open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as well may explore the possibility of utilizing a forthcoming highas interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national level event on the multilateral calendar to have an Istanbul and international levels can play a positive role in combating Process event at a higher level. This, I believe, would revive religious hatred, incitement and violence. the necessary political impetus and make the process to go Other dignitaries addressing the opening included forward with strong foundation.”
Ihsanoglu proposes developing “soft law” reflecting the common understanding on combating incitement to violence
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Islamophobia increases worldwide: Report
Washington DC, USA - A US report had found that Muslims around the world, particularly in Europe and Asia, were facing rising hostility and violence, amid restrictions on their right to wear religious outfits. The International Religious Freedom Report said: “Anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions were clearly on the rise -particularly in Europe and Asia. Government restrictions, which often coincided with societal animosity, resulted in anti-Muslim actions that affected everyday life for numerous believers.” The report, released by US Secretary of State John Kerry on 20 May, shed light on restrictions facing Muslims and other religious minorities around the world. Kerry said: “This report shines light on the challenges people face as they seek nothing more than basic religious freedom and the right to worship as they wish. And its release is a demonstration of the abiding commitment of the American people and the entire US government to the advancement of freedom of religion worldwide.” US Ambassador at Large for International Religious
Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook said Muslims in Asia and Europe were facing rising hostility, adding: “Anti-Muslim sentiment and discrimination are evident in places as diverse as Europe and Asia…We call on societies and governments to foster tolerance and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.” The report specifically mentioned Burma (Myanmar) in which “Muslims in Rakhine State, particularly those of the Rohingya minority group, continued to be subjected to lethal violence and to experience severe forms of legal, economic, educational, and social discrimination.” The report, which covered the year 2012, also referred to new restrictions on Muslim religious attire and discrimination Muslim women face in particular, adding: “The impact ranged from education, to employment, to personal safety within communities…Government restrictions on religious attire also remained an issue, as Muslim women faced increasing restrictions on head coverings in schools, in public sector employment, and in public spaces.”
Rising fears of clashes in wake of Woolwich killing London, UK – According to the YouGov survey of being held against the killing, and half felt negatively. 1,839 adults, nearly two-thirds of people believed there Dr Matthew Goodwin of Nottingham university, who would be a ‘clash of civilizations’ between British Muslims commissioned the poll, said: “Compared to last year, when and white Britons in the wake of the murder of a British we ran the exact same survey, today people are either just as soldier in Woolwich on May 22, 2013, which the OIC likely, or more likely, to endorse a series of more positive strongly condemned. Reiterating the OIC’s strong and statements about Muslims.” unwavering position against all forms of terror including hatred, violence and intolerance based on religion and faith, Concern over backlash in US after Boston Marathon the OIC spokesman said that the brutal and barbaric killing bombing in Woolwich was a criminal and outrageous act by the Meanwhile, OIC Secretary General and leaders of the individuals involved who clearly acted on their own, adding OIC Member States had issued strong statements condemning that this criminal act should in no way be construed or the Boston Marathon Bombing, which happened on 15 connected to Islam as the Islamic faith preaches peace and April, immediately following the incident and well before rejects terror and killing of innocent people. The spokesman the suspects were identified and expressed sympathies for called on all for restraint and expressed confidence that the the families of the victims. tradition of tolerance in a multi religious and multi ethnic The OIC spokesman said that the OIC has always taken society in Britain would not be allowed to be disturbed by strong and uncompromising position against the scourge this incident. of terrorism underscoring that it should be addressed In the poll, the number of those who believed such a clash effectively through global partnership. The OIC Secretary was inevitable had increased by 9% from 2012. There had General in 2011 had proposed to strengthen the legal regime also been a small increase in the proportion of people who and building on existing international counter terrorist believed British Muslims posed a serious threat to democracy, instruments, UN Security Council and General Assembly up to 34% on 23 -24 May from 30% in November 2012. (GA) Resolutions as well as relevant OIC and the Council However the YouGov poll provided evidence that Britain of Europe Resolutions to combat terrorism. did remain a tolerant country and that the far-right support The spokesman however also expressed concern over remained at the margins of society. Nearly two-thirds (63%) media reports of Muslims residents in the USA of different believed the vast majority of Muslims were good British national and ethnic backgrounds being intimidated and citizens, up by 1% from November 2012. There had also subjected to harassment on grounds of their religious belief. been an increase from 24% to 33% in the proportion who He said that targeting people of one particular faith for an believed Muslims were compatible with the ‘British way incident that was allegedly carried out by some would not of life’. Around two-thirds (65%) said on the whole most only be unfortunate but unwarranted as well. He urged the people tended to get along well with each other. One in five US authorities concerned to ensure the safety of Muslims respondents said they felt positively about demonstrations from being targeted on unfounded grounds. 35
CULTURE Cairo honors the Secretary General world, explains the OIC march, and provides an overview of the overall reform process and how it was carried out.
Cooperation Prospects among the Islamic Countries in the Next Three Years
Cairo, Egypt - Cairo honored the OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on many occasions, starting with the League of Arab States on the second of April 2013 during the signing ceremony of his book ‘The Islamic World: Challenges of the New Century’ published by Al-Shorouq in Arabic. Dr. Nabil Al-Araby, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, lauded the achievements of Professor Ihsanoglu over the past years as epitomized by enhancing joint Islamic action and defending the causes of the Ummah at all levels. In his speech during the celebration, Al-Araby said: “We owe a lot to Ihsanoglu for his efforts to serve the Islamic world,” noting the global campaign he led to confront Islamophobia and religious defamation in the West. He pointed out that Ihsanoglu managed to arrange the priorities of the OIC describing him as a seasoned and firstrate politician, as well as a man of letters, a historian, and a great intellectual. He indicated that he requested Ihsanoglu to nominate himself for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations seven years ago, but he refused, preferring to serve the Islamic world. Al-Araby noted the way Ihsanoglu formulated the new OIC Charter by forming an ad hoc committee in which AlAraby was a member. On his part, Ibrahim Al-Mualim, the Chairman of AlShorouq Group and Vice President of the International Publishers Association, described the writings of the OIC Secretary General as being easy, smooth, and a clear embodiment of modern and enlightened Islam. Ihsanoglu stated that the OIC is proud of its cooperation with the Arab League at all levels, expressing his thanks to it and Al-Shorouq for the signing ceremony. Ihsanoglu said that his book contains important documents along with his experiences at the OIC since 1980 when he was still the Director General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Arts and Culture (IRCICA) in Istanbul. The book is prefaced by H.E. President Mohamed Morsi. “The value of this book increases with his author Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu who represents a distinctive Islamic intellectual energy over the past decades he spent at the sanctuary of science,” wrote Morsi. The book addresses the challenges facing the Islamic 36
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During the same visit, the OIC Secretary General delivered a lecture entitled ‘Cooperation Prospects among the Islamic Countries in the Next Three Years’ at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 3 April 2013. This was accompanied by an honoring ceremony organized by Dr. Mohammed Al-Badri, Head of the Institute, for Ihsanoglu for his role as the OIC Secretary General. In his lecture, Ihsanoglu indicated that “one main and important objective of the OIC during the coming period is to gain a seat on the UN Security Council because it is the sole representative of more than one and a half billion Muslims in the world, especially that the OIC has become more successful, developed, and international.” The Secretary General pointed to OIC’s expanding role at the international level: systematic development of its relations with the Russian Federation, the United States, Britain, France, Australia, and others starting with the appointment of permanent envoys by some of these countries to the OIC, and ending with the establishment of fixed diplomatic channels and the strategic partnership with the United Nations.
An Honorary Doctorate from Ain Shams University
Ihsanoglu stressed that Egypt has done him many favors and that Ain Shams University, where he graduated in 1966, was literally his Alma Mater. This was during the honoring ceremony held by Ain Shams University on 4 April 2013 under the auspices of the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mustafa Mousad and Ain Shams University President Dr. Hussein Issa to confer on Ihsanoglu an honorary doctorate in recognition of his services and contributions throughout his office at the OIC. In his speech delivered before the ceremony, the OIC Secretary General said: “While I already expressed my gratitude to Egypt for its favors towards me, I reiterate this today and I extend the highest expressions of thanks and gratitude to my dearest Ain Shams University.” “I spent ten years on Ain Shams campus between the Faculties of Science and Arts. This period had the greatest impact on me and my formative aspects of scientific, cultural and academic training,” added Ihsanoglu. The Secretary General indicated that the study years at the Faculty of Science were not just years of majoring in mathematical and natural sciences at the hands of peerless professors at the highest rank of fine specialization and keeping pace with modern developments, but also years of moral and talent refinement. On his part, Dr. Mustafa Mousad said that the OIC Secretary General is a person to be proud of and cherished by every Muslim and every human being in the world and that
conferring an honorary doctorate on him from Ain Shams University comes in recognition of his efforts in promoting Islamic Action. “Ihsanoglu is an Egyptian citizen by birth and upbringing. He holds the Excellence Medal and then Nile Medal granted by President Mohamed Morsi during the Twelfth Islamic Summit in Cairo on February 7 last year. He is a citizen of honor of the first rank and with distinction from all Arab and Islamic countries,” added Mousad. In turn, Ain Shams University President Dr. Hussein Issa said that Ihsanoglu is a prestigious international figure who contributed the extending intercultural bridges and is a dear son of the University.
