FINAL COMMUNIQUE,

DECLARATION ON AL AQSA INTIFADA – PALESTINIAN INDEPENDENCE INTIFADA

DOHA DECLARATION

1.In response to the kind invitation by H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, Session of Peace and Development "Al Aqsa Intifada", was convened in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, on 16-17 Sha'aban 1421H. (12-13 November 2000).

2.The session was preceded by the Senior Officials meeting held on 12 Sha'aban 1421 H. (8 November 2000), followed by the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for three days from 13 to 15 Sha'aban 1421 H. (9-11 November 2000).

3.On its first day, the Summit Conference held a meeting devoted to the examination of the serious situation prevailing in the Palestinian occupied territories following the savage actions perpetrated by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people. The meeting resulted in the issue of a declaration under the title of "The Aqsa Intifada, the Intifada for the independence of Palestine"

(Annex 1). The Preparatory Ministerial Meeting also devoted its first session to the same issue. During the meeting, the Declaration was discussed and drafted.

4. (a) The Conference was attended by the following Member States:

-Republic of Azerbaijan

-Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

-Republic of Albania

-State of United Arab Emirates

-Republic of Indonesia

-Republic of Uzbekistan

-Republic of Uganda

-Islamic Republic of Iran

-Islamic Republic of Pakistan

-State of Bahrain

-Brunei Darussalam

-People's Republic of Bangladesh

-Republic of Benin

-Burkina Faso

-Republic of Tajikistan

-Republic of Turkey

-Republic of Turkmenistan

-Republic of Chad

-Republic of Togo

-Republic of Tunisia

-People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

-Republic of Djibouti

-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

-Republic of Senegal

-Republic of Sudan

-Syrian Arab Republic

-Republic of Somalia

-Republic of Sierra Leone

-Republic of Iraq

-Sultanate of Oman

-Republic of Gabon

-Republic of the Gambia

-Republic of Guyana

-Republic of Guinea

-Republic of Guinea-Bissau

-State of Palestine

-Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros

-Kyrgyz Republic

-State of Qatar

-Republic of Kazakhstan

-Republic of Cameroon

-State of Kuwait

-Republic of Lebanon

-Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

-Republic of Maldives

-Republic of Mali

-Malaysia

-Arab Republic of Egypt

-Kingdom of Morocco

- Islamic Republic of Mauritania

-Republic of Mozambique

- Republic of Niger

-Federal Republic of Nigeria

-Republic of Yemen

(b)Also attended as observers :

States

- Bosnia and Herzegovina

-Central African Republic

-Republic of Cote d'Ivoire

-Kingdom of Thailand

Muslim Communities

-Turkish Muslim Community of Cyprus

-Moro National Liberation Front

International And Regional Organisations

-United Nations

-Non-Aligned Movement

-League of Arab States

-Organization of African Unity

-Economic Co-operation Organization

-The Union of the OIC Member States Councils

(c) The following Subsidiary Organs also attended the

Conference:

-Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic

Countries – Ankara.

-Research Centre on Islamic History, Art and Culture – Istanbul.

-Islamic Institute of Technology (IIT) – Dhaka.

-Islamic Centre for Development of Trade – Casablanca.

-Islamic Fiqh Academy – Jeddah.

-Islamic Solidarity Fund – Jeddah.

-Islamic University of Niger – Niamey.

-Islamic University in Uganda – Kampala

(d) The following specialized institutions of the OIC also attended the

Conference:

-Islamic Development Bank (IDB) – Jeddah.

-Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) – Rabat.

-International Islamic News Agency (IINA) – Jeddah.

-Islamic States Broadcasting Organisation (ISBO) – Jeddah.

(e) The following affiliated institutions of the OIC also attended

the Conference:

-Sports Federation of Islamic Solidarity Games, Riyadh

-Organization of the Islamic Capitals and Cities, Makkah Al-Mukarramah

-Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi

-Islamic Shipowners Association, Jeddah

-World Federation of Islamic International Schools, Riyadh

-Islamic Committee of the International Crescent, Benghazi

(f) The following Islamic Foundations and Societies also

attended the Conference:

-The Muslim World League, Makkah Al-Mukarramah

-World Islamic Call Society, Tripoli

-World Muslim Congress, Karachi

-International Islamic Charitable Foundation, Kuwait

-Islamic Council of Europe, London

-Islamic Universities League, Riyadh

-The Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency – Rabat.

Invitees :

- Republic of Croatia

- Republic of Macedonia

-Republic of Slovenia

-Arab Maghreb Union

-U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)

-U.N. Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

-U.N. Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian

People

-Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)

-International Islamic University of Malaysia

-United Kingdom Action Committee for Islamic Affairs

-International Islamic Relief Organization

-International Committee of the Red Cross

-True Representatives of the Kashmiri People

-Hashemite Jordanian Charity Organization

-Women's Solidarity Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran

-Islamic Countries Women Sports Solidarity Council

-Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

5.His Excellency President Seyed Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chairman of the Eighth Islamic Summit Conference, opened the Conference. In his statement, he commended the sacrifices of the heroic Palestinian people in their fight against the Occupation forces, calling on the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to take a unified measure to support

Palestine, which he considered as a historical, cultural, and social necessity. He also highly commended the victory of the Lebanese people over the occupation forces whom they dislodged and forced into humiliating withdrawal. He equally praised the constructive cooperation of the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and all the Member States during the past three years of his Chairmanship of the Organisation, hailing the outstanding position held by the Organisation on the international scene. This will allow the Organisation to follow up the important issues with determination and competence. He highlighted the capacity of the Islamic

Ummah to respond to the requirements of contemporary social life provided they adopt a modern vision and succeed in assessing their rich civilisational past and their existing resources. The Chairman of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference commended the decision of the United Nations to endorse the dialogue among civilizations initiative as a new paradigm in

international relations that brings out the effective role of the Organization. The Iranian President ended his speech by expressing his hope that the current Chairmanship of Organization will continue its effort to reinforce the Organization's capabilities through a comprehensive and serious evaluation of its Charter and its adaptation to the urgent requirements of joint Islamic action.

6.The Conference unanimously elected H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, as Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference. The other members of its bureau were unanimously elected as follows: The State of Palestine, the Republic of Gambia and the Republic of

Maldives as Vice-Chairmen, and the Islamic Republic of Iran as Rapporteur of the Conference.

7.H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State Qatar, and Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, delivered a speech which he started by welcoming their Majesties, Excellencies, and Highnesses, the Kings, Heads of  State and Government, and thanking them for the trust they showed in His Highness by electing him Chairman of the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference. Then, His Highness went on to address the serious conditions in which the current session is being held, comparing them to those at the origin of the creation of the OIC more than thirty years ago. He explained that once again Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Al-Quds were being violated and tens of innocent Palestinian victims were falling for daring to demand their

right to life, existence, and national sovereignty. He affirmed that the trust placed by the Islamic Ummah requires the Conference to reach a practical strategy to help the Palestinian people gain its legitimate rights while holding fast to the immutable Islamic position constituting the foundations of the resolution of the Arab Israeli conflict. His Highness called for consideration to be given to developments and general orientations emanating from the study of the issues by the Conference in order to avoid the wasting or squandering of resources and also strive for the achievement of peace, which is at the basis of all forms of development sought by Islamic societies. In this regard, His Highness underscored the importance of the ratification by the remaining Member Sates of the Statute of the International Islamic Court of Justice adopted by the Fifth Islamic Summit Conference, so as to provide Member Sates with an adequate legal mechanism to resolve their disputes. His Highness also address ed the precept of Shura or consultation and the role of legislative assemblies in representing the will of the people in Member States. He also

spoke at length of the issue of development in Islamic countries, pointing to the grounds and practical steps which all States need to make available whether individually or in their capacity as members of the OIC so as to achieve economic integration through the setting up of the free trade zone to steadily progress towards the Islamic Common Market. His Highness Sheikh Hamad

bin Khalifa Al Thani concluded his address by calling for intensified efforts to give prominence to the radiant image of Islam and its civilization, and to rectify its erroneous image in the minds of certain circles. 

8.Addresses were then given by Their Excellencies Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, on behalf of the African Group, President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, President of the Sudan, on behalf of the Arab Group, Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohammmad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on behalf of the Asian Group. They expressed their congratulations to H.H. Sheikh Hamad

Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, for his election as Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference. They conveyed their profound thanks to H.H. for hosting the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference and to the government and people of Qatar for their warm welcome and generous hospitality, and they also commended the outstanding arrangements made by the Qatari authorities to ensure the success of the proceedings of the Conference. They also expressed appreciation to HE President Seyed Mohammed Khatami, Chairman of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, for his effective and able leadership of the Organisation in the past

three years.

9.In his address, which took the form of a general report on the major activities of the Organization, and the positive, unprecedented results reached at the levels of administrative reform and financial redress since he took office, His Excellency Dr. Azeddine Laraki, Secretary General of the OIC, put forth his vision concerning the ways to achieve further Islamic solidarity in the political field and to reinforce economic, cultural and social cooperation among Member States. He also reviewed the major political developments in most of the items on the agenda, notably the acute crisis in the Palestinian occupied territories caused by the savage acts of the Israeli forces against the resisting Palestinian people. He also expressed his confidence that the Ninth Islamic Summit

Conference will tackle the serious situation in all determination, composure and sagacity.

10.Their Excellencies Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations Organisation, Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, Dr Ismet Abdelmagid, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Salem Ahmad Salem, Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, gave addresses in which they commended the development of the relations of cooperation and coordination between their respective organisations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, stressing the importance to further develop the mechanisms of joint action in the service of a number of issues relevant to the interests of these organisations, within the framework of the endeavours of the international community to reenergise the role of the regional organisations in the field of preventive diplomacy and the prevalence of international security and peace. 

11.The Conference adopted the Report of the Preparatory Ministerial Conference held from 13-15 Shaban 1421H (9-11 November 2000), and the Summit adopted also its Agenda and Work Program.

12.The Conference adopted the motto Peace and Development, "Al Aqsa Intifida" for

its current session.

13.The Conference issued the Doha Declaration (Annex No. 2).

14.The Conference considered the opening statements of HE President Seyed Mohammed Khatami and His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, as well as the address of Mr. Ata Allah Hannah, official spokesman of the Orthodox Church in Palestine, as documents of the Ninth Session of the

Islamic Summit Conference.

15.The Conference noted with appreciation the Report of His Excellency Seyed Mohammed Khatami, President of the Islamic of Republic of Iran and Chairman of the Eighth Islamic Summit on the activities performed during his Chairmanship of the OIC. It also took note with satisfaction of the Reports submitted by the Standing Committee Chairs, His Majesty King Mohamed VI, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Morocco and Chairman of Al-Quds Committee,His Excellency, President Aboulaye Wade, President of Senegal and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), His Excellency Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President of Turkey and Chairman of the

Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), and His Excellency Mohamed Rafiq Tarrar, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). The Reports reflected the efforts exerted by the committees under the aegis of their Chairmen and the resources which were allocated to serve the activities they are in charge of within the framework of joint Islamic action.

