OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING OPEN IN BAKU
IRNA, Iran
June 19 2006
The 33rd meeting of Foreign Ministers of Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) opened here on Monday with an inaugural speech by
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
Foreign ministers of 51 member states are attending the meeting.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is heeding the Iranian
delegation to Baku.
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan Republic advocates solidarity and close
relations among Islamic nations and hoped that the meeting would
serve to reinforce Muslim solidarity.
The Azeri president also called for strengthening of OIC and said
that solidarity among the member states would be effective for OIC
in adopting position on various international issues.
Aliyev expressed concern that certain states are attributing terrorist
actions to Islam adding that Islam is religion of peace, tolerance
and it has nothing to do with terrorism.
"It is major concern that certain states are stirring up Islamophobia
in the modern world which is the era of dialogue of civilizations. It
is unfortunate that propaganda campaign is underway against Muslims
and religious discrimination has been escalated in Western states."
Azeri president called on OIC to take strong action against
discriminations certain states are perpetrating against Muslims.
He said that progress and development in the region need peace and
tranquility thanking the Islamic governments for supporting Azerbaijan
in the Karabakh conflict.
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that Islamic nations
are passing a very critical period and called on Muslim nations to
usher in a historical opportunity to enforce goals of Islam.
He expressed concern about the human tragedy in Palestine, the
Philippines and the crisis being escalated over Iranian nuclear
program.
He deplored Israel actions for the ongoing human tragedy against
defenseless Palestinians and said that OIC condemns Israel for
occupying Palestinian territories and expelling Palestinians from
their homeland.
Ihsanoglu also condemned use of force and abduction in Iraq and said
the OIC demands immediate resolution of Iraqi crisis.
The secretary general said that OIC has decided to open a
representative office in Baghdad soon.
OIC secretary general called for immediate end to crisis in Kashmir,
Karabakh, the Philippines, and conflict in Somalia.
He expressed outrage at desecration of the Islamic sanctities and
blaspheming Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in certain Western publications
and said that OIC has embarked on propagation of Islamic teachings
in Western states to neutralize such anti-Islam scenario.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and
the Council of Europe are taking part in the meeting as observers.