OIC Gallery by Turkish Photographer Orhan Durgot Al-Aqsa in the Eyes of a Jeddah Dweller
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, OIC Secretary General, inaugurated a photo gallery on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque at Red Sea Mall in Jeddah on May 12, 2013. The opening ceremony was attended by Jamal Al-Shobaki, the Palestinian Ambassador to Riyadh and the Permanent Representative of Palestine to the OIC, Imad Shaath, Palestinian Consul General in Jeddah, and members of the diplomatic and consular corps in Jeddah. At the outset of the opening ceremony, the OIC Secretary General indicated that the exhibition was particularly important for providing an opportunity to revive the image of the blessed Al-Aqsa and its expressive symbolic and religious value in the hearts of the Ummah and contribute to the removal of the uncertainty among some Muslims who do not distinguish between Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock) and Al-Aqsa Mosque. He pointed out that the exhibition was a confirmation that the issue of Al-Quds AlSharif, the capital of the State of Palestine, shall always remain a top priority for the OIC in all areas of political, cultural, economic action among others. Ihsanoglu added that the Israeli aggressions against AlQuds and Al-Aqsa target an important pillar of the Muslim faith and that they are attacks against Muslims’ sacred sites and their first qiblah. He asserted that such Israeli aggressions present a flagrantly rude challenge to the deepest sacred values and feelings in the collective conscience of the Ummah. In his speech, Ihsanoglu noted that the OIC was then completing the arrangements for convening a donors’ conference in the following month hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan to finance the Strategic Sectoral Plan for the Development of Al-Quds Al-Sharif City. The donors’
conference coincided with another meeting that aimed to form an Islamic financial safety net to reflect a practical response by the rich Islamic countries to provide financial support to the general budget of the State of Palestine towards the alleviation of the current financial crisis. The gallery by the Turkish photographer Orhan Durgot included 54 photographs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its yards. They highlight the features of Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially since the holy mosque is currently undergoing difficult circumstances of continuous infringements by the Jewish settlers and extremists in the context of an Israeli policy that systematically and continuously violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The gallery was open to the public until May 17, 2013. The event was one of the many OIC efforts and contributions to raise the awareness of the Ummah on the importance of protecting the first qiblah and the third holiest Haram, the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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Tripoli: 2013 Islamic Culture Capital for the Arab Region Tripoli is considered as the second capital of Lebanon The Ottomans constructed a lot of new residential areas after Beirut. It is located on the eastern shore of the around the city of the Mamluk; hence, the city grew bigger, Mediterranean, and it connects the coastal cities with Syria’s and the number of its mosques, schools, zawaya, baths and midland and with Iraqi and Gulf cities through the Tripoli- khans (hotels) was doubled. Homs Natural passage, which has played an important role The Ottomans ruled Tripoli the longest, i.e. more than over the ages. Tripoli overlooks a 3000 meter-high mountain 400 years, except 8 years (1832- 1840), during which range, and a forest of cedars. A river, known locally as “River Ibrahim Pacha Ibn Muhammad Ali Al-Kabir, the ruler of Abu Ali”, runs through the city and flows from the Qadisha Egypt, entered the city and turned it into a military base Cave, on top of al-Makmal Mountain. during his war against al-Sham (the Levant). However, in Name: 1840, the Ottomans regained the city and it remained under Tripoli is derived from the Greek word “Tripolis”, which their rule until 1918, when the city fell under the French means “three cities”. The name refers to the first union of Mandate. Nevertheless, Tripoli remained the leading coastal three Phoenician cities, namely Tyre, Sidon and Arados, city until it gained its independence in 1943, and became which led to the establishment of a Phoenician city with the second capital after Beirut, and the capital of Northern three neighbourhoods, namely Mahlata, Mayza, and Kayza. Lebanon Governorate. That city formed the basis upon which Tripoli was founded. Main Islamic Civilization Landmarks: History: Tripoli is considered as the richest city in Eastern The coast of Tripoli contains geographical formations Mediterranean in terms of heritage, and it contains the most that were used as ports. Also, the city was used as a major Mamluk landmarks, after Cairo. It is also an open museum naval base under the rule of Alexander the Great. The city of the archaeological landmarks of the Romans, Byzantines, was greatly developed in the Roman age, during which a Fatimid and Crusaders, and joins the Mamluk and Ottoman lot of historical monuments were built in the city. However, architectures. the city was gravely destroyed by an earthquake during the The city harbours more than 160 archaeological Byzantine age, in 551 A.D. landmarks, including mosques, schools, khans, hammams, Under the rule of the Umayyad, Tripoli played an souks, etc. Similarly, Tripoli includes a number of ancient important role as a military base, while under the Fatimid mosques from the Mamluk era mostly, including: Mansouri rule, it enjoyed autonomy and became a leading knowledge Great Mosque, Taynal Mosque, Aattar Mosque, and Bertasi center in the region. In 1109 A.D., the city was seized by Mosque. the Crusaders, and most of its landmarks were seriously Tripoli also contains a lot of towers and military castles ruined, including its library “Darul al-ilm” or “The Hub built along its coast, such as Tripoli Castle, Prince Aytmash of Knowledge”, which contained about three million Tower, Prince Julbane Tower, Tarabay (Sheikh Affan), Prince manuscripts, and was as rich as Baghdad’s library. Al-Ahmadi (al-Fakhura), Prince Brisbay (known as Assabaa), Tripoli was conquered in 1289 by Sultan al-Mansour and Sultan Qaytbay Tower (known as the Upstream Tower). Qalawun, the Sultan of Egypt and the Levant, who ordered Tripoli also contains many palaces, old houses, hammams, that the old city be demolished and rebuilt on the plains under khans (hotels) and souks (markets), which are considered Tripoli Castle. Also, for over two centuries, the Mamluk as tourist destinations in Lebanon. Likewise, the central Sultans made it the provincial capital of their kingdom, and square, known as al-Tell Square, contains the Ottoman fiveestablished several gates for it in the different directions. stories-high Clock Tower, presented to Tripoli by Sultan After the war of “Marj Dabiq” (the Prairie of Dabiq) in 922 A.H./1516 A.D., Tripoli came under the Ottoman rule. Abdulhamid II. 38
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Groundbreaking ceremony for the Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu History and Culture Research Center held in Yozgat
Yozgat, Turkey – The groundbreaking ceremony of the ‘Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu History and Culture Research Center’ in the city of Yozgat, in Central Anatolia, was held on 19 April 2013, in the presence of Ihsanoglu, the OIC Secretary General, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Cemil Cicek, the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Bekir Bozdag, the Rector of Yozgat’s Bozok University Tamer Ucar and many academics, dignitaries from the province and the capital as well as other guests. The Center is located in the campus of Bozok University. The Building to be constructed as a replica of the historical mansion of Ihsanoglu’s grandfather Agvanlioglu Haci Aziz Bey. Architects relied on old pictures, plans of similar buildings of the era, and descriptions by senior people of the province to reconstruct the building. The Center will comprise a library, archive, conference room, exhibition hall, and would offer facilities to researchers. The Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu History and Culture Research Center is aimed at playing a pivotal role in the development
of scholarly research on Islamic culture and civilization. The Center will be a focal point and meeting place for scholars and researchers engaged with studies and research on various aspects of Islamic civilization. The center will feature a reference library specialized in Islamic history, culture, art and civilization. Ihsanoglu has donated books from the personal library of his father, a prominent scholar, as well as from his own collection to the Center which has now more than 10,000 items in different languages, including reference books. The library, combining a significant number of rare books and manuscript collections, will also collect several notable pieces of Islamic calligraphy and thousands of archival material. The Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Cemil Cicek in his speech praised the OIC Secretary General for his close affiliation and dedication to his hometown, Yozgat, through the establishment of the Cultural Center in his name. He also expressed his hope that the Center would contribute to the development of academic work in Yozgat. Speaking after the Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag called the OIC Secretary General as the “son of Yozgat” who is a great and internationally well-known scientist with major contributions to the Turkish and Islamic culture and civilizations. He expressed his conviction that the Cultural Centre will constitute an important source for the scientific work for many academicians and scientist. Meanwhile, on 20 April 2013, Yozgat Municipality held a ceremony for naming one of its main streets, where the grandfathers’ mansion is located, after Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. During his visit to Yozgat, the OIC Secretary General gave a lecture at the Bozok University titled ‘Birth of the Concept of University as an Institution in the Islamic World’. The talk was attended by a large number of academics and students from the University.
9th International Calligraphy Competition held in the name of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
Istanbul, Turkey – Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) announced the results of the Ninth International Calligraphy Competition which has been organized in the name of Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, founder of IRCICA and current Secretary General of the OIC. IRCICA holds the calligraphy competition periodically within the framework of its activities aiming to preserve and promote the Islamic artistic heritage. The objective of the competition is to preserve, revive and promote the classical art of Islamic calligraphy and encourage young artists to ensure its continuation. The calligraphy competition is organized once every three years. The Jury of the Ninth Calligraphy Competition met on 15 -25 April 2013 at IRCICA Headquarters in Yıldız Palace, Istanbul to evaluate the works entered in the competition. In his opening speech of the Jury meeting, Dr.
Halit Eren, Director General of IRCICA and Chairman of the Competition Organizing Committee, recapitulated the preparatory activities undertaken by IRCICA throughout the last three years in order to realize this competition on a wide international scale. The competition was conducted in ten main styles of writing, namely jaly thuluth, thuluth, naskh, jaly taliq, taliq, jaly diwani, diwani, qufi, riq’a and maghribi. The Jury examined 900 works submitted by 672 participants from 39 countries. The competition distributed a total of 77 awards and mentions, amounting to US$ 129,750 in total, among 73 participants from 23 countries, including non-member states China and Spain. 39
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Taking stock of the post-2005 reform process at the OIC: Achievements, challenges and future prospects
Istanbul, Turkey - In order to assess the achievements of the OIC since the 2005 reform and revitalization process initiated under the leadership of the Secretary General, a special international conference was organized at the historic Yildiz Palace, Istanbul on 28 April 2013. The conference was titled “Taking Stock of the Post-2005 Reform Process at the OIC: Achievements, Challenges and Future Prospects” and organized under the auspices of IRCICA. Participants included distinguished scholars, policy experts, think tank representatives and members of the diplomatic community. The themes of the conference included an historic analysis of the creation of the OIC and its early mission, followed by a review of the reform process and current activities, and finally reflections on the changing position of the OIC in the international system over the course of the next decade. The OIC Secretary General presided over the conference and was able to engage in discussion with the participants on a number of issues throughout the conference. It was noted that reform of the OIC was undertaken through three simultaneous and parallel procedures. The first was the re-organization of the OIC to meet contemporary challenges as articulated in the Ten-year Plan of Action by which the modernization of the OIC must be in synchronization with the present times and be relevant to the needs of the Muslim world. The second was to enshrine the OIC as a major player in international affairs by incorporating international core values into the OIC system. This included the democracy based on rule of law, accountability transparency, justice and respect for human dignity. It was particularly noted that the reform process initiated in 2005 was the first time that the OIC articulated core universal values of freedom, liberty, justice human rights, good governance, rule of law, women’s rights justice prosperity and dignity accountability and transparency and enshrined them in its new charter. This
was a major paradigm shift in the history of the OIC brought about by the new leadership of the Secretary General. This was evidence that the Muslim world strived to be part of the mainstream international community and seeks to work together and benefit from universal values and progress and prosperity. The third procedure was to ensure that the OIC stays the course to transform itself from an inward looking entity to outward looking organization where it would increase its stature as a global actor for productive cooperation. Looking to the future the thrust of OIC mission should be to lead the Muslim world to be part of the international mainstream. One of the specific examples of OIC successes highlighted in the conference was the adoption by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011 of Resolution 1618/ on combating religious intolerance which was an outcome of the OIC’s initiatives. The OIC continues its efforts towards real and effective implementation of this resolution through the Istanbul Process and this has been one of the main programs of the OIC in combating religious hatred and intolerance, specifically in combating Islamophobia, one of the major problems facing the Muslim world in the present period. Furthermore, it was noted that the OIC obtained tangible results in some of its mediation efforts for peaceful resolution of conflict and had developed a reputation as an honest broker. Among the overall conclusions of the conference were that the OIC had made great advancements and become an invaluable player on the international scene. Inspired by the vision and objectives of the new Charter and the Ten Year Program of Action which were initiated by the Secretary General, both quantitative and qualitative differences were tangible in the reputation and visibility of the OIC among international actors with leading governments and institutions actively seeking partnerships with the Organization.
Two training programs for OIC staff on negotiating and managing religious diversity Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - A group of OIC staff participated in two training programs in May, one in Cairo with the Egyptian Institute for Diplomacy Studies (IDS) and the other at the OIC Headquarters with the Initiative on Quiet Diplomacy. In Cairo, the eight OIC staff members had a 10-day condensed and insightful training program on diplomacy and international relations, bilateral and multilateral negotiations, settlement of disputes, international regulations and the law of international organizations, international humanitarian law, and international governance and its future. It was a valuable learning experience, enriching and engaging. The second training program had more OIC staff 40
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members participate. Prof. John Packer of the Initiative for Quiet Diplomacy gave the two-day workshop that focused on managing religious diversity in conflicts, which was particularly useful given that many of the conflicts where OIC tries to mediate are related to religious diversity. Prof. Packer talked about discrimination and religious diversity management to conflict prevention and the OIC context while discussing case studies such as Yemen, Mali and Myanmar. He went through the problem solving steps, conflict analysis, human rights analysis, risk analysis, and mapping the situation. It was a very thought-provoking and perceptive workshop which the participants benefited from.
Reality versus fatwas concerning women in Islam
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Library Lecture Series (LLS) have been running for nearly 2 years and the 11th lecture was by Dr. Fowzia Salem Bashatah from King Abdulaziz University on 21st May 2013. Bashatah’s challenging talk entitled “Women’s Issues: Between the Liberation of Religion and the Restriction of Traditions” discussed the role of women in the society by analyzing 115 fatwas. At the beginning of her talk, she made it clear that her study is not about judging the fatwas or reaching a verdict as to them being right or wrong, but it is rather about analyzing them carefully to contribute towards shaping the society and understanding the background for these fatwas. There is a big gap between the fatwas and values in society, and the fatwas do not match the reality, according to Dr. Fowzia. Islam is the most divine religion and treats man
and woman equally as human beings in terms of reward and punishment. The source of all human kinds is the same and they should be treated the same way. However, Bashatah pointed out that the fatwas do not match the reality of life in giving women their basic education, medication, social, etc. rights. As a sociologist she raised a concern that the fatwas might be totally different from our reality in the future, which would create an unstable society. Therefore, the fatwas should be reread and analyzed to put them into correct perspectives and to make them more practical. Continuity of guardianship, women employment in all fields, traveling alone and to go to university are some examples that Bashatah gave to illustrate that the fatwas do not match the original text (Qur’an) and there is a difference between the text and understanding of the same. This paradox would cause a real problem as future generations would deviate from the religion or carry a feeling of guilt with them for supposedly committing something against religion. During the discussion, attendees raised questions on the problem of discrimination against women in the name of religion, the women’s status in Muslim countries and Islamophobia, as well as political decisions on women’s role in the society. Bashatah concluded that Islam is the way we should live and should be relevant to our life and called on men and women to take responsibility and raise the awareness of society on religion.
