Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 03/11/2007
Istanbul, 3 November 2007 Excellencies Distinguished Delegates It is a great pleasure for me to address the enlarged meeting of the Iraqi neighbouring countries with the participation of the five Permanent Members of Security Council and the Group of Eight major industrial countries and regional and international organizations. I sincerely congratulate the Government of Turkey for hosting this timely conference. This initiative bears such a particular interest under the current circumstances, through which, the region in general and Iraq in particular, are going. The OIC has actively participated in the previous neighbouring countries meetings as well as the expanded meeting in Sharm Al Sheikh where we have reiterated our support and readiness to cooperate actively in all efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace, welfare and stability to Iraq. We hope that our meeting today will be conducive to achieve more concrete cooperation at the international and regional levels for the entrenchment of the political stability in Iraq. Excellencies Distinguished Delegates While the developments inspire hope, the situation in Iraq continues to be a major concern for OIC. I would like to reiterate that OIC is deeply committed to helping the people of Iraq. In this context, an OIC Contact Group was recently established to create a task force to follow up very closely the developments in Iraq and to suggest practical measures conducive to assisting the Government of Iraq to face the daunting challenges. The first meeting of this important Contact Group was held in New York in September 2007 on the sideline of the Annual Coordination Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of OIC Member States. We intend to utilize this ministerial level organ to visibly increase our contribution to the establishment of lasting peace and security in Iraq. In our view, the situation in Iraq needs an interlaced range of measures that need to be taken to achieve security, stability and development. Foremost of these measures should be putting a definitive end to violence and sectarian infights and achieving national reconciliation. The OIC was engaged in one of the main elements of the national reconciliation process which is the sectarian violence, by bringing together thirty high ranking representatives of major Sunni and Shiites’ religious authorities of Iraq to Makkah last year where they have signed an important document called “the Makkah Declaration” which aimed at ensuring the sanctity of human life and putting an end to the bloodshed there, based on the principles of the tolerant and noble values of Islam which prohibit killings, displacements, destruction of houses of worship and any other similar acts. In this connection, I would like to inform you that the OIC will soon reactivate this process. We are now engaged in consultations with our stakeholders including the government of Iraq on how to build on the Makkah Declaration. Our plans in this regard take account of the convening of another meeting to help promoting national reconciliation in Iraq. I would like also to seize this opportunity to reiterate that the OIC is committed to continue exerting all possible efforts to sustain an effective role in Iraq. In this framework, we are now embarking in final stages of the completion of the OIC representation office in Baghdad. We have appointed an Ambassador from one of our Member States to our Office in Baghdad. By this presence in the field, we will be able to increase our direct contact, extend our services and follow up our initiatives. I would like also to state that, we are planning, to dispatch a high-level OIC delegation comprising representatives from the OIC General Secretariat, Specialized and Affiliated institutions and the representatives of the OIC Contact Group to Iraq in order to discuss with the authorities the urgent needs of Iraq in different domains as part of our share to implement the international Compact. This will be followed by the official visit, which I am looking forward to fulfil in the near future to Iraq. Excellencies Distinguished Delegates There is no doubt that all of us face numerous challenges in Iraq, but it is also clear that we feel optimistic that the efforts to tackle the situation there are gaining promising results. We need to nurture these efforts and preserve our determination to overcome all difficulties. Mr. Chairman, A major element in the developing optimism is based on the premise of a stronger role of the United Nations in Iraq supported by the international community within the framework of the new mandate stipulated in Security Council resolution 1770. We hope that this step would constitute the beginning of a constructive approach of the international community to facilitate the right conditions on which the Iraqi nation can build a sovereign, democratic, unified and prosperous country. We have been also very much assured and encouraged by the Compact, elaborated by the Government of Iraq which is now been actively implemented. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the Government of Iraq for the commendable work in this regard. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Staffan de Mistura, new Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq and wish him success in his ardous task. He can rest assured of our full cooperation and support. Excellencies Distinguished Delegates Our present meeting comes at a time when our region is witnessing complex and critical circumstances and intricate challenges which make it incumbent upon us to unify our efforts and coordinate our stands and to act within a one-team spirit to face up to those challenges and deal with them in a way that may help us ward off their adverse effects on the region’s security and stability. Allow me here once again to stress the need to respect the sovereignty of Iraq and its territorial integrity and people’s unity, and reject any call for its division. Finally one word about terrorism. Terrorism has become a danger to humanity and to civilization. It is one of the main challenges within the Iraqi current situation. The OIC has a principled stand against all terrorist activities whether by individuals, groups or states and we believe that, there is a high need by the international community to join hands to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Based on this stand, the OIC will hold jointly with the UN and ISESCO, an international conference on terrorism; its dimensions, threats and counter measures that will be hosted by Tunisia in two weeks’ time. I would like to assure you that the OIC with all its institutions will continue its cooperation and efforts at all levels with a view of bringing lasting peace and welfare to Iraq. I hope that this meeting today will make a positive impact and contribute to bring about a peaceful, stable and prosperous Iraq. Thank you.
