|
RESOLUTIONS ON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
ADOPTED BY THE TENTH SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE
(SESSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND MORALITY FOR THE PROGRESS OF UMMAH)
PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA 13-14 OCTOBER 2003
On Economic Problems Facing the Member States
On Supporting the Reforms of the International Financial Architecture.
On Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System.
On Implications of the Establishment of Regional and International Economic Groupings on the Islamic World.
On Economic Problems of the Least Developed and Land-Locked Member States.
On Eradication of Poverty in the Least Developed and Low-Income OIC Member States.
On External Debt of African and Other OIC Member States.
On Need for Enhancement of Economic Relations among Member States in the Light of Current Changes in the World Economy.
On Economic Problems of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, of the Syrian Citizens in the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights, and of the Lebanese Citizens in Occupied South Lebanon and the Western Bekaa formerly under occupation.
On Assistance to Member States Stricken by Drought and Natural Calamities.
On Economic and Social Losses for Great Jamahiriya as a Result of the Security Council Resolutions No. 748/92 and 883/93.
On Supporting the Efforts of South East Asian OIC Member States to
Counteract the Implications of the Economic and Financial Crisis.
On Economic Assistance to the Republic of Lebanon.
On Assistance to Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Economic Assistance to Republic of Somalia.
On Economic Assistance to the Republic of Guinea in the Face of Refugee Influx from Liberia and Sierra Leone.
On Economic Assistance to the Republic of Sierra Leone.
On Economic Assistance to the Republic of Albania.
On Economic Assistance to Afghanistan.
On Economic Assistance to the Republic of Uganda.
REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE PREPARATORY MINISTERIAL MEETING
The Economic, Social, Administrative and Financial Affairs Committee of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Tenth Islamic Summit Conference met in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 13-14th October, 2003.
2. H.E. Dato’ Haji Salim Hashim, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Committee.
The Bureau of the committee was also elected unanimously, as follows:
a) State of Palestine, Vice-Chairman
b) Republic of Yemen, Vice-Chairman
c) Republic of Mali, Vice-Chairman
d) State of Qatar, Rapporteur.
3. The General Secretariat of the OIC was represented on the committee by H.E. Ambassador Thierno Nabika Diallo, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Sopian bin Ahmad, Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology and Mr. Mustapha Abdelhaq, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs.
4. The concerned subsidiary organs, specialized and affiliated institutions of the OIC also participated in the proceedings of the Committee.
5. The Committee examined 38 draft resolutions submitted under the agenda items 52 to 60 on Economic Affairs and adopted these resolutions, after making a number of amendments, for submission to the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting for the 10th Islamic Summit Conference.
6. Concerning agenda item 61 on Establishment of a Mechanism for Using Gold in the Settlement of International Trade, the Committee took note with appreciation of the efforts undertaken by Malaysia and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in promoting the Gold-based Trade Payment Arrangements (GTPA) mechanism. It also acknowledged
7. that the Experts Group Meeting, held at the IDB Headquarters on 7-11 September 2003, had recommended that the GTPA was a viable and practical mechanism and that OIC Member States could begin negotiation to operationalise the GTPA. It also agreed that technical experts of the Member States, particularly from central banks, should further study the GTPA under the coordination of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (COMCEC) and in close collaboration with the IDB and other related OIC bodies. It was also agreed to conduct workshops and seminars on the technicalities and the advantages of the GTPA mechanism. It was further agreed that progress made in this respect would be reported by the General Secretariat to the 31st Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
8. On agenda item 62, the Meeting took note of the Kuala Lumpur Programme of Action which was adopted by the Second Islamic Conference of Ministers of Tourism held in Kuala Lumpur on 12-13 October 2001 and the proposal to establish a Centre for Tourism Development. The Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC clarified that the setting up of an OIC institution was an organic matter. The Committee was not the competent authority to establish such an institution. Mention was also made of the Resolution 6/18-ORG adopted by the 18th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to ban the creation of any new OIC institution but recommended the strengthening of existing ones. Reference was also made that the process of restructuring and strengthening of the OIC institutions was underway as mandated by the 27th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Kuala Lumpur in June 2000. Under the circumstances, the Committee agreed to put forward the matter for the consideration of the Foreign Ministers at the next ICFM to be held in Istanbul in 2004.
9. The Committee examined 14 draft resolutions under the agenda items on Science and Technology and adopted them after making a number of amendments for submission to the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the 10th Islamic Summit Conference.
10. The Committee discussed and adopted the resolution of the First Conference on Science and Technology: Science on the theme “Science and Technology for Industrial Development in the Islamic Countries – Facing the Challenges of Globalization”, held in Kuala Lumpur on 17 October 2003. It also discussed and adopted the Resolution on Polio Eradication in the OIC Member States.
11. The Committee also discussed and adopted the Resolution on the Role of Science and Technology in the Socio-Economic Development of the Member States. In this context, it adopted the Resolution of the Second Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education and Scientific Research held in Tripoli, Libya on 6-9 September 2003.
12. The Committee discussed the possibility of turning voluntary contributions of the Member States to COMSTECH into mandatory contribution and decided to refer the matter to the Ministerial Meeting for further evaluation.
13. Concerning the agenda item on administrative and financial affairs, the Committee discussed the financial situation of the General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs, particularly the status of contribution and the areas thereof of the Member States to the General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs as well as the incentive to settle the arrears. The Committee also discussed and adopted a draft resolution on the matter after making some amendment.
14. The Committee also considered the report of the Secretary General on the re-organization of the General Secretariat and its entrusted role in facing the challenges in the new millennium. The Committee also discussed and adopted a draft resolution on the matter.
15. The Committee expressed its gratitude to His Excellency Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Government and the people of Malaysia for hosting the Conference and for the generous hospitality extended to all the delegates.
16. The Chairman expressed his gratitude to the Members of the Committee for their cooperation and earnest deliberation. The Committee concluded its work with thanks to the Chair.
17. The Committee refers this report along with the attached draft resolutions to the Plenary for consideration and appropriate action.