Secretary General’s Message on International Day of Families: Promoting social integration guarantees peace and security The OIC Secretary General expressed his strong support on the worldwide observance of this year’s International Day of Families, 15 May, under the theme, “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity”. This year’s theme bears particular importance by targeting social and family issues of global significance such as social integration and intergenerational integrity, he stated. Promoting social integration in our globalized world where people from different cultural, social and religious backgrounds live together not only can guarantee peace and security but also plays a vital role in the overall development of societies. Similarly intergenerational solidarity brings harmony and cohesion between different age groups and thus keeps the pace of advancement more stable and sustainable. Advancing social integration and intergenerational solidarity also keeps different individuals and groups of people from various backgrounds as well as all generations, connected and helps raise productivity of the societies in all spheres of life. In this connection, strengthening strong family bonds and promoting family values as vital components of a vibrant society, would lead to the social cohesion and integration, and will narrow the gap between generations.
In today’s multi-cultural and multi-religious societies, protection and promotion of diversity as an asset that strengthens foundations of any society should be among the priority areas of governments and relevant civil society institutions. To this end, challenges such as discrimination, stereotyping, xenophobia and defamation of religions should be addressed. Islamophobia as a current form of racism that threatens peace, security and social integration in the world must also be addressed particularly in those countries where Muslims suffer from this evil phenomenon The OIC attaches great importance to social integration and harmony as integral elements of a healthy society. The OIC Ten Year Plan of Action, and various OIC resolutions and documents have been underscoring the importance of social integration and solidarity and respect for diversity as well as combating discrimination, defamation and Islamophobia. In the same vein, the OIC has also been focusing on some key areas of development and empowerment of women, children and youth, and has committed its Member States to the goal of eradication of poverty, achievement of sustainable development, and provision of adequate resources and support through providing additional support for lowincome families. 41
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Ihsanoglu urges OIC Member States to address the practical challenges of scientific development
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu cautioned that the future of science in the OIC Member States would depend on their ability to address the practical challenges of scientific development and take the right policy decisions to fully exploit technology’s development potential. In the public lecture given at the Globalizing Histories of Science, Technology and Medicine Conference organized by the New York University Abu Dhabi Institute on 19 May 2013, Ihsanoglu stressed that the utilization of science and technology to bring prosperity and change in the daily lives of the people would foster greater recognition of the value of science. Ihsanoglu’s lecture provided an overview and critical analysis of current trends in science, technology, and research across the Muslim World. He also highlighted the ways in
which historical understandings of the changing relationship between Islam and Science can inform and help to improve scientific and technological policies and institutions within the OIC member states today. The OIC and its institutions, since 2005, have considerably strengthened their activities in science and technology through programs for strengthening of R&D, conducting Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Foresight studies, and promoting emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, said Ihsanoglu. He cited figures showing that the average spending of the Member States on R&D has increased from 0.2% of the GDP in 2005 to 0.81% in 2011, i.e. quadrupled. In the year 2000 scientific publications in international journals by scientists and engineers from 57 OIC Member States numbered 20,224. This number increased more than four folds to 92,503 in 2011. In 2003, the number of researchers, scientists and engineers in the OIC countries engaged in R&D was around 250 per million i.e. one-tenth of the world average of 2532 per million. This number has nearly doubled to 457 i.e. one-fifth of the world average. Ihsanoglu has not only reviewed the relationship between Islam and Science, and the current STI trends, he has also provided his assessment of the priorities such as; necessary political will, long term STI policy planning, investment in education, allocation of requisite financial resources, technology mapping and foresight, role of Information Communication Technologies, private sector participation, academia-industry linkages and the International partnerships and collaboration, for strengthening the same.
Launch of the Science, Technology and Innovation in Kazakhstan Report Astana, Kazakhstan - The Launch of the “Science, Technology and Innovation in Kazakhstan” Report, under the framework of the Atlas of Islamic-World Science and Innovation (AIWSI) Project, has been organized by the National Agency for Technological Development JSC of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NATD) in collaboration with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for the Islamic Countries (SESRIC) on 25 May 2013 in Astana, the Republic of Kazakhstan. The launch event was attended by international partners of the Atlas of Islamic-World Science and Innovation Project, academicians, high-level government officials and business leaders, and provided a platform to assess and discuss the recommendations and findings of the “Science, Technology and Innovation in Kazakhstan” Report. The Report has been prepared by SESRIC in collaboration with the National Agency for Technological Development JSC and the National Centre for Technological Foresight of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 42
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Welcoming speeches were delivered by Kanysh Tuleushin, Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan, Dr. Kuralbay Bukharbayev, Adviser to Minister of Industry and New Technolgies of Kazakhstan and National Focal Point of the Project and Dr. Anuarbek Sultangazin, Deputy Chairman of the Board, JSC National Agency for Technological Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and National Research Partner of the Project. In his opening address, Prof Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, stated that it is important not only to finalize such studies but also to implement the findings and recommendations of such reports, especially through international cooperation and collaboration with OIC Member Countries. Prof. Alpay stated that SESRIC, with its vast experience in initiating cooperation and collaboration across the Member Countries, is always ready to trigger and take necessary measures in support of the implementation of the outcomes of the Report.
HEALTH Sixth OIC Steering Committee on Health:
Decisions on the Strategic Program and Vaccine Standards
Jakarta, Indonesia – The Sixth meeting of the OIC Steering Committee on Health (SCH) hosted by the Government of Indonesia was held in Jakarta on 23 to 24 April 2013. Dr. Razley Nordin, Director General of the Science and Technology Department at the OIC General Secretariat, delivered the inaugural address of Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC. He briefly touched upon the most significant activities undertaken by the OIC in the field of health and invited the members of the Steering Committee for proactive participation. Bolat Tokezhanov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in his speech stressed the importance and necessity of the work carried out by the OIC Member States, OIC institutions and international organizations to develop the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA) 2013 -2022 for responding to the challenges faced by the Ummah in the health sector. He highlighted the importance of the effective implementation of the decisions of the Islamic Conferences of Health Ministers by all concerned and assured the Committee of the Chair’s resolve to promote concrete and effective cooperation. Prof. Ali Ghufron Mukti, Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, delivered the welcoming remarks on behalf of Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Minister of Health of Indonesia and underscored the importance of involving the widest possible range of stakeholders: government, civil society, private sector, individuals, families, and communities -in promotion and development of culture, services and systems
to assist people to achieve good health. The speakers focused on the issue of health within the development of the wellbeing of the people in the OIC Member States. Underlining the major challenges faced by the OIC countries in the domain of health, the speakers emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation among the OIC Member States in areas such as prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, production of medicines and vaccines, mother and child health. In view of its centrality to the life and well-being of Muslims, IDB has highlighted importance and urged operationalization of the Halal Concept in the area of Health and Nutrition, and the SHPA should consider reflecting
this in its relevant sections. The meeting took note of the progress in the preparation of the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action 2013- 2022. It approved the proposal by the Expert Advisory Group Meeting held on 17 – 18 February 2013 at SESRIC Headquarters in Ankara to prepare an Implementation Plan of the OIC-SHPA. The SCH also welcomed a proposal to set up working groups to follow up the implementation of OIC SHPA 20132022 after its approval by the Fourth Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM). Furthermore, the SCH approved the Terms of Reference of the Technical Committee on Development and Harmonization of Standards of Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines; and endorsed the Two-Year Action plan of the Technical Committee, which held its first meeting in Malaysia in October 2012. On the other hand, the SCH was briefed on the outcome of the first meeting of medicine and vaccine manufacturers from OIC countries held in Dubai on 27 – 28 February 2013. SESRIC appealed for the cooperation of Member States and international organizations to provide adequate information on needs for vaccines in the OIC Member States. The IDB offered its assistance in this regard to provide required information through the GAVI Alliance. The SCH stressed the significance of the mother and child nutrition as one of the core health issue in the OIC Region and requested that this issue be duly covered during the forthcoming OIC meetings in the field of health.
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ENVIRONMENT
First factory in Gaza for recycling waste to minimize health and environment hazards Gaza, Palestine (dpa)- The first waste recycling factory in Gaza is to be opened in the hope of minimizing health and environment related hazards of the huge amounts of waste collected daily. Wide spread wastes are among the most serious environmental problems faced in Gaza Strip. Samir Afifi, Director of the Waste Recycling Project in Gaza, in charge of the factory, which is aimed at depending on the traditional manner of dumping waste and stopping their dumping in random dumps or burning them to get rid of them as they mount up in streets and impasses given the municipality’s inability to get rid of them. Afifi mentioned that the idea of establishing the factory which saw the light recently is based on using much of the resources available in the wastes by the separation and recycling processes for the purpose of using them in constructing many of the local industries. Processes are underway in the newly established factory, in Rafah city in southern Gaza Strip, for sorting out and recycling hundreds of tons of wastes accumulated on the boarders of the Strip. Waste collectors were asked to bring them to the factory instead of throwing them out haphazardly. In its first stage, the factory, established on ten donams, can process 200 tons of solid wastes daily. The factory’s management is supervised by the Friends of the Palestinian Society for Environment Protection, as an NGO active in the field of environment. The factory transforms the wastes it receives into usable materials such as iron and paper for the paper factory in Gaza as well as plastic and glass in addition to a qualitative thing, namely organic fertilizers for agricultural purposes, and providing job opportunities for tens of needy families within the framework of providing temporary job opportunities for the needy. 44
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Statistics show that Gaza Strip, which is inhabited by about 1.700.000 people, produce daily about 1600 tons of wastes, of which less than one third are transported to main waste dumps. Wastes collected are transported to three major waste dumps, one in Rafah, and the other two in Deer Al-Balah and Juhr Adeek areas in the centre of the Strip. However, the three waste dumps constitute more danger at the environmental and health levels at a time when bad smell and gases resulting from the decomposition of wastes and the toxics resulting from smoke of the fire that they catch occasionally, increase constantly . Experts say that life expectancy for those dumps expired as they were filled with more than the allowed limit. They may spread different endemic diseases among the inhabitants of close villages in addition to the hazards they carry for the underground water. Consequently, the Wastes Recycling Factory Project would be the ideal, and probably the crucial, means to get rid of the randomly established dumps. However, the problem lies with the factories’ by-products such as aluminum, plastic or carton produced in huge amounts, which are compressed and stored. This leaves the project officials with the problem of marketing such amounts and prompted them to look for outlets either in Israel or Egypt. The project, financed by Japan through the UN Agency for Development with no one million US Dollars only, helped in overcoming the crisis of the Israeli blockade and the prevention of admission of the equipment and machinery required for its operation by manufacturing them locally. Officials in charge of the project say that they seek the finance required for its expansion and mainstreaming it in different areas of the Strip to put an end to the problem of dumps and their major environment hazards.
1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually
Adopting sustainable patterns of production and consumption Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the international community in observing June 5 as the World Environment Day. This year’s theme ‘Think, Eat, Save’ serves as a timely reminder of the imperative for adopting sustainable patterns of production and consumption in the face of ever increasing food requirements of the growing global population and the pressure it puts on natural resources. The wastage of food, which, according to the estimates of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) amounts to 1.3 billion tons annually, ultimately leads to the loss of all resources and inputs used in its production. With the global food production accounting for 70% of the global fresh water consumption, increasing use of land and concomitant deforestation and a sizeable release of green house gases, this wastage of food has a devastating impact on the environment. Moreover, such wastage cannot be justified on ethical, social and economic grounds given the fact that one in every seven human beings goes hungry to bed every day and thousands of children under the age of five die from hunger. Intelligent choices in terms of food, such as preference for organic foods, which entail lesser use of chemical and other non-sustainable means of production and inputs, are not only necessary in terms of their impact on the environment but also crucial for considerations of human health. The need for sustainable patterns of food production and consumption assumes greater significance for the OIC Member States in view of their peculiar challenges on account of population growth, depletion of resources, environmental degradation and climate change. Accordingly, food and water security, protection and preservation of environment, climate
change and sustainable development constitute priority areas on the OIC agenda. The implementation of the OIC Water Vision, which was adopted in 2012, entails enhanced cooperation at the sub-regional, regional and global levels for addressing the full range of water-related issues including the challenge of balance between water use and food production. Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development: Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), on 10 June 2013 in Marrakech co-chaired with Fouad Douiri, Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, a workshop on the progress made in the establishment of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Speaking at the opening session of the workshop, held by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of Morocco, the Director General described the academy as one of the major projects in the Muslim world and a signal of the importance given by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco to environmental issues. The project is so imperative that appropriate mechanisms should be made by the Member States to put it into operation, he underlined. His Majesty the King of Morocco had made a proposal to the 3rd Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (Rabat, October 2008) to set up a high-profile, specialized academic institution, by the name of ‘Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development’, to promote research and exchange of expertise through training programs.