16.The Conference took note with appreciation of the detailed reports submitted by the  OIC Secretary General covering all the measures he had taken in implementation of the Organization's resolutions as well as the latest developments in issues before the Conference.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS:

The Question of Palestine, Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Arab Israeli Conflict.

17.The Muslim leaders presented to the Palestinian people and leadership institutions their condolences on their righteous martyrs and wished the injured heroes speedy recovery. The Conference hailed the heroic Intifada of the Palestinian people "the blessed Aqsa Intifada" in defence of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and all the sacred shrines and called for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of freedom, sovereignty and independence of the steadfast

Palestinian people. The Conference urged all Member States to continue strengthening their solidarity with the Palestinian people, support its just and legitimate struggle and use all the resources of the Islamic Ummah to achieve all its national objectives.

18.The Conference reiterated the necessity to put an end to all Israeli settlement activities, measures and practices contrary to the resolutions of international legality, and in violation of the agreements signed by the Palestinian and Israeli parties; and requested the UN Security Council to ban these measures and remove Israeli settlements, pursuant to Security Council Resolution 465, and revive the International Committee on Supervision and Monitoring to prevent colonization in the city of Al-Quds and other occupied Arab territories, in accordance with UN Resolution 446.

19.The Conference requested the UN Security Council to set up an International Commission of Enquiry to investigate the massacres perpetrated by Israel which resulted in the death of over 200 martyrs and over ten thousand injured persons and to constitute an International Criminal Tribunal, in conformity with international law, to prosecute the Israeli war criminals who have perpetrated these savage massacres. The Conference urged the international community to shoulder its responsibility regarding ensuring the necessary international protection of the Palestinian people in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the rest of the Palestinian territory.

20.The Conference invited Member States which had established relations with Israel and those which had started taking measures towards the establishment of relations with Israel within the framework of the peace process to sever those relations, including the closing down of missions and offices and economic relations, and put an end to all forms of normalisation with Israel until it genuinely and accurately implements UN Resolutions relevant to the issue of Palestine, Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

21.The Conference underlined that Israel's violation of the principles and underpinnings of the peace process, reneging on the commitments, pledges and agreements concluded within this process, and procrastination and evasion at implementation level, and savage massacres of the Palestinian people have seriously undermined the peace process. The Conference held the Israeli Government wholly responsible for this situation. 

22.The Conference reaffirmed the immutable responsibility of the United Nations towards the cause of Palestine until a just and comprehensive resolution is reached to all its facets that secures the end of colonization and enables the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable and imprescriptible national rights including the right to return and self determination and the establishment of its

independent state on its national soil with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital. It commended the resolutions of the Extra-ordinary Arab Summit Conference, held in Cairo, on 21-22 October, 2000.

23.The Conference called on all states in the world to recognize the State of Palestine with Al-Quds as its capital upon its proclamation in the Palestinian territories and provide the Palestinian people with all forms of assistance so they can exercise their sovereignty on their soil, within the borders of June 1967 and in accordance with the resolutions of international legality. The Conference also

urged all states to extend their support to the State of Palestine to enable it to gain full membership in the United Nations.

24.The Conference stressed the need to intensify efforts to convene the meeting of the High Signatories of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Times of War with a view to taking the required binding measures to secure the implementation of the Convention in occupied Palestinian territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

25.The Conference called for action at the United Nations and other international organizations and forums to force Israel to release the Arab and Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli prisons, return the deportees, put an end to collective punishments, to the confiscation of land and property and to the demolition of houses, and desist from any act likely to endanger life and the

environment in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

26.The Conference reaffirmed the need to implement UN resolution 237 on the return of Palestinian displaced and UNGA resolution 194 on the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes and properties as the cornerstone of the just and comprehensive settlement.

27.The Conference affirmed the continuous responsibility of UNRWA to carry out its mission in favour of all Palestinians wherever they may be in accordance with the relevant UNGA resolution. It called on Member States to request the UN Secretary General to commission the Conciliation Committee in collaboration with UNRWA and the concerned states to undertake an exhaustive census of Palestinian refugees and their properties, and to formulate a comprehensive conception for resolving their problems on the basis of their rights to return to their homeland Palestine, pursuant to UN Resolution 194. The Conference also invited all states to extend further support to the Agency to enable it to finance its budget and continue to provide its services.

28.The Conference urged all states and bodies concerned to support the international program for the economic, social, and cultural development of Palestinian territories and to extend the prescribed assistance to help Palestinians build their national economy and consolidate their national institutions.

29.The Conference reaffirmed that Al-Quds Al-Sharif is the capital of the independent State of Palestine and rejected any and all attempts to diminish Palestinian sovereignty over it. It also reaffirmed that all settlement measures and practices therein are null and void in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, covenants and conventions which deem all Israeli legislative and administrative settlement measures and practices aiming at altering the legal,

demographic, architectural, heritage, and civilization status of this holy city null and void, in violation of the resolutions of international legitimacy, covenants and conventions, and in contradiction with agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli parties. It called on the UN Security Council to revive the International Committee on Supervision and Monitoring to prevent

settlements in the city of Al-Quds and other occupied Arab territories, in accordance with UN Resolution 446. 

30.The Conference urged the states of the world to abide by UN Security Council resolution 478 (1980) calling for the non-transfer of their diplomatic missions to the city of Al-Quds. It called for contesting the decision adopted by the US Congress because the legislation favors one religious group over another which is in contradiction with the American Constitution based on equality among religious groups. It called for severance of relations with any state that transfers

its embassy to Al-Quds or recognizes the latter as the capital of Israel. 

31.The Conference called on the international community, particularly the Security Council, to compel Israel to implement the resolutions of international legality, prevent it from introducing any geographic or demographic alterations in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and compel it to lift the siege on Al-Quds, guarantee the freedom of worship therein, respect religious rites of all revealed religions, desist from demolishing homes and withdrawing identity cards from Palestinian citizens, and evacuating Arab nationals from the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

32.The Conference strongly condemned the Israeli Supreme Court's decisions concerning the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, particularly the decision adopted on 25.7.1996 allowing Jews to pray in the precinct of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the decision issued on 23.9.1993, claiming the Blessed Mosque of Al-Aqsa as part of the territory of the State of Israel. The Conference emphasized that

such measures constitute premeditated provocations which open the way to extremist Jewish organizations to continue their violations of the sanctity of the Blessed Mosque of Al-Aqsa, to establish their presence in its precincts, and to continue pillage of the religious, historical and cultural relics in Al-Quds and the occupied Palestinian Territories.

33.The Conference strongly condemned Israel for issuing orders for closing the Palestinian institutions in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and preventing them from operating freely, and considered such arbitrary measures as a continued violation of the agreements concluded between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel within the framework of the peace process, as well as a

blatant violation of international conventions and agreements, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and a breach of the principles and underpinnings of the Madrid Peace Process.

34.The Conference commended the efforts exerted by His Majesty the late King Hassan II in founding Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency and defining its objective as the protection of the holy city and its Palestinian inhabitants. It expressed its appreciation to his successor, His Majesty King Mohammad VI, who bestowed upon it his affection and caring and put at its disposal generous

resources. The conference thanked Al-Quds Committee Member Sates which had made contributions to the Agency thus enabling it to implement its projects in the areas of housing, renovation, and education. 

35.The Conference welcomed the fundamental agreement signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Vatican on 15 February 2000 which considers that any unilateral decisions or actions such as altering the distinctive character of Al-Quds and its legal status morally and legally unacceptable. It reaffirmed the need for joint Islamic Christian action to preserve the city of Al-Quds and its religious, historical, civilizational, and cultural character.

36.The Conference lauded the steadfastness of the Syrian Arab citizens of the Golan against occupation and strongly condemned Israel's non-compliance with UN Security Council resolution 497 (1981). It affirmed that Israel's decision to impose its laws and rule on the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal, null and void, and totally illegitimate. The Conference condemned Israel for continuing to

alter the legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and its demographic and institutional structure. It reaffirmed the applicability of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Times of War to the occupied Syrian Golan. The Conference also condemned Israel's repeated threats

directed against Syria, with the aim of escalating tension in the region and  wrecking the peace process. It called for Israel's total withdrawal from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the 4 June 1967 borders.

37.The Conference lauded the steadfastness of the Lebanese government, people and resistance which led ultimately to the ejection of Israeli forces from south Lebanon and the Western Bekaa Valley. The Conference condemned Israel for its continuing occupation of expanses of land inside the internationally recognised Lebanese borders, including the Shebaa Farms, in contravention to

the provision of UN Security Council Resolution 425. 

38.The Conference also requested the international community to take all necessary measures to compel Israel to immediately set free all the Lebanese prisoners and abductees detained in Israeli prisons and detention camps, in contravention of the provisions of international law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention and the 1907 Convention of The

Hague.

39.The Conference urged the international community and the Security Council to force Israel to comply with UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 487 (1981), to accede to the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and to implement the resolutions of the UNGA and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calling for the subjection of all  Israeli nuclear facilities to the Agency's Comprehensive Guarantee System and the need for Israel to abandon nuclear armament and submit an inventory of its nuclear weapons and material capabilities and stocks to the Security Council and the IAEA as indispensable steps for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass-destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in the Middle East region and a fundamental requirement for establishing a comprehensive and just peace therein.

40.The Conference maintained its demand for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on Israel's implementation of the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 which provide for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, the occupied Syrian Golan to the June

4th, 1967 line, and enabling the Palestinian people to recover their inalienable national rights, including the right to return to their homes and property in accordance with UNGA resolution 194, and set up their own independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital. It strongly denounced the Israeli brutal aggression on the Palestinian people and denounced as well the Israeli government's policies and practices inimical to the peace process through continued occupation of Arab and Palestinian territories including the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and by demolishing the underpinnings and terms of reference of the Madrid Peace Conference, and reneging on the commitments, pledges, and agreements concluded over the past few years with the Palestinian

and other Arab parties. 

The Situation in Afghanistan

41.The Conference again emphasized the impossibility of resolving the Afghan problem by military means and called on the Afghan parties to the conflict to stop hostilities and cooperate with the aim of setting up a representative, broad-based, multiethnic government. It welcomed the initiative of His Excellency Seyed Mohammed Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and

Chairman of the Eighth Islamic Summit regarding Afghanistan. The Conference emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination between the OIC and the United Nations in creating propitious conditions for achieving national reconciliation between the Afghan parties.