H.E. Dato’ Haji Salim Hashim
Deputy Secretary General
At Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia
Chairman of the Economic, Social, Administrative
and Financial Affairs Committee
ON ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FACING THE MEMBER STATES
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 1/9-E(IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Doha;
Also recalling Resolution No. 1/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Further recalling Resolution No. 6/24-E of the 24th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, in which Member States were invited to reinforce Sub-Regional and Regional Markets and relaunch the existing economic integration projects among themselves;
Noting that globalization and increasing liberalization have made the external environment for development crucial particularly since OIC Member States have become more vulnerable to the intense competition and unpredictable fluctuations in international trade, instability in the financial and monetary flows as well as to the changes in technology;
Noting with concern that the world economy faces severe periodical fluctuations and crises in some regions which affect other regions with impacts on various fields due to the strong interdependence among world economies;
Stressing the urgency for the international community to work for a global approach towards financial crisis;
Aware of the need to improve the capacities and modalities of the International financial institutions, with regard to the prevention, management and resolution of international financial crises in a timely and effective manner;
Aware of the fact that, as a result of the current trends of globalization and liberalization, a large number of OIC Member States are bearing a disproportionate share of the adjustment burden;
Recognizing that the effective implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements would necessitate a certain measure of adaptation in the economic and administrative structures of the Member States to safeguard their interests and to take maximum advantage of the opportunities to be created thereby;
Endorsing the Monterrey consensus of the International Conference of Financing for Development held in Monterrey, Mexico on 18-22 March, 2002;
Further aware of the need to further strengthen cooperation and coordination among OIC Member States to ensure expansion in intra-OIC trade;
Having taken note with appreciation of the studies prepared by SESRTCIC on world economic developments and ICDT on intra-OIC trade;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the matter,
1. Stresses the need to promptly take practical steps, foremost of which is to set up joint investment projects among Member States, to achieve economic complementarity between them to ensure economic integration among the OIC Member States with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic Common Market or any other form of economic integration, on a step-by-step basis, and commends the efforts exerted by the Arab Economic and Social Council to create a major Arab free trade zone and encourages the regional organizations in which Member States participate, especially the ECO, SINSAD, ECOWAS, CEMAC and CEMAO to continue their efforts in this area.
2. Underlines the need to devise ways and means to minimize the adverse effects of the globalization on the economies of the OIC Member States as well as to enable them to harness opportunities provided by globalization.
3. Calls on the international community to adopt appropriate measures to ensure that the benefits of globalization are shared by all countries on an equitable basis so as to ensure balanced advantages and obligations of developing countries including OIC Member States.
4. Calls upon the developed countries for further liberalization and increased access for the products and services where developing countries have a comparative advantage, and access to transfer of technology on concessional terms as well as to investment and technology.
5. Urges the Member States to pursue efforts aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and economic policy coordination among them so as to maximize the complementarities in their economies and avoid further marginalization.
6. Urges also the Member States to coordinate their efforts aimed at making the necessary contacts with the concerned international parties and organizations so as to safeguard their economic interests and not to prejudice their exports of various commodities and materials.
7. Calls on the developed countries to create a more practical, equitable and transparent environment enabling developing countries to implement their structural adjustment programmes to enable them to achieve sustainable development and urges them to support the Common Fund established by UNCTAD with a view to stabilizing raw material prices.
8. Notes with appreciation the exchange of views on current world economic issues that are held regularly during the annual sessions of the COMCEC which constitute valuable occasions for the Member States to share their experiences and coordinate their positions on these issues.
9. Notes with concern the extraterritorial application by a number of developed countries of their domestic legislation which adversely affect foreign investments in other countries, including the OIC Member States; rejects all coercive measures, which are null and void from the perspective of international law; and recalls in this connection the UN General Assembly Resolution 57/5 elimination of coercive unilateral and extraterritorial economic measures to exert political and economic pressure as an attempt by the international community to put an end to such practices.
10. Agrees on the need to closely monitor the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements and requests the General Secretariat and related OIC Institutions to study new and emerging trends and report making proposals to implement technical assistance programmes to assist those Member States which might have difficulties in responding to the new challenges.
11. Recognizes that the current phase of globalization and restrictive labour mobility are widening the income disparities between the developed and developing countries and that efficient labour migration management is essential for closing down such disparities and reducing the negative impacts of globalization through facilitating the flow of trade, capital, skills and ideas.
12. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON SUPPORTING THE REFORMS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 2/9-E(IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 2/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Recognising that the recent South East Asian financial crisis was not only rooted in the macroeconomic vulnerabilities in several of the affected economies but was also caused by weaknesses in the current arrangements that govern the international financial system;
Accepting that weaknesses in the arrangements that make up the international monetary system have allowed excessive risk taking, imprudent investor behaviour and speculative activities;
Further recognizing that recent developments in both global and domestic economic environment as well as the emerging trend towards inter-dependence among developing countries, including Islamic countries, have spurred economic collaboration and integration;
Recalling that a high degree of agreement has been achieved in the various form on ways to reform the international financial architecture, particularly in the critical areas of strengthening financial systems, enhancing transparency and disclosure and improving the approaches to crisis prevention and resolution, including by involving the private sector and improved coordination between the international financial institutions;
Taking note with appreciation of the study prepared and submitted by SESRTCIC on the subject.
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General;
1. Underscores the importance of developing an orderly and strengthened international financial system.
2. Underlines that the reforms of the international financial architecture should aim at addressing the fundamental weaknesses of the free market system and
inherent instability of the international financial system through achieving the following:
a. avoid destabilising capital flows to maximise benefits from globalised capital markets, thereby minimising risk;
b. contain the adverse impact of currency trading especially on small economies;
c. mitigate occurrence of future crisis;
d. limit the contagion effect of any crisis; and
e. achieve symmetry in efforts of governments and the private sector.
3. Appreciates the contributions and efforts made by the various fora such as the G-7, APEC, ASEAN, the G-15, the G-20 as well as the international financial and regulatory bodies such as the IMF, World Bank, the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to strengthen the international financial architecture;
4. Stresses the need to maintain the momentum for reforming the global financial architecture.
5. Agrees that the issue still requires crucial action particularly in areas pertaining to exchange rate systems and the adoption of monetary and financial policies likely to encourage capital inflow.
6. Calls for effective representation of the developing and emerging market economies in the consultations and decision-making on the reforms of the international financial architecture;
7. Calls for greater participation of private sector in the prevention and resolution of financial crisis and the application of standards of transparency and disclosure of economic and financial information equally to the public and private sectors.
8. Requests SESRTCIC to continue studying the matter, particularly from the point of view of its implications for the OIC Member States to formulate fresh proposals and recommendations thereon and submit periodic reports to the annual session of the COMCEC and thereafter to the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers for active consideration for implementation.
9. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON STRENGTHENING THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 3/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 3/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Reaffirming Member States’ commitment to progressive trade liberalisation and cooperation in strengthening the multilateral trading system;
Recalling the related decisions of the COMCEC which have the subject on its agenda as a permanent item;
Appreciating the efforts of IDB and ICDT in assisting and appraising the Member States on matters related to WTO.
Recognising that the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system is pivotal in contributing towards enhancing growth and development;
Desiring that the multilateral trading system provide equitable benefits for all members through trade liberalisation and fair rules;
Taking note with appreciation of the reports submitted by SESRTCIC and ICDT;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General;
1. Calls on OIC Member States who have acceded to the WTO to support and facilitate negotiations for the accession of the other Member States which have not yet joined the WTO.