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ECONOMY Azerbaijan proposes establishing OIC Labor Center in Baku Labor Ministers adopt Framework for Cooperation on Labor, Employment and Social Protection
Baku, Azerbaijan – The 2nd Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers (ICLM) adopted the Framework and Resolution for Cooperation on Labor, Employment and Social Protection. The Conference was held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan from 25 -26 April 2013. The Framework document is the OIC strategic plan in the field of labor and represents a significant step at consolidating intra-OIC cooperation towards addressing growing unemployment and advancing socio-economic development in OIC Member States. The Framework identified six priority areas of cooperation, namely: Occupational Safety and Health, Reducing Unemployment, the identification of Workforce Capacity Development Projects, Foreign Market Labor, Labor Market Information Strategy, and Social Protection. An important outcome of the Conference is the adoption of coordination and monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the Framework and other outcome documents. To this end, a Steering Committee comprising ten Member States was elected to coordinate the activities of the various national focal points and relevant OIC institutions in compliance with the outcome of the Conference. The Resolution of the Conference and the Baku Declaration also highlighted the importance of creating a robust institutional mechanism for the implementation of the provisions of the General Agreement on Economic, Technical and Commercial Cooperation aimed at fostering cooperation for exchange of expertise and manpower as well as promoting transfer of knowledge, experiences and best practices. In the same vein, the Conference endorsed the proposal of the President of Azerbaijan for the establishment of an OIC Labor Center in Baku. Similarly, the Conference endorsed the proposal of Turkey to establish a Forum for Public Employment Institutions among Member States. The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged the Second Session of the Islamic Conference of Labor Ministries to create an effective mechanism for the implementation of OIC resolutions in the fields of labor, employment and social protection. He highlighted the proposition for the creation 46
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of a Steering Committee to follow up the implementation of the above fields. He expressed his hope that the proposed Committee would set out a time frame for its actions, while at the same time embarking on quick impact projects that will scale up the national and multilateral interventions. Ihsanoglu stated that many of the OIC Member States were hit hard by the adverse consequences of global crises. He pointed out that statistics show that due to these crises, the number of unemployed people increased from 150 million in 2007 to 202 million in 2012 worldwide, while another 3 million persons are expected to drop out of the labor market in 2014. In the context of the Muslim world, the Secretary General said that there were also significant jobs losses registered, especially those whose economies rely heavily on exporting industries. Ihsanoglu added that available statistics show that during 2006- 2010, the average unemployment rates in OIC countries remained significantly higher than the world average. During this period, the average of unemployment rate in OIC countries remained more than 9.0 per cent against the world average of 6.8% and average of other developing countries of 6.4%. The Secretary General of the OIC revealed that an average worker in OIC countries produces less than one third of the output produced by an average worker in the world and one tenth of the output of average worker in the developed countries. He explained that the world output per worker has increased from US$ 23 thousand in 2006 to US$ 27 thousand in 2010. “However, labor productivity in OIC was recorded at US$ 9 thousand in 2010,” he noted. The Secretary General stressed that this level remained very low as compared to the level of the world and developed countries, US$ 27 thousand and US$ 89 thousand, respectively. In addition, Ihsanoglu accounted the OIC’s efforts in this regard especially for young population and other disadvantaged groups in the course of promoting socio-economic development. He shed light on the OIC programs, such as the Vocational and Educational Training (VET) undertaken by SESRIC and the Vocational and Literacy Program (VOLIP) under the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD). He asserted that those Programs have gained prominence in the realm of the OIC social and economic agenda. In his speech as Chairman of the Session, Fizuli Alakbarov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Republic of Azerbaijan, enumerated the major challenges facing the Muslim world as it addresses the consequences of global socio-political and economic crises. Stressing the need to find urgent and concerted solution to the problems of youth and women unemployment, declining productivity and human resource development, the Minister identified potential areas of cooperation among the OIC Member States. These include poverty reduction and better use of the labor market innovation and exchange of best practices on labor protection mechanisms, among others.
The OIC Statistical Commission discusses developing a comprehensive system of labor statistics also highlighted the importance of cooperation between NSOs Ankara, Turkey – The Third Session of the Statistical as recommended by the Istanbul Declaration (following the Commission of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC- Meeting of National Statistical Organizations of the OIC StatCom) was co-organized by the Statistical, Economic and Member Countries in 2010). Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries Speakers also highlighted the urgency of the statistics (SESRIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on 1012- demanded to develop trade and economic potential of the April 2013 in Ankara, Turkey. The delegates of the National OIC member countries. In particular, for the implementation Statistical Offices (NSOs) from 26 OIC Member Countries of the strategy adopted at the COMCEC level, the various attended the meeting as well as the representatives of 9 working groups established for its implementation (Tourism, international / supranational organizations. Trade, Poverty Alleviation, Finance, etc.) have an urgent need The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic for reliable statistics. They also focused on the statistics to be Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in his message to produced in the context of post-2015 development agenda. the opening session urged the meeting to come up with Developing solidarity among the member countries with implementable actions towards developing national capacities experience and best practices sharing were mentioned in the of OIC member states as a prelude to a comprehensive speeches as well the resources available in member countries harmonization of all OIC activities in the domain of statistics. for capacity building (StatCaB, IDB projects, etc.). He also hailed the Commission for its efforts at working out Special thanks were extended to countries that had relevant modalities to enhance planning efficiency in OIC contributed to the construction of the new headquarters of member states, and for actualizing the Strategic Vision of SESRIC (inaugurated in 2012), namely Republic of Turkey, the OIC-StatCom and underscored the need to translate all Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, State of Kuwait and its resolutions into effective actions in the interest of OIC State of the United Arab Emirates. member states and their peoples. The OIC-StatCom reviewed the activities of its three IDB and other international financial Working Groups on list of indicators specific to OIC countries; OIC-StatCom Strategic Vision Document; and Terms of institutions agree to strengthen global Reference for the Accreditation of Statisticians in OIC statistical capacity countries. In addition, the meeting was briefed on the activities undertaken by the five Technical Committees of Experts on Washington DC, USA – The Islamic Development Bank Islamic Banking and Finance Statistics; Implementation of (IDB) along with Heads of the African Development Bank, the the OIC-StatCom Strategic Vision; Accreditation Program Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development for Statistical Professionals in OIC Member States; Gender Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and Related Issues; and Population Census Experiences and the United Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding Practices of OIC Member States. (MoU) on 22 April 2013 to collaborate towards strengthening The Meeting also discussed the issues relating to global statistical capacity and facilitate the sharing of data, developing a comprehensive system of labor statistics and tools, standards, and analysis. The Heads of the International labor productivity index, as well as building capacity of the Financing Institutions (IFIs) reaffirmed their commitment to relevant institutions in OIC Member States. strengthen inter-agency sharing and collaboration on issues Hitherto, the OIC-StatCom has succeeded in creating related to data and statistical capacity building. awareness among OIC Member States on the various activities relating to production of high-quality statistics, use This collaboration is expected to provide the global of information technology in data collection, dissemination community with better statistical tools to measure progress and communication of data to end users, indicator systems, towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and international initiatives and strategies in the area of statistics, post-2015 development agenda as well as help to improve among others. The Commission has also increased intra-OIC the lives of the people in the developing world. The European cooperation in this critical sector. Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction In their speeches, the speakers pointed to the significant and Development offered their full support for the goals of contribution that OIC-StatCom would provide by helping the MoU. the OIC countries in producing reliable and timely statistics based on standards and methods adopted at the international Signing the MoU, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: level and enabling evidence-based decision making, design “this historic meeting of resourceful institutions confirmed my and evaluation of programs and the prevention of crises. On belief that by working together we can demonstrate the power the other hand, they highlighted the challenges facing the of multilateralism to secure a better future for all. The first-ofworld, including poverty, climate change, and unemployment its-kind meeting and agreement will help us further deepen our for which there is a real need for indicators developed by joint work to meet the MDGs and develop a post-2015 agenda appropriate methods for monitoring these phenomena. They for a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future”. 47
ECONOMY
Sixth Exhibition of Agribusiness in OIC Member States Establishing an OIC Agro-Food Industries Association Muscat, Oman – The 6th Exhibition of Agribusiness in OIC Member States was held in Muscat, Oman from 12 to 15 May 2013 with the participation of 29 companies from 8 countries. The Exhibition was jointly opened by Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, and Dr. Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Sultanate of Oman. The Exhibition featured an array of agro-food products from the OIC Member States. Meanwhile, considerable networking and business-to-business sessions took place indicating the brighter prospects of intra-OIC cooperation in agri-business. On the other hand, a consultative meeting was held on the
sidelines of the Exhibition regarding the establishment of an OIC Agro-Food Industries Association. The meeting took note of the draft Statute of the Agro-Food Industries Association and made further comments on it. It also came up with a number of recommendations on the way forward towards establishing the Association. The meeting addressed the critical issues of technology transfer, research and networking among private sector entities with a view to increasing productivity and competitiveness of the OIC Member States in the field of agroindustries. It recommended working closely with international partners in the area of agriculture, rural development and food security such as IFAD and FAO.
A Working Group on Halal Certification Body Program
Istanbul, Turkey – The Standards and Metrology Institute the rest to be shared by all members according to their gross for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) decided to establish a working national income (GNI). group to draft a Certification Body Program (CB Program) The 6th Board of Directors of SMIIC was attended by for SMIIC and develop the necessary schemes for conformity Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Jordan, Libya, Tunisia and mark (Halal). Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Libya, Iran, Turkey. Representatives of Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, the UAE, Turkey, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Palestine and the General Secretariat and the SMIIC General Secretariat have been selected as attended the meeting as observer. The Meeting approved the members of the working group. The decision was made during following new membership applications to the SMIIC: Saudi the 6th Board of Director and 4th General Assembly meetings Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); and of SMIIC, which were held in Istanbul, Turkey on 15 and 16Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) from the Kingdom 17 April 2013, respectively. of Saudi Arabia; Direction Générale de la Qualité et de la The message of the Secretary General of the Organization of Métrologie (DGQM) of Burkina Faso; Palestine Standards Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, delivered at the Meeting by Hasan Oker, Advisor to the Secretary General, Institution (PSI) of State of Palestine; and TUBITAK-UME, emphasized on the need for SMIIC to further consolidate its National Metrology Body of the Republic of Turkey. Similarly, the 4th General Assembly of SMIIC was attended structure including approving a financial scheme for the proper by 19 out of 23 members of SMIIC. The 4th General Assembly running of the SMIIC General Secretariat and its staff. The meetings agreed on the formula for the scale of decided to increase the number of the BoD Membership from assessment for mandatory contributions of the Members to 9 to 13 and elected the following countries as new members of the SMIIC’s budget. The formulation covers a period of five BoD for the term of 2014- 2016: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, years and is based on 25% by host country (Turkey), 5% by Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, BoD Chairman (Turkey), 0,5% BoD Membership scale, and Tunisia, Cameroon, and Guinea.