42.The Conference called on all states to stop immediately supplying all parties in the conflict with arms and ammunitions. It also called on all Afghan citizens, and in particular Afghan farmers, to take effective measures to put an end to the production and export of illegal drugs and to refrain from growing them. The Conference called on the international community to support alternative

programmes of agricultural crops.

43.The Conference urged Member States and Islamic institutions to extend assistance to the Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for efforts to ensure the prompt and voluntary return of the refugees to their country and their rehabilitation. The Conference also called on the international community, in particular OIC Member States, to respond to the humanitarian needs of the situation requirements in Afghanistan.

The Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

44.The Conference stressed the importance of economic recovery and its basic role in consolidating peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Conference endorsed the action programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which essentially provides for the continued participation in the peace process through the action of the Council for the implementation of the peace process and the steering committee, the search for new ways and means of bilateral cooperation between Member States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the field of trade, investment and culture, the provision of humanitarian assistance towards the return of the refugees and the support of the action aimed at searching for the missing and carrying out mine-clearing operations. It also

provides for the reconstruction of religious and cultural monuments, the implementation of the training and equipment program benefiting the Federal Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and legal support of the actions taken against war crimes and aggression and in particular the action of the International Tribunal for War Crimes in Former Yugoslavia. The Conference also endorsed

a statement  concerning the redefinition of the priorities of the Assistance Mobilization Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the creation of a Trust Fund for the prompt return of the refugees and displaced in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Situation in Kosovo

45.The Conference called on the United Nations to defend the right of Kosovars to self-determination and to protect their cultural heritage and Islamic identity. It reaffirmed that the safe and unconditional return of all Kosovar refugees to their homes is a prerequisite for settling the crisis. It called on the international community to take the necessary steps to track down and bring to trial all perpetrators of ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity in Kosovo.

46.The Conference asserted the readiness and determination of the OIC to participate in monitoring and peace keeping operations in Kosovo within the framework of  international peace-keeping action under the auspices of the United Nations. It commended the efforts of both UNMIK and KFOR in pursuance of the objectives of Security Council resolution number 1244, as it commended the

significant improvement of security in the area. It urged the international mission in Kosovo to continue taking all the necessary security measures towards the requisite confidence-building, including the consolidation of tolerance and cooperation among ethnic groups for the protection and security of all categories of the people of Kosovo. It called on the international community to exert efforts to lay the necessary foundations for safeguarding the acquired rights of all minorities in Kosovo and enabling them to participate in administrative structures on an equal footing in order to avert ethnic schisms. 

The Conference welcomed the results of the elections recently held in the region.

47.The Conference expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance extended by OIC Member States to Kosovo and exhorted them, along with other States in  the world, to continue providing financial assistance for the reconstruction of Kosovo.

The Situation in Somalia

48.The Conference reaffirmed its support and backing for the great efforts exerted by the President of the Republic of Somalia Mr. Abel Kassim Salat Hassn to achieve peace and national unity in his country. It called on all Somali factions to spurn war and violence, to listen to the call of peace and to earnestly participate in the ongoing national debate for the reunification and reconstruction of the state.

49.The conference commended the historical role played by H.E. Ismael Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti in convening and hosting the Conference for Peace and National Reconciliation in Somalia and affirmed its support for all the decisions of the Djibouti Conference. The Conference also commended the efforts exerted by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al

Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, towards preparing the ground for the national Somali reconciliation, as well as the efforts exerted in the same context by His Excellency Ali Abdullah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, His Excellency Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and His Excellency Abdou Diouf, the former President of Senegal.

50.The Conference urged Member States and the international community to take an active part in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Somalia. It requested the Secretary General to dispatch a mission to identify development priorities and take an active part in upholding the Somali government's efforts to consolidate the political settlement process and national unity in the country. 

The Situation in Chechnya

51.The Conference called on the Government of the Russian Federation to continue negotiations with the representatives of the Chechen people as soon as possible with a view to reaching a peaceful settlement of the situation in Chechnya, taking into consideration the appropriate international instruments on human rights. It also urged the Government of the Russian Federation and the international community to take action towards ensuring the protection of the

Chechen refugees in the camps north of the Caucasus and to take part in the reconstruction and development of Chechnya. The Conference expressed its readiness to pursue contacts with the Government of the Russian Federation to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the crisis in Chechnya.

The Jammu and kashmir Dispute

52.The Conference reaffirmed its support for the right of the people of Kashmir to self- determination in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, and called for appointing a special representative of the OIC Secretary General and for sending an OIC fact-finding mission to Jammu and Kashmir. 

53.The Conference expressed its support for the initiative taken by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to resume negotiations with India with a view to resolving all the questions at the origin of the conflict, in particular the essential Kashmir question.

54.The Conference condemned flagrant violations of human rights of Kashmir, and called on Member States to take all necessary measures to convince India to put an immediate end to these violations and enable the people of Kashmir to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

55.The Conference expressed deep concern over the massacre of civilians and material losses caused by the heavy Indian bombing across the Control Line. It urged the international community including the United Nations, to mediate in the conflict which now threatens to lead to a nuclear confrontation. 

56.The Conference adopted the recommendations made by the OIC Contact group on Jammu and Kashmir which held a meeting at Summit and Ministerial levels; it also took cognizance of the memorandum submitted by the True Representatives of the people of Kashmir to the Contact Group.

The Situation between Iraq and Kuwait 

57.For the sake of reinforcing security, peace and stability, the Conference called on Iraq to complete the implementation of the obligations stipulated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It called on Iraq and the Security Council to engage into a comprehensive dialogue to implement such obligations in a fair and comprehensive manner and on sound bases, and for lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq. The Conference underscored the absence of any obstacles to

the organization of flights to and from Iraq.

58.In implementation of the obligations stipulated in international and humanitarian law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Conference called for the prompt resolution of the issue of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons as well as the nationals of other countries in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross. It also called for cooperation on the proposals

made by Iraq concerning missing Iraqi nationals under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

59.For the sake of neighbourly relations, the Conference stressed the need to respect the security and territorial integrity of the State of Kuwait and called on Iraq to take the necessary and adequate steps to bring about sound positions vis-à-vis the State of Kuwait. It also stressed the need to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and security of Iraq. It demanded

that illegitimate actions taken against Iraq outside the framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions be brought to an end. 

60.The Conference commissioned the Chairman of the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference to exert his good offices in consultation with Iraq and Kuwait so as to prepare the ground for resolving the differences between them in accordance with the principles and objectives of the United Nations, the relevant Security Council resolutions, and the principles and objectives of the OIC.

The Aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan

61.The Conference reiterated its full backing and support to the efforts undertaken by

the Republic of Azerbaijan to help ensure immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian forces from all the occupied Azerbaijani territories. It also urged both Armenia and Azerbaijan and all the states in The Minsk Group of the OSCE to participate more effectively in the

ongoing peace process to ensure a just, durable and comprehensive resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of principles of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Situation in Cyprus

62.The Conference expressed firm support for the rightful cause of the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus and reaffirmed its resolutions and declarations on Cyprus. It called for a just and negotiated settlement that would respect their legitimate aspirations. It emphasized the key importance of respecting the principle of equal political status in promoting a negotiated settlement acceptable to both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides and to this effect called on the two sides to reciprocally acknowledge each other's equal status in order to pave the way to a lasting solution. In this respect, the conference welcomed the statement made by the UN Secretary General on 12

September 2000 at the outset of the Fourth Round of Proximity Talks.

The 1986 American Aggression against Libya

63.The Conference expressed once again its solidarity with, and support for the right of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to secure equitable compensation for the losses sustained as a result of the American aggression against it in 1986, in accordance with the provisions of UN General Assembly resolution No.38/41 of 20 November 1986. It called again on the United States

of America to respond positively to that resolution and to resort to peaceful means to solve its differences with the Jamahiriya. 

Call for the definitive lifting of sanctions against Libya within the framework of a settlement of the so-called Lockerbie affair. 

64.The Conference discussed the (Lockerbie) issue and the ensuing measures. It reaffirmed its solidarity with the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and welcomed the efforts of brotherly and friendly States to reach a settlement for this issue. It also expressed satisfaction at the steps taken towards its full settlement, including the suspension of the final and complete

sanctions imposed on the Jamahiriya. It called on the Security Council to move quickly to the adoption of a resolution on a final and complete lifting of the sanctions imposed on Libya, considering that any delay or obstruction in this respect or any demands made in contravention of international law, before the verdict of the concerned Scottish Court entrusted with the case is unacceptable and would need the OIC Member States to take the necessary measures to deal

with the situation. The Conference affirmed the right of Libya to demand reparations for the losses it suffered because of the sanctions imposed upon it.

Solidarity with Iran and the Libya regarding the D'Amato Law

65.The Conference reaffirmed, once again, its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in their stand against the so-called D'Amato Law. It expressed its rejection of any coercive or unilateral measures, whether political or legal, on the part of one country against another. It urged all States to consider that law, which runs counter to

the provisions of international law and norms, as null and void.

The Economic Situation in Africa

66.The Conference commended the efforts made by African States towards economic recovery and development, in particular the establishment of African economic community aimed at progressive economic integration in Africa. It urged the international community, particularly developed countries and concerned institutions to increase their public and private low-interest financial flows to Africa to achieve economic revitalization and development. It called on the international community to achieve global and durable solution to the issue of African debts through total debt cancellation.

Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel

67. The Conference expressed its appreciation of the Committee on Islamic Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel, for its initiatives in favour of the African States affected by drought and desertification and commended the contributions made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, Indonesia, and the IDB for the benefit of the peoples of the Sahel, within the special OIC/CILSS/IDB joint Programme; it called on Member States to generously contribute to the

financing of this programme. It also approved the recommendations made by the donors meeting, and the creation of a high-level follow-up committee to speed up the implementation of the programme.

Assisting the Republic of Mali

68.The Conference called on Member States and Islamic financial institutions to provide the necessary financial assistance to help the Government of Mali implement its emergency programmes and projects to ensure the return and reintegration of refugees, achieve the development of the northern regions of Mali, and support the implementation of the medium and long-term development strategy in the Kidal, Gao and Timbuctu regions.

Niger

69.The Conference urged Member States to extend to the Republic of Niger financial and technical assistance to enable it to strengthen its national unity and to achieve the developmental plans and programmes provided for by the Peace Accord. It requested the OIC Secretary General to establish contacts with the authorities of the Niger thereon.

The Republic of Guinea

70.The Conference called on the Member States, and Islamic foundations and other International organizations to provide financial assistance to the Government of the Republic of Guinea to address the repercussions of instability in West Africa, to host and shelter refugees and displaced persons, and facilitate their voluntary repatriation to ensure Guinea's stability and development.