2. Urges the WTO and its Member States to:
i. facilitate the accession of all States to the WTO to ensure its universality in decision-making, emphasize the importance of clarity and transparency of membership procedure, and avoid requiring states wishing to adhere to meet unfair requirements or conditions beyond the commitments of member states with equal status on the development scale;
ii. stress the need to ensure that political considerations should not impede the process of accession to the WTO;
iii. accord priority and urgency in addressing implementation problems;
iv. ensure that the agenda for further negotiations remains focused, balanced and manageable, taking into account the limited resources and the level of development of many developing countries, in particular the LDCs;
v. strengthen the development dimension in multilateral trade agreements, including operationalizing the special and differential treatment provisions such as extending the transitional period in implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreement;
vi. reject the inclusion of non-trade issues, such as labour and environmental standards, into the work programme of the WTO, given its detrimental effects to the evolution of a just, free and fair trading environment as reiterated by most WTO members;
vii. ensure the availability of sufficient resources for technical cooperation activities to assist developing countries implement WTO agreements and decisions
viii. review the structure of the decision making process of the WTO to ensure greater transparency of the WTO process and ensuring effective participation of WTO members in this process;
ix. ensure that technical assistance by WTO shall also contribute to capacity building in developing countries, in particular the LDCs.
3. Notes that Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Cancun, Mexico on 10-14 September 2003.
4. Commends the IDB for its sincere efforts in raising awareness among OIC Member States of the wide-ranging impact of the Uruguay Round agreements on their economies, and in reinforcing the capabilities of Member States, including its negotiating capabilities, preparing them fully for the negotiations in the context of the WTO, and calls on IDB to continue in its efforts.
5. Urges the UNCTAD to undertake studies on the necessary measures to bring about a balance in cost and benefits for the developing countries in adopting the new trade and economic regimes taking into account their different levels of development and ability to compete.
6. Calls on Member States to consolidate their efforts and coordinate their positions in international organizations, in particular in WTO, World Bank and IMF.
7. Requests IDB and ICDT to continue their efforts and submit periodic reports to the COM`CEC and related OIC fora.
8. Notes with satisfaction that the Islamic Development Bank has organized a Trade Policy Course, in collaboration with the Under Secretariat of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Turkey, in May 2002 in Istanbul.
9. Requests ICDT in collaboration with IDB to prepare a study on matters related to the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the WTO and its impact on OIC Member States.
10. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON IMPLICATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPINGS ON THE ISLAMIC WORLD
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 4/9-E(IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
Recalling Resolution No. 4/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Noting with appreciation the reports submitted by the SESRTCIC, ICDT and IDB;
Taking into consideration the entry into circulation of the Unified European Currency, the EURO, as of 1 January 2002;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General in this respect,
1. Urges Member States to intensify trade exchanges between them and to work seriously on removing the obstacles which impede progress in this area.
2. Calls upon Member States to emphasize cooperation more in terms of project oriented integration arrangements.
3. Calls on the Member States to take maximum advantage of the studies prepared by SESRTCIC and ICDT on the impact of the entry into circulation of the Euro on the economies of the Member States.
4. Emphasizes the necessity to give priority to cooperation in the area of physical infrastructure, such as transport and communications, as well as in research, training and technology in these regional arrangements.
5. Requests the developed countries giving preferences to OIC Member States under various schemes to examine the erosion that is likely to occur in these preferences as a result of the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements and to consider restoring these losses by other trade concessions or forms of compensation.
6. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF THE LEAST DEVELOPED AND LAND-LOCKED MEMBER STATES
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 5/9-E(IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 5/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Expressing its profound concern over the serious economic problems faced by the Least-Developed Member States in particular the sharp decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA);
Expressing concern over the lack of access by the Least Developed Member States to private financial flows, and noting with regret the diminishing shares of these countries in official capital flows.
Expressing concern over the sharp decline in the prices of the raw materials, particularly those produced and exported by the least developed countries; as well as over the marginalisation of the LDCs in the world economy.
Having taken note with satisfaction that the Islamic donor countries continued to provide significant external aid and that the amount of aid distributed to the least developed countries exceeded 0.15 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product;
Noting with appreciation the efforts of UNCTAD in favour of the Least Developed and Land-locked countries and its useful annual Report on the Least Developed Countries and the Trade and Development Report.
Expressing satisfaction with the IDB's efforts for the extension of assistance to the Least Developed Countries and for the opening of a special account for them as approved by the IDB's Board of Governors at its Seventeenth Annual Session held in Tehran in November 1992;
Recalling the decision taken at the 30th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, on 28-30 May 2003, on setting up an open-ended OIC intergovernmental group of experts to study the ways and means of implementing the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for 2001-2010;
Noting with appreciation the study prepared and presented by SESRTCIC on the Problems of Least Developed and Land-locked Member States;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General,
1. Emphasizes the importance of achieving reductions in the outstanding debt of the Least Developed Countries to sustainable levels through debt-relief measures, particularly the HIPC initiative, in order to help relieve their financial burdens, enhance their credit-worthiness and improve their external financial prospects.
2. Appeals to the international community, particularly the developed countries, to fully and expeditiously implement the Programme of Action for 2001-2010 adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May, 2001.
3. Endorses the Cotonou Declaration adopted by the Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed countries held in Cotonou, Benin from 5 to 7 August, 2002;
4. Reaffirms its decision to set up an open-ended OIC intergovernmental group of experts, including representatives of the OIC General Secretariat, IDB, ICCI, ICDT and SESRTCIC, with the mandate of examining the ways and means of implementing the Programme of Action for 2001-2010 in respect of the Least Developed Countries within the OIC and submitting proposals of intra-OIC cooperation in this regard for consideration by the Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister; and requests the Secretary-General to setup such an OIC intergovernmental group of experts to draw up and submit proposals to the 31st Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to be held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2004.
5. Emphasizes the need for simplifying and relaxing the rules of origin criteria in favour of the LDCs to enable them to attain the maximum benefit out of the specialized and differential treatments offered by the developed and developing countries.
6. Calls upon the international community to help the LDCs to progressively integrate themselves into the world economy and strengthen LDC’s capacity to participate in the multilateral trading system, including facilitating accession to WTO by those LDC’s which are not already members.
7. Urges developed countries to increase their contributions and initiate new means within the framework of the International Development Strategy and to follow the example of countries who converted the debts contracted by the least developed countries into grants in order to facilitate the implementation of the structural adjustment measures undertaken by these countries.