13th session of the Board of Directors of ICDT
Rabat, Morocco – The Board of Directors of the Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT) held their 30th session in Rabat on 16- 17 April 2013. Eid Mahsoussi, Secretary General of the Foreign Trade Department at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies of Morocco, welcomed the members of the Board on behalf of Abdelkader Amara, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and New Technologies of Morocco. He considered the 30th anniversary of the founding of ICDT, headquartered in Casablanca, as an opportunity to assess the achievements of the Center and give an outlook for the future. OIC Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru read the statement of the Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in which he said that the positive impact of the various trade enhancing activities of the ICDT on the attainment of the objectives of OIC has been considerable. Meanwhile, Dr. El Hassane Hzaine, Director General of ICDT, had an overview 48
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of the main activities undertaken by the Center during the previous year. Hzaine underlined the actions undertaken by the Center in several fields aimed at boosting trade and investments among the OIC Member States, notable trade fairs, the preparations of trade negotiations within the framework of the Trade Preferential System among the OIC Member States (TPS/ OIC), follow up of multilateral trade negotiations of the WTO, trade information, seminars, training and studies. The Board of Directors examined the draft work program for the year 2014, which was presented by the Director General of ICDT and included activities relating to trade and investment promotion, international trade negotiations drawn from the ICDT’s 2006 -2016 work program. The Board adopted the work program for 2014 and made several recommendations concerning the activities of ICDT including for launching the Business Center in 2013.
In Basra, water salinity threatens humans and trees
Basra, Iraq (dpa) Palm trees in the Iraqi city of Basra are threatened by water salinity, and hope is pinned on foreign experts to solve this problem. Saline water is flowing from taps. The Iraqi writer coming from Baghdad to Basra Samarkand Jabri wipes her wet arm with her finger, puts it in her mouth and shouts with shock “water here is salty”. Samarkand later learned from her colleagues she meets at the Cultural Center in Basra that water salinity in Basra “is normal”. All the water flowing in the facilities of the city are salty. Therefore, some hotels and houses installed water filters but were not successful in getting rid of the salty taste of water. To drink, one has to buy bottles of mineral water, which are very costly for the inhabitants of the city. Complaints of salty water are not specific to Basra inhabitants. Palm trees can no longer grow because of water salinity. A shame when you know that the cultivation of the sweet fruit dates back to four millennia. In recent decades, fire and water were behind the gloomy destiny of dates in Basra where only 12 million palm trees are left in a province which used to have 30 million trees along the coast of Shatt al-Arab. This is due at first to war as the era of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein witnessed several wars, the first being the Iraq-Iran war which lasted for eight years during which a lot of palm trees were cut and burned to
meet the needs of the army in open areas. Every meter of the coast of Shatt al-Arab which forms the meeting point of the Tigris and the Euphrates could tell a story of the war. Saddam Hussein had ordered the extermination of palm trees to enable the Iraqi military to better see its Iranian enemy. Neighboring Iran, whose borders cross the center of Shatt al-Arab is still seen clearly. The Iraq-Iran war did not affect palm trees alone; it claimed the lives of around one million people. Today, water is a new cause of the tragedy of palm trees in Basra. In addition to the shortage of flowing water, water from Shatt al-Arab and its tributaries is salty, and salinity is a big problem to agriculture in the south of Iraq in general. River waters are also getting scarce due to energy generation plants in Iran and in water sources in Syria and Turkey. These plants divert the course of water. Moreover, the scarcity of rain water contributed to water shortage which caused the death of a lot of trees. The quantities of fresh water coming from Shatt al-Arab River also decreased significantly. This led to rivers being swept by strong tidal waves from the salty sea replacing fresh water with salty water. Thus water coming to Basra from Shatt al-Arab became salty.
Saddened by the situation, Abdul Redha al-Moussawi says: “my heart goes out when I think of the current situation of dates in Basra”. He stated that palm trees and their fruits represent life for him. Al-Moussawi family has around 200 donums of gardens (one Iraqi donum equals 2500 square meters). The family’s lands are concentrated in the Faw Peninsula; but today, there is not even a single palm tree in the whole peninsula. Al-Mussawi family’s palm trees have shrunk in number to a quarter of what they originally were. Moussawi says: “during the period of the war and the embargo, Iraq’s competitors managed to develop the quality and quantity of their products. They benefitted from Iraq’s inability to export for ten years”. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Jordan have become known for dates. Israel has also become a leader among these countries, and “nobody is talking about Iraq any longer. We have fallen into oblivion”. Moussawi added that despite his conviction that Iraqi dates are still the best in the world in terms of quality, “but in terms of techniques and marketing, we lag behind at the end of the list”, Moussawi says indicating that he wants to expand the scope of his business and increase the production of dates to 3000 tons annually compared to 500 tons per year currently. The success of Moussawi’s plans is dependent on the availability of adequate fresh water for palm trees. A colleague of the poet Samarkand said during an evening activity at the Cultural Center in the old city that cutting-edge technology is used to extract oil around Basra. “It is absurd that foreign firms in search of oil here are not capable of getting rid of water salinity,” he added, stating that corruption and the deteriorating security situation hinder any progress in this domain. Today, Basra is under a new governor coming from exile in the Netherlands. “The Dutch are experts in water treatment”, Samarkand says with optimism. 49
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38th Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank:
Islamic Development Bank triples authorized capital to US $150 billion
Dushanbe, Tajikistan – The Islamic Development Bank’s Board of Governors (BoG) on 22 May 2013 approved to more than triple the Bank’s authorized capital to 100 billion Islamic Dinars (about US $150 billion) from 30 billion Dinars, reflecting the Bank’s strong balance sheet and the growing economic development needs of its 56 member countries. The BoG also increased the Bank’s subscribed capital from 18 billion Islamic Dinars to 50 billion Islamic Dinars. At its annual meeting in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, the Bank also announced it will immediately tap the public market with a US $1 billion offering of sukuk, or Sharia-compliant bonds. The five-year offering is rated triple A by each of the three major bond rating agencies (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch), and will be duly listed on the London Stock Exchange and Bursa Malaysia. The BoG’s 38th Annual Meeting was held on 18- 22 May 2013 with the attendance by Governors from all the 56 OIC Member States, which have acceded to the IDB Statute as well, with the exception of Syria whose membership was suspended. Representatives of state and corporate institutions, multilateral organizations, national and multilateral development and financial institutions and high profile guests also attended. The Meeting featured series of side events, workshops and exhibitions on the various areas of activities of the IDB group. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Emomali Rahmon in his speech at the opening of the Conference, called for further economic cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). He added that Muslim countries are making significant effort in shaping international relations. President Rahmon described the Bank as a reliable partner. He stated that his “Government has an open door policy for external relations, and develops partnership with the developed and developing countries.” In his speech, the President of IDB Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between Muslim countries, and the willingness of IDB to support countries in transition. “IDB Group has been quick to exchange ideas with the countries in transition. These countries have over the past three years, received a share of the Bank’s focus on efforts to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis on one hand, and to meet the demands of these countries in transition on the other,” the President told the audience. “The tenets of Islamic banking have stood the test of time,” said Dr. Mohamed Ali. “Our emphasis on equity, risk-sharing and partnership enforces discipline on the financial system, allowing us to lift more of our people out of poverty.” The Bank has been designated as a Zero Risk Weighted Multilateral Development Bank by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the Commission of the European Communities. 50
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Saudi Arabia, with a 23.6% stake, has the largest ownership in the Bank, headquartered in Jeddah, followed by Libya with 9.5%, Iran with 8.3%, Nigeria with 7.7% and the United Arab Emirates with 7.5%. The next four biggest holders are Qatar (7.2%), Egypt (7.1%), Turkey (6.5%), and Kuwait (5.5%). Meeting of African Governors on the Special Program for the Development of Africa (SPDA) This meeting was attended by all the African Governors of the IDB and reviewed the presentations on the achievements realized under the SPDA, which began operation in 2008. The meeting took note of the conclusion of the approval phase of the Program by November 2012 and that implementation of approved projects would continue until final execution. The meeting lauded the achievements under the Program and the fact that IDB surpassed its US$4 billion commitment to the Program, having committed a total amount of US$5 billion, while the partnership funding under Program reached US$ 7 billion, one billion less than the expected commitments. The meeting also took note of the expected outcome of SPDA in the form of infrastructure projects, after successful execution of the approved projects, particularly the construction of an upgrade of a total of 2500 kilometers of roads in 13 OIC Member States; the generation of 900 megawatts of electricity in 6 OIC Member States; construction of two new airports in Sudan and Senegal; and construction of 700 kilometers of transmission power lines. This is in addition to other projects in the domain of agriculture, industrial development, education and health. The OIC General Secretariat stressed on the need to elaborate a successor program for the Program to be named SPDA2. It also emphasized the need to roll over the existing SPDA pending the elaboration of SPDA2. Similarly, the General Secretariat recalled earlier suggestion to the effect that SPDA2 should also include regional projects to support integration of OIC Member States. In the same vein, it also conveyed the resolution of the just-concluded OIC Conference of Labor Ministers held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 25 -26 April 2013 on the need to incorporate the IDB Youth Employment Support Program (YES) in SPDA2. Furthermore, the meeting held an engaging discussion forum, featuring key contributors from the IMF, the African Capacity Building Foundation, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and Professor Jeffrey Sachs of the Earth Institute of Columbia University, the USA. The recommendations include the possibility of creating ‘Diaspora’ bonds to channel Diaspora remittances to productive ventures, increase in micro-finance lending for agriculture, youth and women empowerment, addressing problems of poor, income inequality, youth and landlocked countries and fragile states. Other recommendations include the need for inclusive governance, monitoring and review and public-private partnership.
