Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 14/04/2016
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The proceedings of the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference have commenced this morning, Thursday 14 April 2016, in Istanbul Congress Center, as it is hosted by the Republic of Turkey during the period 14-15 April 2016, under the theme “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace”.
The Conference began with a speech from the Chairman of the 12th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, H.E. President Abel-Fattah El-Sisi, delivered by H.E. Minister Sameh Shokry, the Foreign Minister. He affirmed that Egypt exerted all possible efforts, during its presidency of the Islamic Summit Conference, with the cooperation of Member States and in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat, with the aim to address the problems facing the Islamic world.
In his speech to the Conference, H.E. the Egyptian President praised the significant and constructive role assumed by the OIC in promoting the joint Islamic Action, supporting Muslim communities in non-OIC member states, and he called for the necessary activation of the OIC role.
He said that the Palestinian cause is still unresolved, as he stressed that the international community must undertake its responsibility to establish a Palestinian state with Al-Quds Asharif as its capital. He commended the role of the OIC in calling for the convening of a summit dedicated for this cause, which was hosted by Indonesia last March.
Afterwards, H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani, the OIC Secretary General, delivered his speech, where he stressed that the peoples of the Islamic world have high hopes that our Summit would deliver outcomes that strengthen the course of Islamic solidarity in the face of the present challenges. He pointed out that the Organization looks forward to the adoption of a new Ten-Year Strategic Program of Action, containing specific priorities, and implementation and assessment mechanisms.
He stated that the Palestinian cause is still the main issue having precedence over other OIC issues, where he clarified that the Extraordinary Summit,held in Jakarta,was able to give prominence to the cause at the international level, and endorsed the call of H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, for the convening of an international conference for peace. He added that the General Secretariat holds hopes and will work on making properly planned preparations for this conference.
Mr. Madani noted that the rapid challenges and developments that the Islamic world experiences call for our reflection, to take practical and constructive steps to overcome some disagreements, study their causes, and provide solutions for them. He emphasized that respecting and holding dialogue and negotiation with other parties are the essential premises to overcome disputes and divisions.
This was followed by the speech of the President of the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, H.E. RecepTayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey. He began his speech by thanking Egypt for its efforts and successful works made during the last Session. He also thanked Indonesia for hosting the Extraordinary Session on Palestine and Al-Quds,calling for support to be provided to the Palestinian cause, an end to the occupation, the establishment of a Palestinian state with its capital Eastern Jerusalem.
He stressed upon the importance of development in strengthening the ties between Member States, noting that the Islamic world is going through a stage that requires unity, solidarity, materialization of the concept of justice and peace, as he emphasized that most of those unjustly treated, oppressed, and aggrieved around the world are Muslims who are looking forward to positive outcomes drawn out of this Summit.
He raised the issue of refugees in the world, and the efforts exerted by Turkey to provide them with shelters, and the endeavors made by the border guards and the navy forces to rescue around 100,000 refugees from drowning in the Aegean Sea.
H.E. President of the Republic of Turkey called for the re-structuring of the UN Security Council, in the light of the ethnic changes and religion, so that the Islamic world has an effective voice.
Motions of thanks from the African, Arab, and Asian groups were also delivered in the opening session.
The issues to be discussed in the Summit, by the leaders of OIC Member States, comprises 12 documents including: the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict; cases of conflict in the Islamic world and migration; the situation in Muslim communities in non-OIC member states; combating terrorism and violent extremism; Islamophobia; humanitarian status in the Islamic world; the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action; enhancement of scientific cooperation among Member States in the fields of: health, higher education, and environment; promoting cultural, social and media-related cooperation; poverty eradication and infrastructure development; legal and organizational issues; and empowering the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to fulfill its mandate.
The Summit proceedings will conclude tomorrow by the adoption of a resolution on Palestine, the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action for 2015-2025, the final communiqué, and Istanbul Declaration.