8. Expresses concern at the declining trend in the quantity of ODA to the LDCs and stresses the importance of increasing Official Development Assistance (ODA) granted by the developed countries in favour of the developing countries in general and the Least Developed Countries in particular and calls upon developed countries to continue providing their official development assistance in parallel with facilitating the access of the products of the developing and the least developed countries to the markets of developed countries.
9. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of some Member States to extend assistance in the technical, financial, food and other forms to the least developed Member States and hopes that such assistance will continue.
10 Appreciates the efforts of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in initiating a proposal of activating private sector in Islamic Least Developed Countries and Land-locked countries by establishing a Network of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in these countries.
11. Notes that the OIC Secretary General has set up a Task Force on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) comprising of representatives of the OIC General Secretariat, IDB, ICDT, ICCI, SESRTCIC and some selected OIC country Chambers in accordance with Resolution 5/27-E adopted by the Twenty-seventh Session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and appreciates the efforts of the ICCI in organising, in cooperation with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce, a meeting of the Task Force along with a seminar on SMEs which was held on 27-29 January 2002 in Dhaka. It also noted that the second Task Force meeting was held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique from 19-21 May, 2003 with the cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Government of the Republic of Mozambique and the Third Task Force Meeting will be held in Pakistan in 2004.
12. Calls upon the land-locked countries, their transit neighbours and donor counties to implement measures to strengthen further their cooperative and collaborative efforts in dealing with the transit problems in accordance with the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Land-locked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries.
13. Recognizes the necessity to respond effectively to the needs of Land-locked and transit countries so as to allow them to develop their transport infrastructure and road network and called on the developed countries to provide the necessary assistance to promote trade among the various parties.
14. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 6/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 6/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Reiterating the need to give special attention to the eradication of poverty, notably in the Least Developed and Low-income Islamic countries;
Acting in conformity with Islamic rules and precepts as well as the OIC Charter and moved by the spirit of Islamic solidarity;
Noting that Micro-Credit programmes by providing access to small capital, contribute towards eradication of poverty through generating productive self-employment, ensuring social and human development, and promoting participatory processes in the societies; and noting further the support to micro-credit extended by various Summits and other high level meetings;
Noting that the international community is observing the period 1997-2006 as the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty.
Recognizing that, in the process of globalization, the marginalization of the developing countries, particularly the least developed among them, has created constraints to the efforts to eradicate poverty;
Noting with appreciation the study prepared and submitted by SESRTCIC on “Eradication of Poverty in the Least Developed and Low-income OIC Member States”;
Reiterating the importance of collective efforts by the international community towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals as contained in the UN Millennium Summit Declaration of 2000;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General on this matter;
1. Reaffirms that the eradication of poverty in all Member States before the end of the next decade constitute a common objective of OIC Member States.
2. Confirms the link between the acute nature of the poverty phenomenon and the distortion of the socio-economic structures, marginalization in the global economy, and deterioration of terms of trade, due to the inappropriate international conditions, particularly those relating to the requisites of economic growth and development.
3. Urges the developed Industrial States and International institutions to take specific measures for the fulfilment of the commitments made at the World Social Summit, held in Copenhagen, as well as other international fora so as to enable the Least Developed Member States to attain this objective.
4. Notes with appreciation the holding of the World Food Summit: Five Years Later on 12-13 June 2002 in Rome, which adopted a set of important decisions on combating famine and securing food security for all countries, and urges the Member States to take necessary measures for their implementations.
5. Notes also with appreciation the important role played by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in combating poverty and famine and Encourages the developed countries and Member States to continue providing their support to IFAD.
6. Encourages incorporation of micro-credit schemes in the strategy of poverty eradication and implementation of related recommendations as reflected in the Plan of Action adopted in the Micro-Credit Summit held in Washington from 2-4 February 1997, which launched a global movement to reach 100 million of the world’s poorest families for self-employment and other financial and business services by the year 2001.
7. Reaffirms that a favourable international economic environment within the framework of the concessions to be granted to them in terms of providing financial and technical assistance and investment resources; and access to international markets with raw materials price stability and appropriate structural programmes, is necessary for the success of the efforts being exerted by LDCs and low income countries in eradicating poverty.
8. Appeals to developed countries that have not yet done so to achieve as soon as possible the agreed target of 0.7% of the GNP for overall official development assistance and, to achieve the 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of GNP for the least developed countries.
9. Urges the LDCs and low income countries to play in a more coordinated manner a more active role in international fora dealing with the eradication of poverty.
10. Requests Member States to intensify implementation of technical cooperation programmes among themselves with a view to improving the health educational, human and housing conditions as well as other basic needs of their respective population.
11. Welcomes and commends the adoption of a resolution by the Fifty-seventh Session of the United Nations General Assembly (December 2002) on setting up of an international solidarity fund to tackle poverty and to promote human advancement in the developing countries, and the initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Tunisia, Mr. Zine El-Abidine, pioneer of the successful Tunisian experiment of the National Solidarity Fund, which confirms the far sightedness of His Excellency on issues of sustainable development and human advancement within the framework of solidarity and mutual help among members of society, as prescribed by our magnanimous religion; calls upon Member States and international donor institutions to provide, mobilize and allocate fresh financial resources to the Fund’s projects directed at fighting poverty and illiteracy to the most needy countries.
12. Encourages the Member States to share among themselves the best practice models for poverty alleviation implemented by both public and private sectors in comparable as well as adaptable situations.
13. Encourages Member States and competent OIC organs and institutions, particularly the IDB and ICCI, to support the on-going development programmes of OIC Least Developed Countries and the low income ones, with a view to encouraging and strengthening the SMEs by providing support service measures for enhancing their local technical capabilities creating production and job opportunities.
14. Requests the more advanced Member States of OIC to reduce tariff barriers on goods and services of the Least Developed Member States to help them broaden their market base and also to provide long-term FDI to help the latter, inter alia, to avert the risks of fluid capital transactions and speculative investment.
15. Stresses the importance of collective action by all Member States as well as effective national economic and fiscal policies aimed at mobilization of national resources for combating poverty.
16. Reaffirms the need to give special priority to the Least Developed and poorer Member States.
17. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 7/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 7/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Expressing its deep anxiety over the external debts of the developing Member States which have been increasing at an alarming rate for the last few years;
Noting with concern the growing debt-servicing problems of externally indebted developing countries as constituting an element adversely affecting their development efforts;
Noting with satisfaction that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has written off the official debt of a certain number of least developed/landlocked and/or Sahelian Member States;
Appreciating the initiative of His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, who as Chairman of the Fifth Session of the Organization of the Islamic Summit Conference, declared in his speech to the UN General Assembly on 27/9/1990 that in order to alleviate the burden of indebtedness of the developing States, the State of Kuwait took the initiative of writing off the interests due on development loans extended to developing States;
Also expressing its appreciation for the efforts made by His Majesty the King Hassan II, may Allah rest his soul in peace, Chairman of the Seventh Islamic Summit and the Secretary General in the framework of the implementation of the resolutions of the Seventh Islamic Summit on the debt of OIC Member States;
Noting with appreciation the study prepared and submitted by SESRTCIC on “The External Debt Situation of Sub-Saharan African OIC Member States”;
Having also taken note of the report of the Secretary General,
1. Appeals to international creditors as well as to international financial institutions to continue adopting every necessary measure to cut down the debt of OIC Member States, in particular through staggered settlement of debts,
deferred amortization, reduced and favourable interest rates or swapping debts for financing various development projects.