Joint IDB-ICBA Forum on Innovations in Agriculture and Food Security: Top UN Adviser says global food security will get worst Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Millennium Development Goals, Professor Jeffrey Sachs said global food security will get worst, and governments in various countries need to take this issue seriously. Professor Sachs, stated this during the “Forum on Innovations in Agriculture. “We are entering an age of increasing instability, major famine in the horn of Africa, and the United States had the worst drought in the last fifty years,” Professor Sachs told the attentive international audiences from the 56 IDB member countries, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Bank, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), members of the academia and sister development institutions. Professor Sachs stated that the UN Secretary General has requested him to establish a Global Knowledge Network to address these challenges and come up with new sustainable development goals. “The challenges are going to get worst, global food supply is not sustainable, and water shortage will become more severe in dry land countries. It is so huge that you think this is the highest priority, but governments are not paying attention to it,” he added. In his remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Murodali Alimardonov said the meeting discusses the most important issue for his country, which is food security. He calls for more collaboration with IDB. This Forum was jointly sponsored by the IDB Department of Agriculture and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), based in Dubai, the UAE. It gave an expose of the activities of ICBA in the domain of improving salt-watered crops and its overall contributions to food security in the OIC Member States. The panelist recommended solutions-driven approaches to addressing the challenges facing OIC Member States. They identified the problems of OIC dry land countries, the depletion of underground water, pollution and acidification of the ocean, and the need to create a global knowledge network to scale up innovations in OIC countries and to change the ways we have been doing things. In his welcome address, the Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank Birama Sidibe stated that the Forum on Innovations in Agriculture is one of the most important events organized by the Islamic Development Bank. Other presenters identified lack of access to market as the bane of agricultural and rural development in developing countries, explaining that production has been relatively adequate but the inability to sell agricultural products before they perish had been a great disincentive to farmers. The OIC is expected to ensure policy support and mobilizing expertise for the various solutions identified. IDB trains future leaders; spends US $4.6 billion on economic development in the CIS region The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) trains future leaders and helps in building a modern society. These were the words of the Tajikistan’s Minister of Trade and Economic Development Sharif Rahimzoda during a seminar entitled “Financing and Business Opportunities of IDB Projects with Success Stories”. “Tajikistan is a young country, our effort is to train and
teach people in different spheres of life and culture, and IDB gives us a chance to train our people. IDB is helping us to build a modern society,” the Minister stated to the delight of the fully packed theatre in the Kohi Somon conference hall in the heart of Dushanbe. In his opening remarks, IDB Vice President (Operations) Birama Sidibe stated that the Islamic Development Bank has approved 340 projects in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) region at the cost of US $4.6 billion, and 59 of these projects are in the Republic of Tajikistan costing US $290 million. The Vice President added that at the moment there are 18 ongoing projects in Tajikistan contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. The Seminar aimed to create awareness amongst the local and international business communities on IDB offered products, services and business opportunities, giving examples with the success stories of six of its financed projects in Tajikistan, Indonesia, Guinea, Djibouti, and Morocco. The six success stories presented during the seminar include: the Micro and Small Enterprise Microfinance Project in Guinea, the Higher Education Intervention in Indonesia, the Micro Hydro Power Generators Project and the Reconstruction of Secondary Education Project in Tajikistan as well as the Doraleh Container Terminal in Djibouti and a Rural Electrification Program in Morocco. Seminar on Innovative Solutions in Construction Industry in IDB Member Countries The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) contributes in building the capacity of contractors, suppliers and consultants from its member countries to effectively undertake complex construction projects, said Tajikistan’s Minister of Transport Mr. Nizom Hakimov at the seminar. In his remarks, Hisham Marouf, Director of IDB Regional Office in Almaty, emphasized the need for tapping on the range of contracting and consulting opportunities offered by IDB in the Central Asian region. The President of the Federation of Consultants from Islamic Countries (FCIC) Levent Gelgin, and his counterpart from the Federation of Contractors from Islamic Countries (FOCIC) Ahmed Al Bashir also addressed the seminar and highlighted the important role these two federations are playing in promoting cooperation among contractors and consultants from the Member Countries. The five speakers made presentations and answered questions covering topics such as Improvement of Project Implementation through Enhancement of Integrity Aspects, Strategic Role of IDB Financed Projects to Encourage Development of Industries and Engineering Organizations in Member Countries, Challenges and Innovative Solutions in Implementing Road Projects in Tajikistan, Innovation in Retrofitting Techniques for Seismic Resistance, and Use of Roller Compacted Concrete in Dam Projects. The seminar provided a platform for discussions on the significance of ensuring integrity, transparency, and fair competition during project procurement process. The speakers also highlighted the importance of adopting innovative solutions in the construction industry, and exploring opportunities for strategic alliances and partnerships, in order to effectively utilize the opportunities offered by IDB-financed projects. 51
ECONOMY Bill Gates: I am proud of IDB’s intervention to save lives in Islamic countries The co-Chairman of Bill and Melinda Foundation Bill Gates said he is proud of the work the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is doing to save lives in Muslim countries. Gates, who spoke via a recorded video, told the audience attending the special session on Innovation for Economic Development that together we must be innovative in solving the challenges that we face. “Health and agriculture are the cornerstones for lifting people out of poverty. I thank Dr. Ali and the IDB Board of Governors for their foresight. It is because of your generosity that we will save lives in Islamic countries,” he added. Gates expressed appreciation on the partnership between IDB and his foundation in their attempt to eradicate polio. Dushanbe Business Forum promotes business opportunities in Tajikistan Tajikistan is an important destination for investors who would like to promote their businesses according to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Matlubkhon Davlatov, speaking at the opening ceremony of Dushanbe Business Forum. The Deputy Prime Minister added “Tajikistan today, has huge opportunities in energy, water resources, and infrastructure spheres. These opportunities, we can realize with your help. I think that we will find the ways for the prosperity of our people.” He stressed the importance of paying attention to the development of the private sector in Tajikistan, stating that Tajikistan is now a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In his remarks, the CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Khaled Al Aboodi stated “the forum represents a unique opportunity for investors, business people and policy makers to network and establish business relations”. The Dushanbe Business Forum 2013 meant to create linkages and business relations between Tajikistan and the private sector community in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the OIC member countries. Coordination Group Activities in Central Asia and Caucasus The participating national and multilateral funds in this meeting, such as Saudi Fund for Development, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), gave detailed analyses of their respective funding supports to Central Asian and Caucasus countries. The meeting called for closer coordination among the funds, while emphasizing that funding consideration would be based on credible impact assessment of the proposed project on agricultural development and food security. The meeting was briefed on the impending establishment of KAZAID by Kazakhstan for the purpose of granting development assistance to OIC Member States in the domain of agriculture. The General Secretariat also gave a briefing on the implementation of the OIC Plan of Action for cooperation with Central Asia (OIC-PACCA) and extended invitation to participating national and multilateral funds to attend the proposed investment forum of Central Asia. 52
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IDB President calls for cooperation among the Central Asian Countries President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali called on the Central Asian Countries to work together for their economic development. Dr. Ali made the remark during the opening ceremony of the 8th Global Forum on Islamic Finance in Dushanbe. “Economic activities cannot prosper without certain principles. These principles include cooperation and collaboration between members of the community. Islamic finance is built on certain values, and for economic activities to prosper, there has to be cooperation. IDB is eager to establish systems of Islamic financing in member countries,” the IDB President emphasized. In his welcome address, Davlatali Saidov, Chairman of Tajikistan’s State Committee on Investments and State Property Management stated that the Islamic financial system is the alternative to the conventional banking model. He added that already the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has taken steps for the establishment of Islamic banking in the country. According to the Saidov, the Islamic financial system drew further strength from the financial crisis the world has been facing. Former UK Minister calls on IDB to establish Global Youth Development Conference The Former Minister for International Development in the United Kingdom Shahid Malik called on the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to establish a Global Youth Development Conference, in order to develop the capacity and employment opportunities of the youth in the Muslim world. Malik was speaking during the 2nd Annual IDB Youth Development Forum in Dushanbe. Malik, who served as the facilitator of the program, stated that the Global Youth Development Conference will provide an opportunity for young men and women from IDB member countries to engage in focused discussions on various issues related to youth development, particularly youth employment. In his remarks, the IDB Vice President (Corporate Services) Dr. Ahmet Tiktik noted that the Islamic Development Bank takes the issue of youth unemployment seriously, that is why the Bank initiated the Youth Employment Support program (YES), which is a US$ 250 million program that IDB has launched in a number of its member countries including Tunisia and Egypt.
President of Tajikistan Rahmon inaugurates IDB meeting with Dr. Mohamed Ali next to him
Islamic trade finance predicted to be the preferred choice in emerging markets
According to Ernst & Young’s Global Islamic Banking Center, Islamic trade finance could provide new opportunities and become the preferred choice for emerging rapid growth markets (RGMs) such as Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. RGMs are emerging as hot spots for global business and they promise to permanently alter the global trade scene over the next 10 years. Many of these markets already have strong trade links with other ‘core’ Islamic finance markets, which offer new opportunities for growth for Islamic trade finance. Ashar Nazim, Partner, Global Islamic Banking Center of Excellence at Ernst & Young says: “The increase of trade flows to the East and within emerging economies combined with growing interest in Islamic finance, means that Islamic trade finance is now a serious alternative. A constant challenge for business leaders is to anticipate and interpret how global trade is changing, while understanding the opportunities and risks it creates. Boards and management of Islamic banks must take note. Trade, technology, culture, labor and capital will integrate at different rates across these markets and need to be anticipated when transforming the financial institution’s trade finance operations.” Gordon Bennie, Ernst & Young’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Financial Services Industry Leader, says: “Trade will grow between these markets, creating a wide range of new opportunities for them and advanced economies will also benefit, as exports to emerging markets become a rising source of growth. Middle Eastern countries are trading increasingly with other RGMs, reflecting the faster growth in demand from these countries. Banking, insurance and other financial services sectors in these countries will grow as the economies mature and the middle classes expand, offering new opportunities for trade. Demand for more sophisticated financial services is already growing rapidly as wealth levels rise.” The degree of change in both the scale and direction of trade will have a profound impact on the competitive environment for all companies wherever they are located around the world. Trade will also be increasingly focused around Asia, the Middle East and Africa, suggesting that the key geographical location for companies will change. Ashar added: “It makes business sense for global organizations that operate in and trade with many of these RGMs, especially those that are in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation or have strong links to the bloc, to seriously look at Islamic trade finance.” Challenges ahead: To compete in the market effectively, Islamic institutions will need to align their trade finance operations with global common practices. There has to be a clear understanding of how Islamic financial institutions can add value to businesses in their trade functions. Despite the high percentage of Muslim populations in emerging markets, conversion to Islamic trade finance will not be successful without a clear framework that gives businesses a good reason to switch. Islamic institutions also need to maintain the talent pool
that serves these emerging markets and ensure that talent management is an integral part of their business strategy. There is currently a shortage of staff with extensive experience in Islamic markets so this issue needs to be addressed with the industry’s rapid growth. Islamic banks need to build international connectivity and scalable trade finance platforms that can connect with businesses and financial institutions beyond borders. This could be challenging given the small size and localized nature of most Islamic banks.
Experts group finalizes the Draft Statute of the OIC Institution for Food Security Astana, Kazakhstan – OIC has put in place a new mechanism to harmonize its policies on food security issues, including providing expertise and technical knowhow to its Member States on various aspects of agriculture and rural development. To this end, more than 60 experts from the OIC Member States and institutions, as well as partner organizations convened in Astana, Kazakhstan on 11- 13 June 2013 to negotiate the Draft Statute of a new specialized institution of the OIC. In his message to the EGM, the Secretary General of the OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu emphasized the urgent need to address the twin institutional and operational gaps in the cooperation framework of the OIC countries in the domain of agriculture, rural development and food security. Within this context, he observed that the new OIC institution on food security should qualitatively complement what is already obtained within the global food security system and urged the meeting to develop and prioritize those aspects in which OIC countries had comparative advantages. The proposed new specialized institution of the OIC will, among others, coordinate, formulate and implement common agricultural policies; promote exchange and transfer of appropriate technology; and mobilize and manage resources for developing agriculture and enhancing the food security in its member states. Its other functions include assessing and monitoring the food security situation in its member states in order to determine and make necessary emergency and humanitarian assistance, including the creation of food security reserves. It is worth mentioning that agriculture contributes about 27% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the OIC Member States and this sector employs 37.4 percent of the total labour force in the OIC region. In addition, more than 20 OIC member states rank among the top twenty world producers of major agricultural commodities, such as cotton, cocoa, wheat, rice and maize, which are crucial for both food security and wealth creation. 53
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The international conference on Transforming Arab Economies
Stresses on Stimulating Knowledge Development and Innovation
ISESCO Director General Dr. Altwaijri at the opening of the conference
Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco - The international conference on “Transforming Arab Economies”, at its closing session on 5 June 2013 at the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Headquarters in Rabat, under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO Director General, and Mats Karlsson, Director of the Centre for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), adopted the “Rabat Declaration: Moving Towards New Development Strategies for Countries in the Arab World”. The Declaration stressed the importance of stimulating knowledge development and innovation through greater integration and more regional collaboration, particularly in the Euro-Mediterranean space. It also recommended Arab states to commit to work on concrete projects in areas such as education, research, innovation, and the information society. Besides, it called for organizing a State Summit for leaders from the Arab world in the coming two years that would lead to the development of common knowledge- and innovation-driven agenda for the region. In the same vein, participants invited ISESCO, the CMI, the World Bank, and other partner organizations to work together to make this initiative possible and lasting for the Arab world, by undertaking diagnostics to help identify opportunities that are currently not fully exploited and ways to overcome obstacles, and by identifying best practices to help achieve better integration. The Conference was organized jointly by ISESCO and CMI on 4- 5 June 2013, at ISESCO Headquarters in Rabat, with the participation of ministers and representatives of the MENA countries’ governments, as well as experts from the private sector, academics, representatives of international organizations, in addition to the representatives of the organizing parties. Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO, along with Mats Karlsson, Director of the CMI, presided over the opening session of the international conference, with the presence of Dr. Nizar Baraka, Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance. In attendance were the education ministers of Djibouti, Iraq and Mauritania, 54
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the Moroccan minister in charge of relations with the parliament and civil society, and a host of ambassadors, the representatives of government and non-governmental organizations and national institutions, and journalists from news agencies as well as print and online media in Morocco, the Arab world and beyond. The Director General of ISESCO said in his opening statement, “Transition to the knowledge and innovation economy is an absolute necessity, amid a fragile global economic order marked by recurrent crises, poor governance and huge economic inequalities among States.” It is therefore of the essence to earnestly endeavor to bequeath to future generations a more prosperous, just and secure world, he urged. At the opening session of the Conference, the report titled “Transforming Arab Economies: Travelling the Knowledge and Innovation Road”, which was prepared by the World Bank, the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and ISESCO, was officially launched. As well as providing key tools to improve the competitiveness of Arab and Middle East economies based on knowledge and innovation toward sustainable growth, the report, released in Arabic, French and English, focuses on the need to promote investment in knowledgebased economic models to best address the challenge of expanding job opportunities for continuing development in the region. The report also proposes a model to increase the diversification of economies in the region and establish projects in line with new development strategies based on knowledge and innovation. Outlining some of the key recommendations of the report, Mats Karlsson explained that economic transition in the Arab region cannot be successful unless based on knowledge and innovation. In a video message, Inger Andersen, the World Bank Vice-President for Middle East and North Africa, described the report as a key tool to address the economic challenges at hand, through pursuing a strategy based on knowledge and innovation, and facilitating knowledge and information exchange. Following official launch of the report, Dr. Nasser Saidi, President of Nasser Saidi and Associates, Former Minister of Economy and Trade and Minister of Industry of Lebanon, gave a lecture on “Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Renewal of the Arab World”. Dr. Altwaijri said that the Conference lays solid foundations for a strategic global partnership to keep track on one of the key goals of the millennium, stressing that it constitutes another significant step in the efforts of OIC Member States to achieve greater knowledge sharing and innovation for a balanced comprehensive development as well as world peace and security.