71.The Conference strongly condemned the armed acts of aggression against the people of Guinea and expressed its support to and solidarity with the government and people of Guinea.

The Political Situation in Sierra Leone

72.The Conference expressed appreciation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the UN, and the OAU which contributed to the restoration of constitutional order in Sierra Leone, and to alleviating the deterioration of security in this country. It strongly condemned the rebel United Revolutionary Front's frequent and unprovoked attacks. It requested all Member States and the international community to provide generous assistance to the government of Sierra Leone to help it face the problems of reconstruction and the establishment of security and stability.

Solidarity with Sudan

73.The Conference reaffirmed its full solidarity with Sudan in facing hostile designs, and in defending its unity, territorial integrity and stability. It commended the  continuous efforts made by the Sudanese Government in order to reach a peaceful solution to the problem of southern Sudan through negotiation with the various Sudanese parties. It expressed its deep appreciation for the efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya aimed at achieving national reconciliation in Sudan through the Egyptian–Libyan initiative.

American Aggression against Al-Shifa Pharmaceutical Plant in Khartum

74.The Conference expressed its full support for the request of the Republic of Sudan to set up an international committee of inquiry under the auspices of the Security Council to investigate United States allegations concerning the production by the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical plant of toxic chemical gases. It requested again from the government of the United States of America once again to respond positively to Sudan's request. It asserted its solidarity with Sudan in confronting hostile schemes against its security and territorial integrity.

Imposition of unilateral economic sanctions on Sudan.

75.The Conference requested the United States to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan because of the economic and social damage and losses they have wrought on the country and in view of their contradiction with the principles of international law and the UN Charter which also forbid interference in the internal affairs of states.

Unilateral economic sanctions generally.

76.The Conference called on all the states that impose unilateral sanctions on OIC member states to desist from such practices in view of their contradiction with the principles of international law and the UN charter. It expressed solidarity with states confronting unilateral economic sanctions and urged member states to extend support and assistance to them.

The Political Situation in the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros.

77.The Conference affirmed its full commitment to the unity of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, expressed support for the efforts exerted by the Comorian government to achieve peace and national unity and called on all Member States and specialized institutions to provide material assistance to the government and people of the Comoros.

Comorian Island of Mayotte

78.The Conference reaffirmed the unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros and its sovereignty over the Comorian Island of Mayotte, rejecting any idea of dividing the island; and it expressed its strong solidarity with the Comorian people, and its support for the Comorian Government in its political and diplomatic efforts to restore the island to its natural entity.

Disarmament.

79.The Conference reaffirmed once again the position of Member States, calling for a world free of weapons of mass destruction, notably nuclear weapons, and the significance of this for the security and safety of Islamic States. It called upon all states to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and requested the nuclear states to meet the commitments they made in relevant international declarations and

resolutions within  the binding time frame. The Conference affirmed the inalienable right of States to develop peaceful nuclear programmes for their economic and social development and to acquire the technology required for these programmes.

80.The Conference urged all states, especially the nuclear weapon States, once again, to exert pressure on Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and called on the international community and the Security Council to compel Israel, which continues its secret nuclear programmes to abide by relevant UN resolutions, and to implement forthwith the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling for the subjection of all Israeli Atomic facilities to the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards System, as well as implementing the special resolution on the Middle East adopted by the conference on the Review and Extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty respectively held in New York (1995, 2000) as these steps are necessary for the establishment of a mass-destruction–weapon–free zone in the Middle East.

81.The Conference called on all Member States, including the Member States of the Conference on Disarmament, and more particularly the ones possessing nuclear weapons, to act forthwith and conclude an international binding treaty protecting the states not possessing nuclear weapons from the use of nuclear weapons, or from the threat to use them with a view to safeguarding the non-

nuclear states sovereignty, their territorial integrity and their political independence.

82.The Conference encouraged the states to conclude equitable and non-discriminatory agreements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, of these weapons, considering that such agreements contribute to the enhancement of confidence and the availability of development resources realizing, by the same token, the need to strengthen regional security and stability through the settlement of ongoing conflicts and to ensure a fair and balanced armament that should be reduced to the lowest possible level.

Combating the Illicit Proliferation, Accumulation, and Circulation of light, small calibre Arms:

83.The Conference welcomed the initiative of the Republic of Mali in this respect and the decision of some states of the Sahel to set up national commissions to compat the proliferation of light arms and also welcomed the convening of an African Regional Conference on the illegal trafficking of these weapons, scheduled to be organised by the OAU in Bamako, in November, 2000. It called on Member States and Islamic Organizations to consolidate cooperation among themselves in this respect.

84.The Conference took note of the initiative of the European Union for establishing an international mechanism to combat and control the accumulation, the illicit proliferation, accumulation, and circulation of so called light, small calibre arms. It called on the Secretary General to examine the ways and means to secure effective coordination between the OIC and the regional organizations

concerned. 

Problem of Mines

85.The Conference expressed its extreme concern over the arbitrary use of mines, including anti-personnel mines, for the security and safely of civilian populations and their economic growth. It called on the states that have planted mines on the territories of the developing countries, including the OIC Member States, to provide these countries with technical and financial assistance to enable them to rid themselves once and for all of these mines. 

The Year 2005 Conference to Review the Non-Proliferation Treaty: 

86.The Conference requested all Member States parties to the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty to actively participate in the Year 2005 Conference to Review the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty and its preparatory committees in order to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament within an adopted time frame.

Safeguarding the Security of Islamic States and Consultation and Solidarity between them

87. The Conference asserted its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national security of Iraq and called for an end to interventions in Iraq in order to safeguard its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders.

88. The Conference reaffirmed the determination of OIC Member States to encourage the initiatives aimed at building confidence and security whenever and wherever appropriate at the bilateral or sub-regional levels. It reaffirmed once again the full and perennial sovereignty of Islamic peoples and States over their natural resources and economic activities, and the need to abide by the

principles of international law concerning the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States, the non-use of force in international relations, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. It expressed the resolve of Member States to protect and enhance Islamic values in every sphere of life, especially in the areas of solidarity and mutual respect. 

It affirmed its rejection of the so-called right to humanitarian intervention under whatever name or from whatever source, for it has no basis in the UN Charter or in the principles of the general international law.

89. The Conference affirmed once again the need of Member States to continue the strengthening and promotion of cooperation, coordination, and consultation on every level so as to remove all causes of division and to strengthen understanding among them, to abide by the principles of good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and ban the exploitation of their territories by individuals or groups trying to cause harm to other states; as it stressed the need for coordination to contain the phenomenon of terrorism in all its shapes and forms. It called on Member States to adopt, in international for a, a unified position on vital and urgent issues to secure a majority of votes consistent with the importance of these issues.

90.The Conference decided, in order to enhance the effectiveness of OIC action with respect to the issues of concern to the Islamic world, to endeavour to derive optimal benefit from the work of governmental expert groups in various areas and called on Member States to make sure they participate in the meetings of these groups on a regular basis and at the highest level .

Support for the Initiative of Kazakhstan to hold a Conference for Confidence-Building in Asia.

91.The Conference expressed appreciation at the initiative of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan which led to convening the Conference for interaction and confidence-building measures in Asia, in Alma Ata in Kazakhstan on 14 September 1999, and the member state's support for this initiative. It reaffirmed that OIC Member States do not consider Israel as a member of the Asian Countries Group, and requested that it be excluded from attending the

future meetings of this Conference. 

The Impact of the Development of Information and Communication Technology on the Sovereignty of States: 

92.The Conference stressed the necessity to consolidate and develop the use of information and communication technology so that it may in turn reflect the needs of the Islamic world in the social, cultural, economic and political fields, as it stressed the necessity to prevent the negative impact of the technology on the sovereignty of Member States. It requested the Secretary General to

organise symposia and prepare studies on the subject to forestall the dangers threatening the culture, values, security and national unity of Member States. 

Reparations for Damages Resulting from Colonialism

93.The Conference affirmed again the right of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for reparations for all the material and human losses it has sustained because of the period of colonization and settlement on Libyan territories. It called on the countries responsible for these damages to respond positively to Libya's requests. It affirmed the right of all Member States which

suffered from colonization to recover their cultural property plundered during that time.

The Creation of a World Fund for Solidarity and Combating Poverty

94.The Conference requested Member States to endorse the call addressed by H.E. Zine Al Abedine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia, to the leaders and heads of international organizations for the creation of a World Fund for Solidarity and Combating Poverty.

95.The Conference welcomed taken the initiative taken by the State of Qatar to establish an external development fund with a capital of US$ 200 million to contribute to raising the living standards of the least developed Islamic States.

The Problem of Refugees in the Islamic World

96.The Conference expressed concern at the growing number of refugees in the world generally and in Islamic States in particular, and called for coordinated efforts to tackle the causes of this phenomenon and to increase assistance to host states. It condemned repressive measures against refugees and the pressures exerted on host countries.

Dumping of Nuclear and Toxic Wastes

97.The Conference condemned all the entities that dump their own toxic wastes on the territories of the OIC Member States or in their territorial waters, and considered these practices as an abominable crime against the right of the Member States peoples and against mankind in general. The Conference also called on Member States to intensify efforts at the United Nations, and more

particularly the IAEA, to conclude a binding treaty for an irrevocable ban on the dumping of nuclear and toxic wastes.

The Islamic World and the Challenges of Globalisation

98.The Conference called for the formation of a coherent Islamic entity to face up to the international trade competition due to globalization and urged Member States to develop the communication and information technology so as to protect their cultural and social heritage, to promote it from local to global level and to narrow the gap between them and the countries that own the technological tools.

United Nations Reform

99.The Summit asserted that the Islamic States have a direct interest in the United Nations reforms including an increased membership of the Security Council and called upon Member States to participate actively and effectively in the United Nations reform process on the basis of the relevant statements and declarations made by the Organization of the Islamic Conference

Protection of the Rights of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-Member

States:

100.The Conference expressed satisfaction at the efforts exerted by Secretary General to implement the resolutions on Muslim communities and minorities in Non-Member States, particularly those concerning the setting up of a contact group from among Member States premanent delegations at the UN in New York and Geneva to deal with cases of violation of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in Non-Member States.

101.The Conference stressed the need to help Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States to preserve their religious and cultural identity and enjoy equal treatment in terms of rights, obligations and duties, and exercise their civil, religious and other rights without segregation or discrimination. 

102.The Conference stressed that safeguarding the right of the Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States is fundamentally, the responsibility of the governments of those states, based on commitment to the principles of international law and respect of territorial sovereignty.

103.The conference urged Member States to give special attention to the Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States that are subjected to oppression or persecution because of their religious beliefs, to identify their needs, and to advise member States thereof with a view to providing the necessary financial, human and material resources, while working to intensify

the various Islamic cultural and educational activities so as to improve the general conditions of these minorities. 