2. Takes note of the initiatives of the G-8 to alleviate the debt burden of the most impoverished countries.
3. Reaffirms the urgent need for effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, and to help them exit from the rescheduling process.
4. Expresses its appreciation for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) debt relief initiative and calls for its accelerated implementation in order to enable more eligible countries to benefit from the initiative.
5. Urges that approach in the debt settlement should cover all types of debt, including multilateral debt, and all indebted developing countries, and incorporate measures aimed at a once-and-for all reduction arrangement to reduce their debt burden to a scale that would allow them to resume their economic growth and development.
6. Expresses its gratitude to Member States which have already responded favourably to the above request and appeals to Member States which can do so to continue the transfer of capital through grants and concessionary loans to Member States, especially to the least developed, the land-locked and/or Sahelian countries.
7. Renews the call made to the international community, especially the developed countries, to offer substantial reduction or cancellation of African debts and lowering of the burden of servicing charges while ensuring that this process is combined with the flow of fresh and considerable finances at soft-terms, to African countries.
8. Supports the Cairo Declaration adopted by the First Summit Conference of `Africa-Europe, held in Cairo from 3-4 April, 2000, which calls on donors to expedite translating their promises into real commitments to alleviate the debt burden urgently and on deep and wide ranging scale for the group of debt-burdened poor countries.
9. Appeals also to Member States which are donors to use their influence with the International Donor Community to take initiatives to overcome the external debt burden of OIC developing and least developed Member States, with regard to implementing this resolution.
10. Appreciates the efforts of those Member States which have been implementing stringent macro-economic and external debt management policies to alleviate the adverse effects of the developments in the world economic and financial situation.
11. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON NEED FOR ENHANCEMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS AMONG MEMBER STATES IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT CHANGES IN THE WORLD ECONOMY
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 8/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 8/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Reaffirming the relevance of the Plan of Action to Strengthen Economic and Commercial Cooperation among Member States and underlining in this respect the dynamic and constructive role played by the President of the Republic of Turkey in chairing the COMCEC’s proceedings;
Stressing the importance of collaboration among OIC Member States in implementing the strategy and the Plan of Action;
Realizing the rapid evolution of the world economy towards increased globalization and integration as well as the challenges embodied in the constitution of powerful economic blocs and by the growing liberalization of world trade;
Bearing in mind the existence of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as the important impacts of the Uruguay Round Agreements and recognizing in this respect the need for more cooperation and coordination among OIC Member States to ensure increase of their share in the world trade;
Emphasising the importance of ensuring universality of Free Trade and convinced that as a result of the WTO, trade relations between Member States should take into account the framework of the rights and obligations provided for by the new trade rules contained in the Final Act of the Uruguay Round, and the relevant arrangements therein.
Taking note with satisfaction of the reports submitted by the SESRTCIC, ICDT, IDB, and ICCI;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General;
1. Takes note with appreciation of all the decisions taken by the COMCEC relating to the Strategy and the Plan of Action to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States.
2. Welcomes with satisfaction, the under-mentioned proposals made by His Majesty late King Hassan II (May Allah bless his soul) to the international community on the occasion of the closing session of the Ministerial Conference of the Uruguay Round in Marrakech:
(a) The implementation of a “genuine Marshall Plan” in favour of Africa, with a view to reducing the tremendous poverty and lessen the recurring tensions from which its populations are suffering;
(b) The setting up of a new international negotiations mechanism which will better safeguard the national interests of developing countries in general and particularly those of OIC Member States;
3. Welcomes with appreciation the speech by the Hon. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 27th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, 24-27 Rabiul Awal 1421H (27-30 June 2000) with the theme Islam and Globalisation in which the Prime Minister of Malaysia underscored the need for Member States to meet the challenges of globalisation. Emphasising the importance of mastering ICT and related technologies for the development of the Muslim Ummah.
4. Urges the Member States to deploy concerted efforts to acquire knowledge to face the challenges of globalisation;
5. Also urges Member States to develop telecommunication technologies and its linkages and to provide facilities to increase cooperation amongst them.
6. Further urges Member States to utilize Islamic Banking facilities and services available in the Member States.
7. Urges Member States to consider steps to be taken on a progressive basis with a view to harmonising their economic policies in order to benefit from the new trade rules provided for within the WTO framework and thus encouraging a rapid development of trade between the Member States paying due regards to relevant resolutions of the recent Islamic Summit Conferences and the Islamic Conferences of Foreign Ministers.
8. Invites Member States to revitalize their actions in order to increase their share in the world economy notably by a sustained improvement of their international competitiveness of their exports of goods and services by adopting a series of policies meant to improve their economic infrastructures, services sector, increase the value-added and the quality of their products, diversify their productive base and provide the required conditions likely to attract foreign investments.
9. Emphasizes the growing importance of the services sector in the world economy and calls on Member States to increase technical cooperation in this field among themselves.
10. Calls upon Member States to further increase their efforts and their budgetary allocations for Research and Development, and also expand their cooperation and coordination in this field, through interalia, joint ventures with a view to supporting their production of goods and services as well as their competitiveness in international markets.
11. Invites Member States to endeavour to reinforce sub-regional and regional economic groupings and relaunch the existing economic integration projects with a view to institutionalizing cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, finance and technology among them which could lead to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market or any other suitable form of economic integration among themselves.
12. Affirms that in order to achieve the above objectives the private sector in the Member States should play a prominent role through giving impetus to intra-OIC economic relations and in this context invites the Governments of Member States to urge and encourage their businessmen and representatives of the Private Sector to effectively participate in the Private Sector Meetings organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In this connection, it notes with appreciation the setting up of a Monitoring Mechanism for the evaluation and implementation of the recommendations of the private sector meetings over a phased out period.
13. Calls for expeditious accession of the applying developing countries to the World Trade Organisation, including the OIC Member States emphasizing in this connection that no political consideration should be invoked which may impede the process of accession.