Report on Transforming Arab Economies:
Towards Knowledge and Innovation-Driven Strategies Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco - A new World BankThe report describes how engaging in a knowledgeCMI-EIB and ISESCO report titled “Transforming Arab economy model involves the implementation of a number of Economies: Traveling the Knowledge and Innovation key cross-sectoral reforms that can create an incentivizing Road” shows how an economy based on innovation and environment for innovation and growth. This would knowledge can help promote greater economic growth and require the adoption of a combination of policies, including spur competitiveness. The report, launched on June 4, 2013 developing more open and entrepreneurial economies, in Rabat at an event organized with the Islamic Educational, preparing a more skilled labor force, improving innovation Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), underlines and research capabilities, and expanding ICT and their that greater investment in a knowledge-economy model will applications. be needed to meet the job-creation challenge common to the Knowledge transfer is another important piece of region. the knowledge-economy model, essential in organizing, “We hope this report can help countries of the Arab creating and disseminating knowledge, especially through world imagine a new kind of development strategy with a foreign direct investments and international trade in goods knowledge and innovation-driven model at its very heart,” and services. Managing knowledge, the report argues, is a said Inger Andersen, Vice President for the Middle East and critical driver for enhancing productivity that in turn offers North Africa (MENA) at the World Bank. “The report lays higher and sustainable economic growth. The study also out helpfully how this approach can help Arab countries shows that regional integration can be a positive asset to diversify their economies and innovate, creating new develop a stronger knowledge-economy development enterprises and jobs.” model in MENA, helping to expand trade and develop more The new report suggests that the extent of change will efficient labor markets. depend in good part on how well the knowledge economy In addition to structural reforms, the report recommends takes hold throughout the region. Creating jobs entails more that governments in the region should establish appropriate investment in knowledge-related sectors and new emphasis conditions for the development of specific promising sectors on how to develop competitive, productive, and sustainable and sites that can generate new activities and jobs. The economies. development of dynamic “growth “If small countries like spots” would help to create Creating jobs entails more investment Finland and Singapore, mediumtrust and confidence in the new in knowledge-related sectors and new sized ones like Malaysia and the economic model and therefore emphasis on how to develop competitive, attract investments, economic Republic of Korea, and large like Brazil, China, and India productive, and sustainable economies. activities and enhance knowledge are able to harness the power of sharing and innovation. technical change, then countries “The implementation of a in the Arab world can do so too,” knowledge and innovation-based said Mats Karlsson, Director, Center for Mediterranean development strategy requires a vision, strong coordination Integration (CMI). “But patience and determination will be at the top level of government, and a participatory approach required, because the fruits of investments in knowledge to mobilize the population to back the needed reforms,” may not begin to appear for a few years.” said Abdulaziz Othman Al-Twaijri, Director General, Many Arab countries have made progress over the ISESCO. “Sustained strategic efforts are needed to obtain last decade in terms of rolling out education access and tangible outcomes and to anchor the new practices so that information and communication technologies (ICT), they will endure over the medium to long term. The real gradually improving the institutional environment for challenge especially for the private sector is to develop private-sector led growth. Morocco and Tunisia have worked more competitiveness and identify ‘niche markets’ in the to support innovation, especially through the creation of global economy. “ technoparks and industrial zones that have attracted foreign Anuja Utz, CMI Task Team Leader and main contributor direct investment and advanced manufacturing operations. to the report said its approach reflects the rich differences Jordan has embarked on a major effort to transform in challenges and opportunities across the MENA region. the education system at the early childhood, basic, and “Given the diversity of the Arab world, the study does not secondary levels to produce graduates with the skills needed provide a cookie-cutter approach.” she said. “It offers for the knowledge economy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia examples of good practice from countries around the world has launched a host of education reforms and has invested and policy recommendations to help guide efforts, which in the development of new universities, especially to boost should be customized to the specific circumstances of each science and technology. country.”
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More than $180 billion a year to implement MDGs’ framework in OIC countries The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development:
The poverty alleviation arm of IDB Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) is the poverty alleviation arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The Fund was established by a decision taken by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Summit, held in Makkah Al Mukkarramah on 7- 8 December 2005. It was officially launched during the 32nd Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors (BOG), held on 29 -30 May 2007 in Dakar, Senegal. As the poverty alleviation arm of the IDB Group, the ISFD is dedicated to alleviating poverty and combating diseases in the Muslim Ummah, by: Promoting pro-poor growth. ° Focusing on human development, especially health and education. ° Providing financial support to enhance the productive capacity and sustainable means of income generation for the poor. ° The Fund has been established on the basis of “voluntary contributions from member countries to illustrate Islamic solidarity and brotherhood among them”. Financial Resources The initial target capital of the ISFD is set at US $10 Billion, to be raised from IDB member countries and IDB itself. To ensure continuity and sustainability the capital resources of the Fund are being maintained as Waqf (Islamic endowment/trust), and only the income generated from the waqf is used to fund poverty reduction programs and projects in member countries and for Muslim communities in non-member countries. By the end of 2012, the cumulative ISFD capital commitments stood at US $2.68 billion, with US $1.68 billion committed by 44 member countries and US $1.0 billion by the IDB. Actual payment currently stands at US $1.75 Billion, which constitutes only 17.5 per cent of the approved initial capital of US $10 billion. Saudi Arabia alone paid US $1.00 billion, while the IDB has paid US $500 Million. ISFD Support to its Member Countries As per the Makkah Summit Decision and the regulations of the ISFD, poverty reduction underpins the Fund’s support to member countries. Such support is geared towards providing income and employment, generating opportunities for the poor, enhancing the role of women in socio-economic development, and providing the poor and the vulnerable with social safety nets and other enablers to enable them to move out of the poverty trap. Thus since its inception, the Fund has launched three flagship Programs: the Vocational Literacy Program (VOLIP), the Microfinance Support Program (MFSP) and the Sustainable Villages Program (SVP). 56
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Vocational Literacy Program (VOLIP) The main objective of VOLIP is to reduce poverty, particularly among women and youth in the rural areas by equipping them with relevant functional literacy competencies and notional skills and by giving them access to microfinance schemes to enable them to improve their own development. Microfinance Support Program (MFSP) The main objective of the MFSP is to facilitate access by the economically active poor to low-cost financial products. The program extends lines of financing to banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs), establishes guarantee funds to enhance the financing capacity of the participating banks, and provide small business development skills training for potential entrepreneurs. Sustainable Villages Program (SVP) SVP is an integrated, inclusive and innovative approach to development targeting remote, impoverished communities and helping them achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The program is inspired by the IDB 1440H Vision, which aspires to transform the landscape of comprehensive human development in the Muslim World, through an integrated and multi-sector strategy envisaged under the ISFD 5-year Strategic Plan. In introducing these initiatives, the Fund aspires to provide quick-win solutions and innovative models for empowering rural communities to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. In doing that, the ISFD formed important partnerships with renowned institutions and agencies which share the common aim of poverty reduction, sustainable
development and achievement of the MDGs. Notwithstanding all these efforts, the Fund has been extremely constrained by its limited capital resources in implementing its Five-Year Strategy (2008 – 2012). As of the end of 2012, the ISFD had approved 43 projects and programs with direct funding of US $234 million from its income, in addition to co-financing from the IDB, governments and other financiers at an estimated cumulative cost of US $1.41 billion. This represents an average leveraging ratio of 1:6. The IDB Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs) in Africa and some Asian countries have been the main beneficiaries of these operations, enjoying more than 80% of the Fund’s financing. Challenges Ahead Perhaps, the biggest challenge facing the IDB member countries and the ISFD in the quest for poverty reduction is the huge amount of resources needed to address poverty. For example, the estimated financial resources required to implement the MDGs’ framework in the OIC countries by the year 2015 range from US $130 billion to US $180 billion a year. Other estimates, made on the basis of the total investments needed to bring the population living below the poverty line to the US $1.5 per day (barring income redistribution, and assuming an incremental capital-output ratio of 4:1) suggest that total additional annual investments of US $250 billion would be needed to attain this target. Under a more ambitious scenario, where all the population below the poverty line will have an additional income of US $1.5 per
day, the corresponding amount of investment is estimated at US $626 billion. A much greater amount of resources would be required to achieve a US $2.0 per day target. The size of the requirement means that the ISFD should be supported to mobilize its approved initial capital resources and make investments that can attract other stakeholders to participate in them and, therefore, make a tangible difference in the poverty situation in member countries. Way forward In order to implement its new three-year strategic Plan (2013 -2015), ISFD would need both to have its required capital of US$ 10 Billion, and attract co-financiers and partners to leverage its resources. To this end: ° The IDB/ISFD is currently working on launching a resource mobilization campaign and uses all means to encourage partners and stakeholders to participate in this program. ° Globally, the ISFD will emphasize its catalytic role for resource mobilization through co-financing and partnering. Thus, the Fund will look for opportunities to forge partnerships with governments, development institutions, private sector, NGOs, philanthropists, local communities, and other stakeholders to join it in its battle in fighting poverty and in changing poor peoples’ lives. ° The Fund is also developing the required modalities and instruments for mobilizing and utilizing non-traditional resources, such as Zakat and Awqaf. Other potential nontraditional sources include Sukuk (Islamic bonds) and intraOIC investments.
29th Meeting of Follow-up Committee of COMCEC: Implementing the New COMCEC Strategy Ankara, Turkey – The 29th Meeting of the Followup Committee of COMCEC was held in Ankara, Turkey on 13- 15 May 2013 focusing on implementing the New COMCEC Strategy. The meeting emphasized on the need for collectively discussing the New COMCEC Strategy with the participation of Member States, and on the need for establishing linkages between the New COMCEC Strategy and other existing mechanism within the OIC such as OIC Ministerial Conferences. Dr. Cevdet Yilmaz, Minister of Development of Turkey, inaugurated the meeting. HE President of Turkey Abdullah Gul, Chairman of COMCEC, sent a message to the meeting, which was read by Sadik Arslan, Advisor to the President. In his message, President Gul emphasized the urgent need for strengthening cooperation among COMCEC Member States to address challenges and issues posed by global financial crisis and to benefit from the opportunities especially Foreign Investments provided by the present global economic system. President Gul stressed on the importance of the New COMCEC Strategy which defined its core principles as enhancing mobility, strengthening solidarity and improving governance. He highlighted the
new implementation instruments introduced by the New Strategy, namely Working Groups and Project Cycle Management as the promoters of effective economic and commercial cooperation in the coming period. In his address, Dr. Yilmaz touched upon recent global economic developments as well as Member Countries’ economic performance as a group. The message of OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was read by Gholamhossein Darzi, Director in the Department of Economic Affairs. Ihsanoglu requested the Member of the Committee to support various initiatives, mechanisms and modalities for increasing intra-OIC trade not only in the framework of removing tariff barriers but also in the area of non-tariff measures. He emphasized the need for creating workable implementation modalities for all OIC programs and also the critical issue of mobilization of funds for identified projects. The Secretary General stressed the importance of deepening national ownership and elaboration of bankable projects to generate greater confidence, participation and collaboration of international donors and regional partners.