104.The Conference urged member States to coordinate efforts to train the personnel capable of fulfilling the task of Islamic Dawa within Muslim communities and minorities in different world countries. This personnel is to include qualified female staff and a set of integrated material and programmes designed for the purpose is to be drawn up.

105.The Conference requested the General Secretariat to make contacts with the governments of states with Muslim communities and minorities to identify the latter's problems and needs and the former's views on the best way to set up a formula for cooperation with the OIC in order to provide the contributions required to improve the conditions of these Muslim communities and minorities and preserve their religious and cultural identity. Priority should be given to contacts with the governments of non-Member States where Muslim communities and minorities face urgent problems.

106.The Conference stressed the commitment of Member States to respecting the rights of non-Muslim communities and minorities living on their territory in accordance with the precepts of our tolerant Islamic religion. The Conference denounced the allegations by certain circles concerning the treatment of minorities as well as the use of measures concerning them as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of Member States.

The Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines

107.The Conference took note with satisfaction of the recommendations of this Session's fringe meeting of the Ministerial Committee of Seven on the follow- up of the 1996 Peace Agreement between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Government of the Philippines, which was attended by His Excellency Professor Nur Miswari, Chairman of the Front, and a representative of the Government of the Philippines. It also took note with appreciation of the Report of the Committee Chair, Indonesia, on the fact-finding mission of this Ministerial-level Committee to Southern Philippines from 16-21 October 2000. 

The Conference, having expressed appreciation at what was achieved towards a full implementation of the Peace Agreement, called on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front to cease hostilities and to safeguard the benefits of the agreement, particularly the restoration of peace to the south of the country, and called for providing

adequate guarantees for that purpose. The Conference also called on the States to continue providing adequate assistance to fully implement the Peace Agreement during the transitional period within a predetermined time frame until the establishment the Autonomous Region in the Southern Philippines. 

The Situation of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace

108.The Conference reaffirmed its commitment to Muslim groups and minorities in non-Member States and, keeping in mind that the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is an integral part of the Muslim World, deplored the continued violation of the basic human rights and freedoms of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace and deplored also the prison sentence served to the

elected Mufti of Xanthi, Mr. Mehmet Emin Aga, and expressed its concern at the obstruction of the building of the Kimmeria Mosque. The Conference urged Greece to take all measures to restore the rights of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and recognize promptly the elected Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official Muftis.

The Muslim Minority in Myanmar

109. The Conference commissioned the Islamic Contact Group entrusted with Considering the Conditions of Muslim Communities and Minorities to follow-up the violations of the rights of the Muslim minority in Myanmar, and urged Member States to provide moral and political support to this minority and to facilitate dialogue between that community and the government of Myanmar so

that it may exercise its basic rights on an equal footing with other citizens of Myanmar.

Legal Affairs

110. The Conference urged OIC Member States that have not ratified the Statute of the International Islamic Court of Justice to do so by completing the ratification procedure in order to enable the Court to fulfill its functions. 

111. The Conference recognized the need to follow up the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam and called again on the Inter-governmental Group of Experts on this issue to start drawing up Islamic Conventions on Human Rights in the form of covenants each of which tackles in detail one or more issues based on the provisions of the Declaration.

112. The Conference called on Member States to continue their positive coordination and existing cooperation in the field of human rights, especially during international conferences and meetings on this issue, in order to reinforce Islamic solidarity and face any attempt at using human rights as a

means to exercise political pressure on any Member State and to convey the positions of the Organization on the issue of human rights, including the rights of Muslim minority, to the concerned organs and agencies of the United Nations.

113.The Conference expressed its deep concern over the repeated and wrongful linkage between Islam and human rights violations, and over the use of the written and audiovisual media to propagate such wrongful concepts. It called for an end to the unjustifiable campaigns waged by certain non-governmental organizations against a number of Member States to demand the abolition of Sharia laws and sanctions in the name of protecting human rights, stressing the right of states to hold fast onto their religious, social, and cultural specificities, which constitute their heritage and spring source for the enrichment of common universal conceptions of human rights. It called for the universality of human rights not to be used as a pretext to intervene in the internal affairs of states and undermine their national sovereignty.

114.The Conference urged Member States again to proceed as soon as possible, with the signing/ratification of the different agreements concluded under the aegis of the OIC.

115.The Conference expressed again its support for the convening of a conference under the aegis of the United Nations to define the concept of terrorism and make a distinction between terrorism and people's struggle for national liberation.

116.The Conference reaffirmed the determination of Member States to abide by the provisions of the OIC Treaty on Combating International Terrorism, and to coordinate their efforts to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism, including state terrorism.

117.The Conference condemned all forms of international terrorism, including the crimes of hijacking and illegal acts against the safety and security of civilian aircraft. It called on Member States to ratify expeditiously international agreements on the Penalty for Hijacking and on Guaranteeing Civilian Aircraft Safety and Security.

118.The Conference reaffirmed the decision of Member States to contribute to the final outcome of the International conference on Fighting Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance by putting forward the Islamic view on fighting racism, the distortion of the image of Islam and Islamophobia. The Conference commissioned the OIC Member States' delegations in Geneva to continue to actively participate in preparing the World Conference.

119.The Conference approved the efforts exerted by Member States during the meeting of the United Nations high Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, leading to a unified position of the Member States on issues of immediate concern to them and on confronting the distortion of the image of Islam as provided for by the Draft Resolution on the Distortion of the Image of

Religions. 

Information and Communication.

120.The Conference took note with satisfaction of the activities of Organization in the area of information and communication under the supervision of the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), ably chaired by His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. 

121.The Conference adopted the orientations defined by His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), in his Report to the Summit in the light of the results of the Fifth Session of the Islamic

Conference of Information  Ministers to promote and consolidate joint Islamic Action in information so as to serve the aspirations and objectives of the Islamic Ummah.

122.The Conference also adopted the measures proposed by the OIC Secretary General to revitalize the information and communication sector so that it can play its real role in promoting the just causes, true image and heritage and values of Islam, in raising awareness of the achievements, resources and policies of the Islamic Ummah, calling for dialogue among civilizations, and bringing Muslim minorities and communities closer to each other, to the OIC, and Islamic

peoples.

123.The Conference welcomed the production in Arabic and English of the documentary film "Behind the Walls" on Al-Quds by the Palestinian Ministry of Information with the generous financial support of His Highness Sheikh Zaid Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, President of the State of the United Arab Emirates. 

On this occasion, it expressed to His Highness, its sincere thanks and deep gratitude.

124.The Conference called on Member States to mobilize all necessary material means, and particularly voluntary financial contributions, with a view to overcoming the dilemma of the lack of the necessary funds to promote information and communication activities.

125.The Conference stressed the urgent need to implement as early as possible the work programs drawn up from the Information strategy and to take all adequate steps in order to integrate the Information Strategy of Islamic States into the information policies of Member States, affirming also the need for Member States to support and revitalize the activities of ISBO and IINA as the two

major mechanisms for the implementation of information strategies and Information Plan of Islamic States.

126.The Conference called on Member States to coordinate their efforts so as to promote the Islamic Satellite project to keep abreast of the current advances brought about by the revolution in communication and information. 

127.In the area of coordination and exchange of news and programs, the Conference called on Member States to urge private and public TV Satellite channels to engage in cooperation among themselves and with ISBO and also to collaborate with similar channels in other Member States and exchange news, feature and documentary programs.

128.The Conference endorsed the candidature of the Republic of Tunisia to host the International Conference of the Community of Journalists to be organized by the International Communications Union in 2003.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS:

129.The Conference stressed the need to take effective measures to alleviate the negative impact of the international economic order on the economies of Member States so as to ensure their sharing, on an equal footing, of the benefits of globalization in such manner as would strike a balance between the advantages and responsibilities of the developing countries. It also stressed the need to face up to the challenges of globalization through the full participation of developing countries and of those whose economies are in transition in the international decision-making process concerning economic and financial policies.

130.The Conference noted that the liberalization of international trade has not been beneficial to the developing countries and highlighted the need for confidence- building in the multilateral trading system by encouraging the participation of all developing countries. The Conference called for a greater liberalization of trade through the creation of more opportunities for trading in basic

commodities and services so as to ensure greater access to markets where Islamic countries have relative advantage. 

131. The Conference called for speedy processing of accession of developing countries, including OIC Member States, applying for the membership of WTO and emphasized that no political consideration should impede this process. The Conference further called for the rejection of attempts to include non-trade issues, such as labour and environment standards into the work programme of WTO or to link such issues with trade deals, given their detrimental effect on

the evolving of a just, free and fair multilateral trading environment. 

132.The Conference called upon WTO to strengthen, in the various multilateral trade Agreements, the development dimension, through, inter alia, operationalising the provisions on special and preferential treatment in favour of the developing countries. It further called for the correction of the imbalances in the various WTO Agreements that have major implications for development policies as well as export interests of the developing countries. 

133.The Conference reaffirmed the importance of strengthening economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States so as to maximize the complementarities in their economies and, in this connection, stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of the Plan of Action to strengthen Economic and Commercial Co-operation among the Member States within the framework of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (COMCEC) in accordance with the operational modalities and procedures set forth in its chapter on follow-up and

implementation. 

134.The Conference expressed the conviction that the achievement of a higher level of economic and commercial co-operation among the Member States would provide the necessary basis for a gradual progression towards greater economic integration leading to the ultimate objective of an Islamic Common Market.

The Conference noted in this connection, that the establishment of the Islamic Common Market is essentially a long term process with multiple dimensions and phases, including, inter alia, assessment of comparative advantages of the Member States, selection of priority sectors of co-operation, facilitation of market access, determination of competition policy and setting up of an Islamic Free Trade Zone.

135.The Conference called for the strengthening of economic policy co-ordination among the Member States with a view to avoiding further marginalisation at the international level, particularly in the areas of market access, finance and investment, transfer of technology and eventual development of an integrated network of information as well as physical infrastructure. The Conference further urged the Member States to reinforce intra-OIC regional and sub-regional economic groupings and to relaunch existing projects aimed at some form of economic complementarity.

136.The Conference called upon the Member States that have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify at an early date the various agreements/statutes finalized under the aegis of the OIC, particularly the Agreement on Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among Member States, the General Agreement on Economic, Technical and Commercial Co-operation among Member States, the Framework Agreement on the Establishment of the Trade Preferential System among OIC Member States and the Statute of the Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries, so as to provide the necessary framework for economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States. 