14. Calls upon the Islamic Chamber to continue with its efforts in the private sector in adapting to the new concepts in the world economy and challenges of globalization by organizing additional workshops, with the support and contribution of the private sector. In this context, it expresses its appreciation for the generous and kind support offered to the Islamic Chamber by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation, and Inspector General, as well as for support extended by governments of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Kuwait and calls on other Member States to extend similar support.
15. Invites Member States to strengthen their consultation and coordination mechanisms particularly within the WTO as well as in their relations with regional economic blocs so as to better protect their individual and collective interests.
16. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, OF THE SYRIAN CITIZENS IN THE OCCUPIED SYRIAN GOLAN HEIGHTS AND OF THE LEBANESE CITIZENS IN OCCUPIED SOUTH LEBANON AND THE WESTERN BEKKA FORMERLY UNDER OCCUPATION
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 9/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 9/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Believing in the objectives and principles of the OIC Charter aimed at strengthening Islamic solidarity among the Member States, and conforming with mass international will that rejects arbitrary Israeli practices in the occupied Arab territory which lead to deterioration of the economic and social conditions of Arab citizens under the yoke of Israeli occupation, on the one hand, and that supports the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region based on the (Land-for-Peace principle) UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 425, 1397, 1402 and 1403 as well as the authority of the Madrid Peace Conference, on the other;
Underlining the unfailing efforts exerted by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to promote the economic structure; and to renovate what was destroyed by the Israeli aggression and in view of the escalation of the illegal and unlawful expansionist settlement policies of the Israeli government, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the occupied Syrian Golan; and also in view of the serious implications of this escalation on the existing difficult economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory and the Syrian citizens in the occupied Golan;
Expressing extreme concern over the grave economic impacts, resulting from the expansionist settlement policy of the Israeli government, on the difficult living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory and those of the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan as well as the Arab people in the occupied Arab territory;
Expressing deep concern over the danger of Israel's continued occupation of the Syrian Golan, part of South Lebanon which are suffering huge economic and material losses;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General,
1. Hails the efforts made by the Palestinian National Authority to rebuild Palestinian facilities, infrastructure and properties already destroyed and those being destroyed by the Israeli occupation authorities. It commends the strenuous efforts exerted by the Palestinian Authority to rebuild and strengthen Palestinian national economy.
2. Invites all concerned bodies to expedite the extension of the envisaged necessary assistance to help the Palestinian people to establish their national economy, consolidation of their national institutions and to enable them to establish their independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
3. Reaffirms the earlier OIC resolutions in favour of the extension of all forms of economic, technical, material and moral support and assistance to the Palestinian people, preferential treatment for Palestinian export products, granting them exemptions from taxes and tariffs and permitting Palestinian manpower to work in the Member States for specific periods thus helping to improve their material conditions and contributing to their return and their steadfastness on their land.
4. Urges Member States to set up people’s committees to collect donations to support the Intifada and provide urgent assistance to the Palestinian people in this emergency situation.
5. Strongly condemns the closure and blockade imposed on corridors, and on the Palestinian towns and villages, which have resulted in heavy losses and serious damage to the social and economic life of the Palestinian people, and are detrimental to the Palestinian economy; and calls upon the international community to force Israel to end the closure and lift the blockade imposed on the Palestinian territories.
6. Strongly condemns the acts of demolition and destruction of Palestinian homes, institutions, facilities, lands, the uprooting and burning of fruitful trees and plants, and the bulldozing of the soil, which are perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army and settlers and which have resulted in severe losses for the Palestinian economy and building an expansionist infrastructure by establishing more settlements and calls upon the international community to force Israel to put an end to these criminal acts and to pay reparations for these damages also strongly condemns Israel for its erection of the Apartheid Wall which eats up into the Palestinian lands, isolates scores of villages, and prevents their population from exploiting their land in addition to the crimes perpetrated by the settlers, the fences built by them, and their preventing Palestinians from harvesting their crops.
7. Calls upon the international community to intervene to force Israel to release the Palestinian funds being held up by it and estimated at millions of dollars accruing from taxes and tariffs due to the Palestinian authority and levied by the Israeli government.
8. Calls the Member States to continue to make generous contributions to the Al-Quds Fund, the Al-Quds Waqf and Beit al-Mal of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, particularly in the light of the current conditions in the occupied territories where the infrastructure is being systematically destroyed .
9. Calls for the necessity of implementing the draft resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the economic assistance extended to the Palestinian people as well as the draft resolutions of other international organizations and relevant specialized agencies. It also calls for united efforts on the part of the Member States in their support of the Palestinian cause during the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.
10. Urges the private sector and investors of the Member States to undertake the execution of the economic, industrial, agricultural and housing programmes in the territories of the Palestinian National Authority with a view to supporting and strengthening the Palestinian national economy.
11. Appreciating the efforts of IDB and ICCI and calls upon the Member States and OIC affiliated and subsidiary organs to provide means of technical and financial assistance to the Federation of Palestinian Chambers and the local Palestinian Chambers to carry out their activities effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, they should stand by them and reaffirm their support in facing the aggressive atrocities perpetrated on the Palestinian people.
12. Condemns Israel for its continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and parts of South Lebanon, including the Shebaa farms and the arbitrary Israeli practices which have led to the degradation of the social and economic situation of the Syrian and Lebanese populations suffering under the yoke of Israeli occupation.
13. Urges the OIC Member States to carry all necessary actions at the international level to exert pressure on Israel to desist from resorting to imposition of the brutal blockades on the occupied Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif which result in extremely painful economic effects on the Palestinian people and raise the level of unemployment among the Palestinians. It also hampers international efforts aimed at realizing development in the occupied Palestinian territory and the territory of the Palestinian National Authority.
14. Calls on Member States and the international community to compel Israel to pay the Government of Lebanon reparations for the plight of the Lebanese citizens in Southern Lebanon and the Western Beqaa who suffered Israeli
aggressions throughout the occupation that has induced substantial losses and social complications and caused a quasi-permanent paralysis of economic activities in the region.
15. Calls on Member States and the international community to extend necessary assistance to the Lebanese citizens in South Lebanon and the Western Beqaa who have been constantly and every day the targets of Israeli aggression throughout the occupation period, thus entailing huge material losses and social hardships leading to a quasi permanent paralysis of the economic activities in the area.
16. Calls also on the Member States to coordinate their efforts regarding the implementation of the resolutions on the subject.
17. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ASSISTANCE TO MEMBER STATES STRICKEN BY DROUGHT AND NATURAL CALAMITIES
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 10/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 10/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Noting with concern the grave situation caused by natural disasters, drought and desertification, and the ensuing damaging effects on economic and social conditions especially in the sectors of agriculture and food, economic and social infrastructures as well as public services and utilities;
Noting with satisfaction the efforts made by some Member States and the Islamic Development Bank which have extended and continue to extend technical and financial assistance as well as food aid to Member States stricken by drought and natural disasters;
Fully aware that afflicted Member States, belonging as they do to the category of the Least-Developed, cannot by themselves, bear the growing burden of anti-drought and anti-desertification campaign and the implementation of major related projects;
Recognising the importance of disaster preparedness and management for mitigating the impacts of natural calamities and the need for continued efforts by the international community to enhance awareness in this regard.