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Breaking canes in Upper Egypt, a season of goodness
Luxor, Egypt (dpa) – In an atmosphere of excitement are the primary habitat for sugar cane. It was transferred among children and adults as the time comes for picking during the era of Muslim conquests to the Arab world and the fruits of one year of hard work taking care of the cane the Mediterranean basin, including Sicily and Andalusia. crops that farmers have catered for, Luxor experiences European colonizers then transferred it to the New World. the joy accompanying the season of breaking canes. This Sugarcane fields provide habitat for many creatures, is considered as a season of goodness in all Upper Egypt including poisonous the sugarcane frog, from which villages where cane farms spread from Minia in the north to Australia suffers tremendously since it was brought in 1935 Aswan in the south. from the Hawaiian Islands to eliminate spiders that invaded The goodness of canes in Egypt is for all those who the sugar cane fields in northern Australia causing big croppossess land and plant canes, but also for those who do not related losses. possess. The poor who possess no land await the season to Sugarcane is popular in some countries including Egypt feed their livestock. Laborers wait for the work of loading and Morocco. It provides nutritional and health benefits for canes and breaking them sometimes, for which they get paid. the treatment of throat inflammation. Many people there Canes remnants which fill the streets during the season are enjoy sucking on the canes, and in Egypt, sugarcane juice a source of happiness for the poor who collect them and stores are wide spread. use them for heating during winter. The season is also good Many products are extracted from sugarcane including for workers in transport cars and agricultural trucks which sugar, alcohol, and paper. One of the finest types of sugar transport the crop to the sugar factories spread over Armen, is produced from sugarcane. It requires black thick muddy Quos, Naja Hamadi, Adfim Kum Ambo and other Upper soil, which is usually available in Upper Egypt. Some sugar Egypt cities, in addition to the work done by railways of factories were established in Naga Hammadi, the nearest city transporting the crops to other regions. to Upper Egypt. Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, This is also the season for marriages as many families Mexico, Colombia, Australia, the US, and the Philippines in Upper Egypt wait for the return on the canes to use for are the world’s largest sugar producers. engagement and marriage expenses. Sugar plantations are wide spread in Upper Egypt as it Sugarcane is any of six to 37 species (depending on which requires hot temperature. The cultivation process continues taxonomic system is used) of tall perennial true grasses of for one year, whereas the breaking process takes six months, the genus Saccharum, tribe Andropogoneae, native to the unlike other crops, such as wheat, which take only one warm temperate to tropical regions and it is the main source month. Despite the security belt that consumed vast areas of sugar; the other source of sugar is the sugar beet. of cane plantations located on tourist roads and highways as Its cultivation requires fertile soil and a lot of water. It part of the police precautions to combat crime and terrorist remains under the ground for a full year. The sugar factories incidents and efforts to protect tourists, and in spite of the are located in the middle of the sugar cane plantations. The introduction of banana cultivation that began to replace large leftover canes after extracting the sugar from them are used land portions that were used for cane cultivation, cane is still in the production of alcohol. South and Southeast Asia the number one celebrated popular crop in Upper Egypt. 58
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Uzbekistan Full Name: Republic of Uzbekistan Capital: Tashkent Population: 29,559,100 (2012 estimate) Area: 447,400 square km. Official Languages: Uzbek Monetary Unit: Uzbekistan som (UZS) Territory and climate The Republic of Uzbekistan is situated between the rivers of Amudarya and Syrdarya and occupies 447,400 square meters. The span of the territory from the west to the east is 1,425 km and from the north to the south - 930 km. The total population of the Uzbekistan is 29,559,100 (2012 estimate). The country is a multi-ethnic society: more than 100 ethnic groups live on its territory. The native inhabitants are Uzbeks, which consist of about 80% population. The territory borders on Kazakhstan in the north, on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the east and southeast, on Turkmenistan in the west, and on Afghanistan in the south. Uzbekistan possesses some of the most favorable natural and geographic conditions in Central Asian region. The territory of Uzbekistan is a mixture of plain and mountainous lands. The greatest part of the territory (about four fifth) is covered by plains. To the north and the central part of the territory of Uzbekistan situated is one of the largest deserts in the world - Kyzylkoum. The climate of Uzbekistan is sharply continental, characterized by high amplitude of day and night, summer and winter temperatures. The temperature varies rather considerably with respect to the seasons. Average temperature in January falls below -6 0C, while the average temperature in July may rise above +32 0C. The amount of precipitations is low, which is why the agriculture relies on irrigation to a great degree. The largest rivers in Uzbekistean are Amudarya and Syrdarya. The majority of the rivers of Uzbekistan dehydrate in their streams, only Amudarya and Syrdarya fall into the Aral Sea. There are several large artificial lakes, such as Chardarya water reservoir.
Desert vegetation is prevalent on plains, while mountainous areas are covered with steppe, forests and mountain meadows. Natural resources Uzbekistan possesses large production and mineral potential, unique agricultural resources, significant volumes of semi-finished products obtained through processing, rich natural resources, and developed infrastructure. The contemporary level of exploration of minerals is related to opening up of rich deposits of precious, nonferrous and rare metals, all types of organic fuel - oil, natural and condensed gas, brown and other type of coal, shale oil, uranium, many kinds of construction resources. A large variety of minerals has been discovered on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan with almost 100 kinds of minerals, 60 of which are already employed in the national economy. The country secures leading positions in the world in confirmed stocks of such minerals as gold, uranium, copper, natural gas, tungsten, potassium salts, phosphorite, and kaolin. Hence, for example, the Republic occupies the fourth place in stocks of gold, and the seventh in gold mining, the tenth/eleventh place - in copper stocks, the eighth - in uranium stocks, and eleventh/twelfth place in uranium mining. Tourism Uzbekistan possesses enormous tourist potential. The country is considered one of the centers of tourism not only in the central Asia, but also all over the World. In the cities most attractive to tourists through which in an antiquity passed the Great silk way connected China with the countries of the Europe, a plenty of architectural monuments of various historical epoch is located: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Kokand, Termez. In ancient cities of Uzbekistan the modern architecture adjoins monuments of national architecture of the last centuries, a feature characteristic of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has also other resources for attracting big numbers of foreign visitors: deserts and the reserves rich with different kinds of animals and plants; mountain tops and the rivers having huge value for development of an active kind of tourism; mineral sources with the curative water; and traditions of an applied art and original culture.
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VIEWPOINT Human Security Collective: A new approach to counter extremism Jeanne Abdulla,
Programme Director Human Security Collective * Was a speaker at the workshop for OIC Member States on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1624
Given the nature of today’s threats we have to explore various approaches to countering violent extremism. To that I would like to thank you for providing me the opportunity to share with you a civil society perspective on promoting effective strategies in countering incitement and enhancing cultural dialogue. In my previous job, I was a programme manager at Cordaid, a Dutch development organization working world wide on conflict transformation, humanitarian and developmental needs. For almost 15 years I managed and facilitated a network of civil society organizations in Palestine. I have been privileged to work in a setting that allowed me to offer solidarity, human dignity and justice to the most marginalized because that way I would never have felt the value of a vibrant civil society that supports human security in a range of ways. Watching the Twin Towers burning on the 9 /11, I kept praying Palestinians were not part and parcel of these terrorist attacks. Realistic of repercussions that surely would affect our partner network in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, I naively thought that as long as Palestinians were not associated with these attacks, they were not going to suffer the consequences. Little did I know at the time as I never imagined the global impact of counter terrorism measures to be taken. In years to come, it cut through the heart of our network of civil society organizations with an anti-climax of community leaders in my network ending up being tortured and imprisoned. All in the name of anti-terrorism measures needed to be taken.The impact this has had on their constituencies and a once vibrant civil society has been devastating. The community leaders we work withsupport the rights of disenfranchised groups and aim for a society that is capable of providing human dignity for all its citizens. Whether they are religious leaders or secular, Christians or Muslims, human rights activists, organizations working with and for the benefit of children, youngsters, farmers or women, I always felt their overarching drive towards providing human dignity for their respective communities. These initiatives contribute to mitigating violent extremism and terrorism, but are not to be labeled Countering Violent Extremism. Their work became increasingly challenging when funders came up with anti-terrorism clauses that forced these organizations not to accept these funds anymore. The 60
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argument was always one that dealt with their value systems. Many civil society organizations maintain an inclusive paradigm whereas the security measures taken work on the basis of exclusion. This leads to marginalization of those groups in society who are bridge builders, mediators and those community leaders who are fighting against injustices and corruption. Also if you believe in providing services to the needy, you cannot distinguish between one and the other. This meant that they continued working with those groups in Palestine that are listed but received far less funding than those who signed the anti-terrorism clauses. Seeing the impact of how counter terrorism measures had a counter effect on many of these civil society organizations, we felt the urge to work on the political and operational space of civil society. Our foundation Human Security Collective grew out of a special program of Cordaid. Human Security Collective is dedicated to supporting human security approaches in countering violent extremism. We are driven by the notion that security is too important to be left in the hands of states and military only and therefore helpcitizens influence security agendas that have great impact on their daily lives. These agendas, set at national and international levels, often exclude groups that are not mainstream. Therefore we are committed to the principles and experiences from the development and peace building world which includes notions such as partnership, local ownership, locally driven agenda, addressing root causes of marginalization, interreligious dialogue and respect for human rights and social justice. In our work we have a special focus on youth and women, as their views and capacities are absent in the global and national security debates. Our initiative brings together over sixty civil society organizations and networks worldwide under the umbrella of the Civil Society Network for Human Security. It is a growing network of civil society actors working for development, peace building, human rights and humanitarian issues. Together we advocate for a human security approach to counter-terrorism strategies, centring on the needs of people in dealing with sources of threats.The hub also provides a platform to amplify the voices of positive change makers. Concluding, I would like to share a few recommendations arriving out of our work as practitioners in the field of conflict transformation, developmental and humanitarian work. The first one is that governments would be more effective in sharpening and implementing national counter terrorism strategies if they reach out to civil organizations that do not carry the CTM label, but are quite relevant to countering violent extremism. In addition to that, we need to ensure that the innovative ideas of women and young community leaders are integrated in a comprehensive strategy on countering incitement and violent extremism. We need to amplify their voices as we need to fight incitement with words and grassroots action that are the opposite of what terrorists want us to do. Member states can capitalize on the willingness of the Civil Society Network for Human to engage and accept invitations to discuss Countering Violent Extremism related issues at the country level.
About OIC The year 2005 is considered a turning point in the history of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (formerly the Organization of Islamic Conference) when it launched its reform process. That year witnessed the holding of the Third Extraordinary Islamic Summit at the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on 7-8 December, which adopted the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action. As a result of the continued developments experienced in the Islamic Ummah, it had become clear the need for a new headquarters suitable for the OIC, the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. Saudi Arabia, the host country, gave great care and attention to this matter and decided to build a new permanent Headquarters for the OIC. During the historic Makkah Summit in 2005, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud unveiled the cornerstone of the new OIC Headquarters. Soon after, the OIC General Secretariat announced an international architectural design competition for its new headquarters. More than one hundred participants from around the world submitted their
designs. On 17 May 2006, the jury announced the outcome of the competition, selecting the design submitted by Bramberger (architect) & Thomas Pucher of Austria. When the design was presented to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques he expressed his admiration and gave his generous approval of the project for immediate implementation. In line with this gracious patronage, the Saudi Government allocated a 40,000sm plot of land in Qasr Khuzam district in Jeddah as the location for the Headquarters. The Austrian architecture team completed the final plans in July 2009; and the Saudi Ministry of Finance presented the detailed plans, estimated budget and design model to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques who gave his approval. The OIC Headquarters will be an international landmark in the skyline of Jeddah and a beacon for joint Islamic action, Muslim culture and its rich heritage. It will also provide a wonderful site for an international prominent institution. The design incorporates and entwines traditional Islamic architecture with modern necessities.
Main entrance hall
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (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. Originally named The Organization of the Islamic Conference, it 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 new 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 25 to 57 states. In 2011 in Astana, Khazakhstan, the 38th Council of Foreign Ministers endorsed changing the emblem and name to Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 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
Conference hall
Cornerstone of the Headquarters