137.The Conference commissioned the Secretary General to issue the necessary directives to the relevant OIC institutions to complete a study on developing a mechanism to set up an Islamic Union of Financial Markets and a Clearing House of Stocks, and Bonds, and to develop Islamic financial instruments that are acceptable to investors from the perspective of Sharia 

138.The Conference renewed its appeal to the developed countries to implement the Programme of Action adopted by the Second UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) held in 1990 as well as the other resolutions of the United Nations and the recommendations made in the report of the High-Level Meeting on integrated initiatives on the implementation of the 1997 Action Plan for the LDCs of the WTO.

139.The Conference also expressed its disappointment at the declining trend in the volume of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the LDCs and called on the developed countries that have not increased their official development assistance to do so in order to be consistent with the current international development strategy. It further welcomed the decision to convene the Third

UN Conference on LDCs to be held in 2001 and called on all governments, and governmental and multilateral institutions to undertake adequate preparations for the conference.

140.The Conference expressed its belief in the link between the phenomenon of acute poverty in the LDCs and the distortion in their socio-economic structures, deterioration of terms of trade and consequent marginalisation in the global economy. It further reaffirmed the common objective of the Member States of eradicating poverty before the end of the next decade. It also agreed that  Micro Credit programmes providing access to small capital for productive self-employment contributes significantly towards the eradication of poverty and called for the incorporation of such programmes in the strategy for poverty eradication.

141.The Conference renewed its call to the international community, the developed countries in particular, to offer substantial reduction 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 on easy terms to the African countries. It also appealed to the international community to extend assistance to the Member States struck by drought and natural disaster and called upon the Member States and OIC institutions to extend assistance to the OIC countries of the Inter-governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).

142.The Conference underscored the importance of developing an orderly and strengthened international financial system with a view to addressing the fundamental weaknesses and the inherent instability of the international financial system so as to avoid disruptive and destabilizing capital flows and limit the contagious effect of any future financial crisis. It further underscored

the need to better understand the dynamics of globalised capital and currency markets in an environment of instantaneous financial and information flows. 

143.The Conference called on the Member States to revitalize their economic programmes to increase their share of the world trade by sustained improvement of their international competitiveness through adoption of a series of policies aimed at improving their economic infrastructures, increasing the quality and added value of products, diversifying the product-base and providing the conditions favourable for foreign investment. It further underscored the fundamental importance of expanding intra-OIC trade and called on the Member States to participate in the various schemes of IDB aimed at expanding such trade. 

144.The Conference stressed the role of the private sector in the Member States in providing impetus to intra-OIC economic relations and in this connection called on the Member States to support the various development activities of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It further stressed the need to enhance the role of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), invariably at the private sector, as a crucial element in the process of industrial development of

the Member States, particularly as an important link in the chain of supplies. 

145.The Conference commended the development programmes in Member Sates receiving IDB financial contributions and services. It commissioned the IDB's Board of Governors to take the necessary steps to radically increase the Bank's declared and subscribed capital.

146.The Conference appreciated the holding of the First Islamic Conference of Ministers of Tourism held in Isfahan on 3-4 October, 2000, hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, which underscored, inter alia, the increasing importance of tourism as the most significant growth industry today and the need for the Member States to secure a major share in it, given the wealth of natural and cultural heritage that can go into the development of diverse tourism products. 

147.The Conference invited all concerned bodies to broaden the scope of their assistance to help the Palestinian people build their national economy, consolidate their national institutions and enable them to establish their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The Conference at the same time expressed serious concern over the economic implications of the

recent developments in Palestinian territories caused by the aggressive policies of the Israeli Government and resulting in difficult living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Conference commended the initiative taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to create two funds to support Palestine and its donation of Saudi Riyal 250 million to the

budgets of the funds. 

Science and Technology:

148.The Conference stressed the need for taking effective measures to counter the destructive damages ensuing from pollution and poisonous waste which give rise to climatic fluctuations and cause the deterioration of biological and socio-economic conditions. In this respect, the Conference emphasized that environmental considerations must be tied to development efforts, called on

Member States to ratify the relevant international conventions if they have not already done so, and strongly condemned Israeli practices and their impact on the environment in the occupied Palestinian territories, the occupied Syrian Golan, Southern Lebanon, the Western Bekaa Valley, and other territories occupied by Israel.

149.The Conference drew attention to the grave consequences and the necessity of rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the Aral Sea ecology, and called for a special meeting of the Ministers of Environment to discuss these, and similar common problems at large.

150.Referring to the considerable advances in the fields of science and technology, the Conference stressed their role in the socio-economic development of Member States. It reaffirmed that science and technology must be harnessed for peaceful purposes for the good of humanity and for socio-economic development of States. In this context, it called for the initiation of negotiations among the countries concerned to lay down universal non-discriminatory guidelines on the

transfer of advanced technology and of the machinery and equipment of a military application. It also emphasized the possible uses of space technologies for the purpose of socio-economic development and recommended the follow-up of current developments in the United Nations regarding these new advances.

151.Concerning combating epidemic diseases, the Conference urged the strengthening of co-operation among Member States for combating their spread. The Conference also emphasized the necessity of convening the Islamic Conference for Health Ministers, which the Islamic Republic of Iran had gracefully offered to host in Tehran. The Conference decided to expand the mandate of the proposed Conference to cover Islamic co-operation in the area of health generally, including the sector of medicines.

152.The Conference expressed its concern over the exacerbation of the problem of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and their adverse effects on the society and economy of the countries affected by this phenomenon. The Conference called for strict implementation of the UN Convention on Illegal Trafficking of Drugs. It called on Member States to cooperate with the UN

seeking to raise awareness of this problem with appropriate use of mass media and other cultural means. The Conference appreciated the ongoing co-operation in this respect between the General Secretariat and the UN Drug Control Programme.

153.The Conference stressed the importance of conducting an extensive study on the correlation between the environment and health and the sustainable development of Member States, and thanked the Government of Tunisia for offering to host the meeting of the Expert Group charged with conducting this study in mid-January.

154.The Conference took note of the programmes and activities of COMSTECH and called on Member States to provide these pogrammes and activities with financial support in the form of generous voluntary contributions.

155.With regard to the implementation of developmental strategies in the fields of science and technology in Member States, the Conference commended the positive efforts exerted in this respect by ISESCO in collaboration with COMSTEC. It thanked the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for hosting the First Islamic Conference of Ministers in charge of

Higher Education and Scientific Research, from 15 to 18 October, 2000 in Riyadh and adopted the resolutions adopted by that Conference. It entrusted ISESCO with the implementation of the amended Strategy for Developing Science and Technology in Islamic Countries.

156.The Conference commended the activities of the Islamic Institute of Technology in Dhaka, and encouraged it to continue its efforts in developing the human resources by Member Sates in the area of science and technology. 

157.The Conference urged the Member States to effectively participate in conferences and meetings related to the United Nations Convention on Climate Changes and the Kyoto Protocol. The Conference also called on the developed countries and developing countries to take their parts of responsibility in taking necessary measures to slow down the deteriorating climate changes.

158.The Conference took note with appreciation of the convening of the First International Forum of The Environment from an Islamic Perspective, held in Jeddah from 23-25 October 2000 and thanked the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for hosting the Forum.

CULTURAL AFFAIRS:

159.The Conference affirmed the importance of the Islamic Ummah's unity, the coherence of its cultural orientations, the coordination of its efforts on the ground in all fields of common endeavour while taking into consideration the specific cultural, national, and regional characteristics of Islamic peoples and upholding institutions of scientific research so as to enable them to implement projects in the areas of Islamic culture and civilization. The Conference called on Member States and on Arab and Islamic institutions to contribute to the funding of the Organization's cultural projects adopted by the Consultative Council on implementing the strategy.

160.The Conference extended its thanks to HE President Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, Chairman of COMIAC, for hosting the Sixth Session of this Committee in Dakar on 25-26 October 2000 and for the initiative he has taken to reinforce the common Islamic action in the area of information and culture.

161.The Conference commended the UNGA decision to declare 2001 as the UN Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations. It adopted the two documents prepared by international experts from Member States, namely the Global Agenda and the Global Program of Action on Dialogue Among Civilizations. It also expressed its satisfaction for the setting up of the Islamic Committee for continued dialogue among Member States within the UN.

162.The Conference called on Member States to allocate scholarships to Palestinian students injured during the Al-Quds Intifada and the sons and daughters of martyrs of the Intifada. It also called on universities in Member States to allocate scholarships to be named after the martyr children of the Intifada and to name one of these after the martyr Mohamed Aldorra.

163.The Conference affirmed the need to set up a Waqf based on voluntary donations, grants, and gifts whose returns would provide a constant income for Islamic universities. It urged donors institutions to redouble their efforts towards reaching that aim. It also commissioned the Secretary General and the Islamic University Trustee Council to work towards that end with a view to raising

sufficient funds for this Waqf.

164.The Conference expressed its pride in the pioneering achievements assumed by ISESCO in the areas of education, science, culture, information, and communication for the benefit of Member States, particularly in the promulgation of the Arabic language and Islamic culture, the protection of the Islamic heritage, inculcation of Islamic culture, encouragement of dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and religions, caring for the children of Islamic emigrants abroad, and backing cultural and educational institutions. In this regard, the Conference expressed its satisfaction at ISESCO's supervision of educational and cultural aspects of the education process in the Islamic University in Uganda, its review of the administrative and academic structure of that University, and its development of appropriate educational curricula thereof.

165.The Conference expressed its appreciation of the various activities sponsored by IRCICA to raise awareness in world public opinion of the Islamic cultural heritage, as well as its efforts to maintain and safeguard this heritage. 

166.The Conference called on Member States to make generous contributions to fund the various projects of the Islamic Fiqh Academy, particularly the Compendium of General Fiqh Rules and the Economic Fiqh Encyclopaedia, as the basic tool to implement the precepts of the Islamic Sharia in all economic, financial, and social areas, as well as the core of the authentic Islamic

legislation.

167.The Conference expressed its appreciation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and all Member States who have made generous donations to the Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqfs. It called on all them to make further donations to the Fund's budget and to contribute to the capital of the Fund's Waqf.

168.The Conference urged Member Sates to continue their efforts in firmly inculcating Islamic values to youth and undertaking further cultural activities for their benefit. It stressed the need to convene as early as possible the Islamic Conference of Youth Ministers in Riyadh. It welcomed the cooperation between the General Presidency for Youth Welfare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the OIC General Secretariat, and the Sports Federation of Islamic Solidarity Games for the thorough preparation of this meeting.

169.The Conference urged the early convening of the Islamic Conference of Ministers in charge of the Child and Social Affairs. It charged the Secretary General with holding the necessary consultations in this regard with Member States, particularly those having distinguished experiences in this field.

170.The Conference expressed its satisfaction at the activities undertaken by the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent in humanitarian and social areas, and expressed the hope that Member States that have not yet ratified the Committee's Agreement should urgently do so.