Having considered the report of the Secretary General,
1. Expresses its gratitude to Member States, which have provided and are still providing assistance to the Member States affected by drought and natural disasters.
2. Expresses also its gratitude to IDB for its continuing assistance to Member States afflicted by drought and other natural disasters and encourages the Bank to continue its assistance in this domain.
3. Appeals to the International Community also to extend assistance to Member States struck by drought and natural disasters.
4. Calls upon the Member States and OIC Institutions to extend urgent and continual assistance to OIC countries of Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) to enable them to overcome the difficult situation which has been threatening them for too long.
5. Notes with appreciation the meeting of Donor Countries and national and Regional Financial Institutions convened by Kuwait at IDB Headquarters in June, 1998 to consider the appropriate mechanisms for financing the new programmes.
6. Welcomes the contribution of 30 million US$ made by the State of Kuwait in the form of soft development loans as well as the 20 million US$ contributed by the Islamic Development Bank for the new programme.
7. Also notes with appreciation that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked upon the implementation of its new programme for the control of drought and desertification in the African Sahel countries.
8. Expresses its gratitude to the efforts of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for its interventions in some Islamic countries afflicted by natural disasters and calls on the Member States to support it and extend assistance to it in fulfilling its mission.
9. Underlines the need to put in place a mechanism in the form of a network of nodal agencies and resource persons for sharing of information and views on the issues relating to disaster preparedness and management.
10. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LOSSES FOR GREAT JAMAHIRIYA AS A RESULT OF THE SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION NOS. 848/92 AND 883/93.
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 11/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 11/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Having taken note of the negative effects on the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya of the sanctions imposed on it by the Security Council under Resolutions No. 848/1992 and 883/1993, in the economic, cultural and social fields;
Recalling the relevant resolutions adopted by the various fora of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States and the Non-Aligned Movement;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General;
1 Reaffirms the importance of paying due attention to this issue with a view to definitively lifting the embargo imposed on the Libyan Arab people and paying them reparations for the losses they have suffered as a result of the sanctions imposed on them pursuant to Security Council resolutions No. 848(92) and 883(93).
2. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN AND OTHER OIC MEMBER STATES TO COUNTERACT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRISIS
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution 12/9-E(IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 12/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Noting with concern that the stability of the financial system in some OIC Member States in South East Asia region and other Member States continues to remain under pressure arising from, amongst others, revolution in information and communication technology facilitating uncontrollable management of large amounts of capital for speculative purposes, as well as the prevailing directions of current international transactions;
1. Requests the Secretary General to continue to support the efforts of the OIC Member States of South East Asia to counteract the implications of the economic and financial crisis.
2. Requests the OIC subsidiary organs to study of the economic and financial crisis and their impact on the Islamic States.
3. Calls on the Islamic Development Bank as well as international financial institutions to continue their assistance to further strengthen social safety nets to protect the poor and vulnerable.
4. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 13/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 13/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Further recalling Israeli aggressions against Lebanon, and the resulting losses of life and property, and their consequences on political and economic conditions in Lebanon;
Appreciating the efforts exerted by the Government of Lebanon to achieve stability and security, establish its authority, reconstruct its country, and provide for the needs of citizens in the territories previously under Israeli occupation;
Taking into account the difficulties faced by the Lebanese citizens in the territories previously occupied by Israel, and in the neighbouring areas;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the subject;
1. Expresses its appreciation for the donation made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announced at the Donors Conference (Paris 2) of the amount of US$700 million in the form of securities and of purchasing government bonds.
2. Expresses also its appreciation of the assistance extended by some Member States and by the relevant organs of the OIC.
3. Condemns Israeli acts of aggression against public facilities and infrastructures in Lebanon, aimed at obstructing the efforts of reconstruction made by the government of Lebanon. It also condemns the continued Israeli unwillingness to withdraw from parts of the territory of Lebanon, including the Shab’a farms, to the line of the internationally recognized borders of Lebanon.
4. Condemns Israel for refusing to hand over maps of landmines, which it planted in various regions of the south and the western Bekaa and which constitute a grave danger to the lives of civilians. Condemns also Israel for detaining Lebanese detainees in its prisons.
5. Reaffirms its previous Resolutions on the need to provide various forms of financial, material, and humanitarian aid to Lebanon to meet its economic, technical and training needs, and reiterates the appeal to OIC Member States and to international and regional bodies to contribute urgently and effectively to the reconstruction of what was destroyed by Israeli occupation, and to respond positively to the call for a conference of donor states for that purpose.
6. Calls on Member States to grant exceptional facilities to Lebanese products to permit them unhindered access to their markets in support of the Lebanese economy, the mainstay of Lebanese steadfastness and resistance to Israeli aggression.
7. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 14/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 14/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Guided by the principles and objectives of the OIC Charter which lay stress on the common objectives and destiny of the peoples of the Ummah, as well as their commitment to consolidate international peace and security;
Recalling the previous resolutions adopted by the OIC expressing full solidarity of the Member States with the Government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Taking also into account the resolutions adopted by the Extraordinary Sessions of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, held in Istanbul and Jeddah and followed by the Special Ministerial Meeting held in Islamabad as well as the 21st and 22nd Meetings of the OIC Foreign Ministers which were held in Karachi and Casablanca respectively and the Seventh OIC Summit, and the Work Programme of the 23rd Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Conakry and the 24th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Jakarta on supporting the Dayton Agreement;
Stressing the principles contained in the Final Document adopted by the enlarged meeting of the OIC Contact Group held in Sarajevo in April 1996;
Welcoming the resolutions of the enlarged meeting of the Ministers of the OIC Contact Group which was held in Geneva in July 1996, especially those relating to the establishment of the Revolving Fund to be allocated to medium and small projects in Bosnia;
Also expressing its appreciation for the work of the Assistance Mobilisation Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina, formed during the OIC Kuala Lumpur meeting, which met in Sarajevo on 27-28 April 2001, towards providing humanitarian and economic assistance for concrete rehabilitation and reconstruction projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Having examined the report of the Secretary General,
1. Expresses deep appreciation for the assistance extended by Member States and OIC relevant bodies. and noted with appreciation the special programme of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry to assist the private sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2. Commends the contributions of the OIC Member States at the Donors Conference for the Rehabilitation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was held in Brussels in April 1996.