171.The Conference affirmed the importance of upholding Islamic solidarity, combining efforts to defend all Islamic causes, taking the needed steps to implement the strategy of joint Islamic action in the area of Dawa, and integrating it into the national policies of Member sates in all fields as a

guideline for joint Islamic action.

172.The conference called on the government of the State of Kuwait, which originated the idea, to prepare a comprehensive strategy to promote and develop Islamic Waqfs and revitalise their role in developing Islamic societies, and to submit a report thereon to the Tenth Islamic Summit Conference.

GENERAL MATTERS:

173.The Conference exceptionally endorsed the agreement reached by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Malaysia concerning the position of Assistant Secretary General in the Asian Group as the Conference re-elected Ambassador Khlaed Salim from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for a second two-year mandate only starting on the 1 July 2001 and ending 30 June 2003, providing

that Malaysia's representative succeed him for the same office for a period of just two years starting on 1 July 2003 and ending 30 June 2005. At the same time, the Conference stressed the abidance by the general rule providing for the election of Assistant Secretaries General for a four-year period renewable once only, as adopted by the Twenty-seventh ICFM.

174.The Conference expressed its endorsement of the candidature of the Arab Republic of Syria to a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2002-2003 term and the candidature of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the same seat for the 2003-2004 term.

175.The Conference expressed its endorsement of the candidature of the State of Qatar to membership of the Social and Economic Council at the elections to be held at the 56th session of the UN General Assembly.

176.The Conference called on the Secretary General to initiate coordination and cooperation with the Group of 8 with a view to achieving an exchange of benefits between the two organizations and promoting their common interests.

177.The Conference welcomed the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic to hold a symposium for dialogue between the OIC with the OSCE on peace, security and sustainable development.

178.The Conference supported the candidatures of the following Islamic figures to international organizations:

Dr. Ali Bin Ftis Almary from Qatar for membership of the International Legal Committee.

Dr. Ghalia Bin Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar for memebership of the Committee for the Rights of the Child.

Dr. Riyadh Dawdi from Syria for membership of the International Legal Committee.

179.The Conference commended the efforts exerted by H. E. Dr. Azeddine LARAKI, the OIC Secretary General that led to positive and tangible results towards rationalizing expenditure, redressing the financial situation, and improving the performance of the General Secretariat thus enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization and reinforcing its status on the international scene.

180.The Conference urged Member States which have not yet settled their mandatory contributions to the budget of the General Secretariat and its subsidiary organs to promptly honour their obligations and expedite the payment of their arrears to enable the Organization to fulfil the missions entrusted to it in order to avert the application of the prescribed measures for Member States in arrears.

181.At the pledging session, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a US$ 10 million donation to the OIC and its affiliated institutions, each of the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait announced a US$ 3 million donation to the OIC, and Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates announced respectively a US$ 1 million donation to the budget of the OIC General Secretariat and a US$ 3 million donation to the Islamic Solidarity Fund.

182.The Conference welcomed Malaysia' s initiative to host the Tenth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in 2003 in Kuala Lumpur.

THE CLOSING SESSION:

WORD OF THANKS

183.HE President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, delivered a speech on behalf of all participants in the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in which he expressed thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended by His Highness, and the government and people of Qatar to all participants in the Conference and for the sagacity and open mindedness with which His Highness steered the proceedings of the meeting thus achieving the unanimous adoption of the Conference's resolutions and addressing the urgent causes of the Islamic Ummah with all due wisdom, determination, and effectiveness.

CLOSING SPEECH

184.His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar,Chairman of the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference delivered the closing speech in which he thanked all participants who accepted the invitation to attend the Conference and commended the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood characterised the proceedings of the Conference. His Highness

also thanked His Excellency Dr. Azeddine LARAKI, the OIC Secretary General, all General Secretariat officials, and all members of the Technical Staff and Translators for the documents and services they promptly delivered to the Conference.

Doha, Sate of Qatar

17 Shaaban 1421 H

13 November 2000

DECLARATION OF THE NINTH SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE

SESSION OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT "AL AQSA INTIFADA"

ON ALAQSA INTIFADA – PALESTINIAN INDEPENDENCE INTIFADA

The Kings, Presidents, Emirs and Heads of the States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) held a special session in Doha, on 12 November, 2000, within the framework of the proceedings of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, to express their solidarity and support with the blessed Al-Aqsa Intifada of the Palestinian people against the barbaric Israeli aggression, and consider its serious consequences.

The leaders were unanimous that the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference is held in extremely serious circumstances in the history of our Islamic Ummah due to the prevailing tragic conditions and brutal crimes perpetrated in the Palestinian territories and the Islamic and Christian holy sites, as a result of the war launched by Israel against the Palestinian people, using its military machine: aircraft, tanks, rockets, naval boats and internationally prohibited ammunitions provided by the United States. This onslaught has led to the fall of more than two hundred martyrs and the wounding of ten thousand unarmed Palestinian citizens. Israel continues to lay siege to all Palestinian cities and villages, isolating them from the outside world, as was the case with Bethlehem, Bait Jala, Bait Sahour, Ramallah, Al-Beera, Al-Khalil, Nablus and Gaza, which were shelled by helicopters and tanks. The blockade against citizens, goods, medicines, and supplies has been tightened; Palestinian infrastructure, institutions, centres, institutes, university buildings, places of worship and houses have been destroyed and closing vital utilities, such as Gaza airport, aimed at causing famine and suppressing and furthering the suffering of the Palestinian people.

This wanton premeditated and deliberate Israeli aggression comes within the framework of the Israeli policy aimed at imposing a fait accompli and judaizing the Holy City, represented by the illegitimate Israeli measures and practices, including the criminal attempt to burn down Al Aqsa Mosque, opening tunnels it in order to destroy it and the storming of the blessed Qudsi precinct in connivance with the Israeli government and forces and with their protection, which provoked the rage of Muslims and Christians the world over.

Such an overt aggression is a blatant violation of the civil and human rights of the Palestinian people and a flagrant breach of all covenants, conventions, international law and International Humanitarian Law, especially the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949, and destroys the peace-building efforts in the area. It will have serious consequences for the Middle East and world security and peace, and as such, requires the invitation of the USA to assume a just, honest and humanitarian stance vis-a-vis the Israeli bloody aggression against the Palestinian people and to shoulder its

responsibilities for deterring it.

The leaders condemn the large-scale, systematic and substantial violations of human rights committed by the Israeli occupation authorities, in particular acts of mass murder and collective punishment, such as the demolition of houses and closure of the Palestinian territories. These actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and a gross breach of international humanitarian law, as well as a flagrant and serious violation of the right of the Palestinian people to life.  

The leaders condemn the aggressive and systematic policy of the Israeli occupation authorities to confiscate Palestinian lands, build and expand settlements on them, especially in the city of Al-Quds, build roads, and all other settlement activities, as all of this is considered a stark violation of the UN resolutions and international humanitarian law, in particular, the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949. They consider the settlements as null and void, and with no legal effect whatsoever, and must be dismantled according to Security Council resolution 465.

The leaders condemn the Israeli policy of persistently violating the international legitimacy and the peace process, as it is inconceivable to proceed forward with a political process based on the principle of land for peace while Israel is pursuing the strengthening its settlement activities.

While they pay tribute to the legitimate Intifada of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation, the leaders affirm their support and assistance to this blessed uprising, hail the memory of the martyrs, pray for their pure souls, and wish the injured a speedy recovery. The leaders emphasize their firm adherence to the parameters approved by the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the OIC adopted resolutions on Al-Quds and the cause of Palestine. They are committed to exerting all efforts to achieve this goal. They affirm their resolve to continue utilizing

Islamic potentials to serve the causes of their Ummah and deploy all capabilities to liberate the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories and support the struggle of the Palestinian people in order to restore their land, return the refugees and establish their state on their national soil with Al-Quds as its capital, and also to safeguard Islamic  and Christian holy places in Palestine.

The leaders express their support for the resolutions of the Arab Extraordinary Summit Conference, held in Cairo on 21-22 October 2000, especially its resolution on setting up two funds for the sake of preserving the Arab and Islamic identity of Al-Quds to preclude its obliteration and curtailing Palestinian sovereignty over the City, enabling the Palestinian people to offset their huge material losses and get rid of dependency on the Israeli economy, and supporting the families of the Palestinian martyrs as well as establishing the means for taking care of their children and attending to their education in addition to rehabilitating the injured people. They invite the OIC Member States to  contribute towards financing both funds and developing their resources. The leaders

express in this respect their appreciation of the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish these two Funds and its generous contribution towards financing them.

The leaders emphasize the necessity of extending financial support to Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, and Al-Quds Fund and its Waqf, in order to enable them to perform their tasks of safeguarding the Arab-Islamic identity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and strengthening the steadfastness of its people. They call on the OIC Member States, the public and private Islamic financial and economic institutions, businessmen and individuals to extend donations to support Bait Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, Al-Quds Fund and its Waqf, to enable them to implement their approved projects in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the Holy City. They also call for the setting up of committees in the Member States to collect popular donations, in a special account, support the Al-Aqsa Intifada and protect Islamic sanctities.

The leaders call for taking measures to facilitate importation of Palestinian commodities after securing their certificates of origin. They also call for exemption of these commodities from tariffs and lifting of barriers.

The Summit invites the OIC Member States which have already established, or started to take steps to establish relations with Israel in the framework of the Peace Process to sever these relations, including the closing of missions and offices, cutting economic  ties and stopping all forms of normalization until Israel fully and genuinely implements UN resolutions on the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and until a just and comprehensive peace is established in the region.

The leaders call for commitment to apply the provisions of the Islamic boycott of Israel.

The leaders request the states of the world to abide by UN Security Council resolution 478 (1980) calling for the non-transfer of their diplomatic missions to the city of Al-Quds. They condemn and reject the decisions adopted by the US Congress as well as statements on recognition of Al-Quds as the capital of Israel, and the transfer of the US Embassy to the holy city. This is considered as a blatant violation of the said resolution and a manifest challenge to the sentiments of Muslims and Christians all over the world. They confirm their determination to sever relations with any state that transfers its Embassy to Al-Quds or recognizes the latter as the capital of Israel.

The leaders emphasize the importance of maintaining the focus of the mass media on developments and the confrontations of the Intifada heroes in the Palestinian territories. They also emphasize the importance of holding meetings with scholars, experts and specialists to develop Islamic information, and its interaction with the Islamic peoples, as well as inform Islamic masses about the Palestinian cause and its developments.

The leaders emphasize the necessity of acting continuously with the international mass media in order to lay bare the violations of Palestinian human rights, raise world conscience and mobilize international support and sympathy with the legitimate national struggle of the Palestinian people.