3. Appeals to Member States, Islamic institutions and other donors to make generous donations to enable full implementation of the IDB programme aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the Government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the reconstruction of the country and to work for the preservation of the Islamic identity of the Muslim inhabitants of Bosnia.
4. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided by the OIC Member States and for the commendable efforts of those Islamic and other international humanitarian bodies in providing relief and assistance to the victims of the aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
5. Urges upon the International Community to take efficient measures to ensure the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and humanitarian assistance relating to return of the refugees and displaced people to their homes by means of OIC Trust Fund for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
6. Demands that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina be safeguarded and protected along its internationally recognized borders.
7. Requests the OIC Member States, to seek directing the biggest part of international assistance for reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the regions inhabited by Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
8. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 15/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 15/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Deeply concerned at the critical situation in Somalia and expressing the desire for early restoration of peace and order in that sister Member country;
Concerned at the adverse economic effects of the serious drought being experienced by the Republic of Somalia;
Having also taken note of the report of the Secretary General,
1. Expresses appreciation for the assistance extended by some Member States and OIC relevant institutions.
2. Urges OIC Member States, to provide material and other assistance on an emergency basis to Somalia to end the human suffering in this Muslim country.
3. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA IN THE FACE OF THE REFUGEE INFLUX FROM LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling earlier resolutions of the 9th Islamic Summit Conference, 28th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and 18th Session of the COMCEC;
Recalling Resolution No. 16/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Considering the role played by the Republic of Guinea, within the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to establish peace and ensure stability in some Member States, victims of armed conflicts;
Considering that the presence of a huge number of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone constitutes an unbearable burden for the economy of the Republic of Guinea;
Considering the need for the Republic of Guinea to reconstruct its country and ensure the survival of the refugees and their return to their respective countries;
1. Calls urgently the international community and Member States to provide substantial financial and material assistance to the Republic of Guinea so as to enable it to face this situation created by the aggressions which victimized her and by the presence on its territory of hundred of thousands of refugees most of whom are Muslims.
2. Appeals to the Islamic Development Bank to increase its assistance to the Republic of Guinea so that it may create the social infrastructures needed for the displaced population and the refugees, and overcome the deterioration of the environment brought about by this massive presence of refugees.
3. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 17/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 17/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Recalling further Resolutions 57/19-P and 9/20-E adopted by the Nineteenth and Twentieth Sessions of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, respectively;
Recalling the results of the Parliamentary and Presidential elections in Sierra Leone;
Expressing appreciation for the sustained concern and interest of the leaders of the West African Sub-region, for peace to prevail in the Republic of Sierra Leone;
Expressing appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Arab Republic of Egypt and other friendly nations for the donations of food items, clothing and medicines for the refugees and displaced inhabitants of Sierra Leone;
Considering that the armed conflict in Sierra Leone caused considerable damage to life and property and for several years disrupted all economic activities particularly in the Mining, Agriculture and Industrial sectors, resulting in substantial loss of revenue to Government and the private sector;
Having considered the report of the Secretary General;
1. Appeals to the Member States and the international community to urgently extend substantial financial and material assistance to the Republic of Sierra Leone so as to enable its people to undertake the much needed process of rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of returnees and displaced inhabitants of about 1.5 million.
2. Requests the Secretary-General to use his good offices to accelerate the process of approval for projects already identified for Sierra Leone.
3. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 18/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling also Resolution No. 18/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General;
1. Expresses deep appreciation for the assistance extended by some Member States and OIC relevant bodies.
2. Expresses its strong support to the people of Albania beset by major economic difficulties at the present phase of their transition towards a market economy.
3. Urges OIC Member States, Islamic Institutions and International Organizations to grant generous economic assistance to Albania so that the Government of Albania may successfully implement its development programme.
4. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 19/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 19/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Recalling further the text of the Final Communiqué of the 9th extra-ordinary session of the ICFM held in Doha on 10 October, 2001;
Taking into account that Afghanistan is currently faced by serious constraints due to more than two decades of war;
Taking also into account the participation of the Member States and the Secretary General of the OIC in the Donors Conference held in on 21-22 January 2002 in Tokyo;
Noting the extra-ordinary grave situation prevailing at present in Afghanistan due to the on-going military campaign;
Noting that about 70% to 80% of its economic and social infrastructures has been destroyed during the two decades of war;
Also noting with concern the migration of Afghans into neighbouring countries because of existing humanitarian conditions and the onerous burden placed on these resources strained neighbouring countries;
Aware that over 1.5 million Afghans were killed, about 1.5 million disabled and more than 5 million displaced and took refuge in the neighbouring countries;
Recognizing that about 10 million mines were planted in different parts of the country:
Noting also that the interim Government of Afghanistan needs critical international support and assistance in its efforts at stabilization and reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General;
1. Calls for a major international effort to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
2. Expresses deep appreciation for the assistance extended by some Member States and relevant OIC bodies.
3. Urges Member States, Islamic institutions and international organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and to the internally displaced Afghans as well as to the Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries, particularly the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran..
4. Expresses its satisfaction on the conclusion reached at the Donors Conference in Tokyo to extend assistance to Afghanistan, and appeals to countries to begin to implement the commitments made at the Tokyo Conference to assist Afghanistan to rebuild her infrastructure.
5. Commends the assistance extended by Islamic countries in implementation of the declaration of commitments made during the Tokyo Conference held on 21 to 22 January 2002, in particular the contribution made to Afghanistan by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of an amount of US$221 million in addition to $52 million in humanitarian aid, and appreciates the donation of $30 million for the construction of the Kabul-Herat road.
6. Appreciates also the contributions made by the Islamic Republic of Iran, State of Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, State of Qatar, United Arab Emirates and other Member States for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
7. Requests the donor countries, international institutions and the OIC Member States participating in the international effort for reconstruction and development of Afghanistan to take advantage of the facilities and services available in the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, especially Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
8. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
ON ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
The Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Knowledge and Morality for the Progress of Ummah) held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 20-21 Shaban 1424H (16-17 October 2003),
Recalling Resolution No. 20/9-E (IS) adopted by the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 20/30-E adopted by the Thirtieth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Aware that the Government of the Republic of Uganda is currently experiencing serious strain on its meagre resources as a result of the presence of refugees from neighbouring countries who flock into the country;
Recognizing that Uganda is offering asylum to large numbers of refugees whose number will increase if the state of unrest continues to escalate;
Having taken note of the report of the Secretary General;
1. Invites Member States, Islamic institutions and international organizations to grant urgent financial and economic assistance to Uganda so that it may cope with the refugee problems and other related consequences. Also stresses the need to enable Uganda to implement its relevant economic and cultural programmes in an urgent and effective manner.
2. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Eleventh Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.