The leaders request the United Nations and Security Council to provide the necessary international protection to the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territories to forestall the grave violations they are subjected to until they are able to exercise their inalienable national rights in Palestine in accordance with the resolutions of international legality.

The leaders request the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities for stopping the massacres of the Palestinian people by the Israeli occupation authorities, as the Council is responsible for maintaining international security and peace. They urge the US Government to enable the Security Council to carry out its obligations in conformity with the UN Charter.

The leaders call for a meeting of the high contracting parties to the 1949 4th Geneva Convention to examine Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and  take appropriate measures to provide protection for the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.

The leaders request the setting up of an impartial international commission of inquiry in implementation of resolution 1322 (2000) of the Security Council on responsibility for bloodsheds perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian citizens. 

The leaders request the Security Council to set up an International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli war criminals responsible for the massacre of Palestinians and other Arabs and decide to sue them in accordance with the provisions of the Statutes on the International Criminal Court.

The leaders also stress the need to work for safeguarding the rights of

Palestinian citizens killed or wounded through Israeli repressive practices, by making

Israel liable for appropriate compensation for damages sustained by them, their

families and property as a result of these practices.

The leaders reaffirm the unflagging Islamic position on the cause of Al-Quds and its

importance for the Islamic world, in particular the provisions of the recommendations

adopted by the 18th Session of the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by His Majesty King

Mohamed VI, held in Agadir, Kingdom of Morocco on 28 August 2000. This position

asserts its support for the position of the State of Palestine asserting its sovereignty

over East Jerusalem as the capital of the independent State of Palestine including the

Quds Haram of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and all the Islamic and Christian holy places which

form an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied since June 1969 and rejects

any attempt to limit Palestinian sovereignty over the Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

The leaders assert their commitment to recognize the independent State of Palestine as

soon as it is proclaimed and to endorse its request for full UN membership and call on

all other UN members to do the same.

The leaders stress once again that the condition for the establishment of a just and

comprehensive peace in the region is, first and foremost, full Israeli withdrawal from

all the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the

Syrian Golan to the line of 4th of June 1967, and from the Lebanese territories still

under occupation, including the Shabaa farms, to the internationally recognized

borders in implementation of the resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly

Security Council resolutions No. 242, 338 and 425 and the principle of peace for land,

the restoration of the established national rights of the Palestinian people, including

their right to return to their homes and property and compensations for the damages

sustained as a result of Israeli occupation in accordance with United Nations resolution

No.194 and the establishment of its independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its

capital.

The leaders reaffirm their total solidarity with Syria and Lebanon and reject any Israeli

threats against these two sisterly countries.

The leaders firmly reject any deviation from, prevarication or circumvention of the

peace process and its principles and call upon the United States of America not to

positively respond to any Israeli proposals that do not conform with the international

legitimacy. They also affirm their full solidarity with the Palestinian position in

confronting attempts to dictate unjust, conditional and unacceptable settlements.

The leaders affirm their full confidence in the Palestinian people and

leadership, represented by the PLO leadership, in their efforts to achieve the

inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, in their just struggle to establish their

independent Palestinian State on their national territory, with Al-Quds as its capital,

and achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

The leaders decide to undertake the necessary action required by the serious events

taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories so as to project full Islamic

solidarity with the just cause of the Palestinian people. The Chair of the Summit is

entrusted, in coordination with the Chair of Al-Quds Committee, with conducting the

necessary contacts in order to implement the relevant resolutions of the 9th Islamic

Summit.

The leaders decide to commission Member States' missions accredited to the UN in

New York and Geneva, and other places, to take effective and sustained action to

ensure the adherence to and implementation of the provision of this Declaration and

particularly to coordinate among themselves to mobilise the necessary support for

Palestine's request for international protection for the Palestinian people in the

occupied territories, and its renewed request that the Security Council consider Israeli

violations and practices in case Israel continues its current policy and stands.

DOHA DECLARATION NINTH SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE

Session of Peace and Development "Al Aqsa Intifada"

16-17 Sha'ban 1421H

12-13 November 2000

We the Kings, Emirs and Heads of State and Government Members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference meeting in the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar from 16 to 17 Sha'ban 1421H, corresponding to 12-13 November 2000,

While we stress the importance of this Summit Conference, the first to be held by the OIC at the dawn of the Third Millennium, and is witnessing radical changes in various fields and at all levels,

And while we express our total confidence that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, will lead the OIC wisely and aptly during its Chairmanship, improve the performance and effectiveness of our organization with a view to realizing the interest of the Islamic Ummah, increasing its efficacy and presence in the international arena,

As such, the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference of the OIC constitutes a turning point in the pursuit of its lofty objectives, in view of the numerous and important achievements of the previous Summit Conferences of the OIC and considering the current challenges facing the Islamic Ummah.

We declare with great pride that the lofty precepts of our noble religion offer optimal solutions to the contemporary problems facing human societies for Islam is the religion of love, justice, tolerance, progress and respect for human rights and dignity.

We consider that the initiative of Dialogue among Civilizations constitutes a new paradigm and universal vision to build an equitable international order, founded on inclusion, participation, mutual understanding, and tolerance among peoples and nations.

We pledge to pursue with greater determination our efforts to disseminate the true image of Islam and highlight its import as a fundamental source of human civilization, at a time when it is being constantly misrepresented through various means.

We resolve to achieve the unity of the Islamic Ummah by our attachment to the values of our religion reviving the spirit of solidarity, tolerance and brotherhood as called for by Islam, and reinforcing the bonds of common values and interests.

We reiterate our commitment to the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and reaffirm our resolve to actively contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security based on justice as a high priority of the Organization in the principles and objectives of its Charter, and underline the imperative of global adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of International Law, in particular the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and the right of peoples under foreign occupation or alien domination to

self-determination by all without any discrimination or double standards.

We reaffirm our solidarity with the Palestinian people and its leadership which leads their just struggle to regain their inalienable national rights, including the right of return to their homes and property, and the right to establish their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and pay tribute to the steadfastness and courage they have shown and to the spirit of sacrifice with which their martyrs have written a glorious chapter for the liberation of Palestine which is considered the foremost Islamic cause. We are of the view that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved by the implementation of all international legitimacy Resolutions on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and particularly Security

Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and General Assembly Resolution 194, which provide for the right of the Palestinian refugees to return and receive reparations, as well as all other relevant resolutions.

We condemn once again Israel's consistent refusal to respect the resolutions and the will of the international community which assert the right of the Palestinian people to achieve its full rights and establish its independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital and demand Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights to the line of 4 June 1967 and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. We reaffirm, in this context, the Declaration on Al-Aqsa Intifadah – the Palestinian Independence Intifadah which we have adopted during the current session, in

particular concerning guaranteeing international protection for the unarmed Palestinian

people against the barbaric Israeli aggression.

We also reaffirm our determination to further all the causes of the Islamic Ummah by drawing inspiration from the spirit of the relevant resolutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. In this context we reaffirm our solidarity and support for the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination, as we lay stress on the resolutions stipulating the recognition and safeguard of the rights of Muslim minorities and communities wherever they may be.

We launch an appeal to all the world leaders to combine their efforts within the United Nations and within regional organizations with a view to eliminating all causes of tension that beset our world including such scourges as poverty, ignorance, social exclusion, diseases like AIDS, and illegal migration, piracy, illicit trafficking in drugs and arms.

We again condemn all forms and manifestations of terrorism whatever its source as reflected in the unanimous adoption of the Agreement of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Combating Terrorism, and in the repeated promises for the convening of a World Conference under the auspices of the United Nations to address this phenomenon in an effective manner away from racism and bias and to consider effective ways and means to eradicate it. We reaffirm here that a clear separation must be made between terrorism, on the one hand, and people's struggle for national liberation including the struggle of the Palestinian people and the elimination of foreign occupation and colonial hegemony as well as for regaining the right to self-determination, on the other hand.

We warn of the serious threats posed by nuclear arsenals and other weapons of mass destruction to international peace and security, particularly in the Middle East region as a result of Israel's refusal to sign the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty and to subject its nuclear facilities to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We demand that Israel submit to the Nuclear Weapons Non Proliferation Treaty and declare its rejecting of nuclear weapons thereby following the example of all other States in the region.

We again declare the will to interact with the phenomenon of globalization and direct the strategy of cooperation and related action plans that the Organization of the Islamic Conference has drawn up to take full advantage of globalization, and avoid its negative aspects, especially with respect to Islamic identity and culture. From this perspective we have agreed that the strengthening of the consultation mechanism within the OIC organs or through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, with a view to coordinating the positions of its members as regards the negotiations at the World Trade Organization and consolidating economic cooperation in other international fora, between Islamic

States, are considered a pressing duty dictated by the noble precepts of tolerant Islam as well as by the requirements of development, particularly in the shadow of the developments of globalization.

We call for improving the performance of international financial institutions in order to avoid crises and the situation of instability experienced by the world financial system.

We consider the establishment of an Islamic Common Market a long-term objective with important dimensions that necessitate continuous pursuit to implement staggered practical steps and programmes to realize that objective. The project requires the free flow of goods and services through the establishment of an Islamic free-trade zone, the implementation of agreements and programs of economic and commercial cooperation, and especially the framework agreement on the establishment of the trade preferential system. In this context, we call on Member States to adopt comprehensive economic reforms that give opportunity to take advantage of the privileges granted

within the framework of the World Trade Organization agreement and the overall promotion of Islamic world economies.

We express our solidarity with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and taking cognizance of the effective role it has played in promoting economic and commercial cooperation among member states. We call for the need to support the Bank and uphold the economic program it has undertaken, so that it may play the role it is entrusted with for the economic and social development of Member States.

We appreciate the orientation of the Member States towards the implementation of effective privatization programs and granting more freedom to capital flow, which will require the establishment of appropriate mechanisms for data exchange and clearance in the activity of shares and bonds and the creation of financial instruments in conformity with Islamic Sharia.

We reach out to the world leaders who are seeking to achieve peace and cooperation- which are two objectives of the OIC – to spur them all to make every effort to bring reconciliation among mankind by deepening common values among peoples and strengthening the bonds of interdependence among them within the framework of fruitful and constructive cooperation which allows for respect of religious and cultural specificities. The OIC has submitted this noble goal to the United Nations for adoption with a view to developing an International Code of Conduct urging cooperation and rapprochement among nations.

In order to enable the OIC assume its role to fulfill the objectives and principles of its Charter, we decide to upgrade the mechanisms and organs of the Organization and modernize them in the various fields so as to ensure the implementation of its resolutions.

We entrust the Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference with conducting consultations with Member States to take all necessary measures for the implementation of this Declaration in cooperation with the Secretary General and the competent Organs of the OIC.

Doha, State of Qatar

17 Sha'aban 1421H

13 November 2000