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ABDUL WAHID OSMAN BELAL
--- On Tue, 13/10/09, OIC News <news@oic-oci.org> wrote:
From: OIC News <news@oic-oci.org>
Subject: OIC Newsletter 40 (2009)
To:
Date: Tuesday, 13 October, 2009, 14:15
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| | | | | | Issue 40 (13 October 2009) | | | | In this issue | | · The OIC Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina reconvenes · OIC Delegation to Participate in the OIC 40th Anniversary Celebrations in Mozambique · Ihsanoglu calls for turning the 12th Trade Fair of the OIC Member Sates into a Bridge for OIC intra-Trade Cooperation · The OIC Celebrates its 40th Anniversary in Cairo · Ihsanoglu discusses the Successful Implementation of the OIC Five Year Cotton Action Plan · Ihsanoglu Calls UNESCO to take concrete Steps to ensure protection of the Al-Aqsa Mosque · OIC Secretary General strongly condemns the Bomb Attack in Peshawar, Pakistan · OIC Statement On the Occasion of the Launching of National Polio Eradication Campaign by His Excellency Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan | | 
| | OIC In Brief | | The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the nterests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) as a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. |
| | | | OIC Links | |
| | | | For Inquiry | | Dr. Isam Salim Shanti
Director & Coordinator of Media Affairs
Editor in chief of OIC Journal Tel/Fax: +966-2-6839421
Tel: +966-2-6900001 x.308
Cell: +966-551177670 Email: ishanti@oic-oci.org Maha Mostafa Akeel
Managing editor of OIC Journal
Editor of OIC Newsletter Tel: +966-2-6900001 x.508
Cell: +966-503007533 Email: maha@oic-oci.org | | |
| | The OIC Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina reconvenes | | The OIC Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina reconvened on Monday, 12 October 2009 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara , Turkey , after seven years. It discussed developments related to the second round of discussions in Bosnia Herzegovina on a Prospective Reform Package and other related issues. The Group comprised the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia Herzegovina, Mr. Haris Sladjzic, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Ahmet Davutoglu and representatives of other Members of the Contact Group. | | Ihsanoglu calls for turning the 12th Trade Fair of the OIC Member Sates into a bridge for OIC intra-Trade Cooperation | | The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, emphasized that the OIC attaches key importance to strengthening economic partnership for the benefit of the peoples of the Islamic Ummah [nation]. He pointed out in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the 12th Trade Fair of the OIC Member States held on Sunday, October 11th 2009, in Cairo, Egypt, that the event bears the title "New Economic Partnership at the Service of the Ummah", noting that the exhibition is part of the implementation of Resolution No. 9/35 that was issued by the 35th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States held in June 2008 in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The Secretary General explained that the idea of partnership is crucial to the ongoing endeavors to address contemporary challenges facing humanity as illustrated by the global economic meltdown. The Secretary General stressed that the significance of the Fair resides in promoting intra-OIC trade, adding that recent reports on the global economic situation indicates that the performance of developing and transitional economies has brought about the desired growth of the global economy in spite of the global recession. Ihsanoglu indicated that focusing on organizing events such as this fair in Cairo and elsewhere has helped increase the volume the OIC intra-trade in goods and services up to 40 percent in 2007 while contributions by developed economies declined due to weak demand in these countries. He called for this event to serve as a bridge to achieve the goal of economic integration as stated in the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA). The Secretary General affirmed that in order to boost trade among the OIC Member States a Preferential Tariff Scheme was created and two key agreements, namely the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme for TPS-OIC (PRETAS) and TPS-OIC Rules of Origin, were finalized. He exhorted the OIC Member States to do their utmost to have PRETAS ratified as soon as possible. It is worth mentioning that seventeen OIC Member States have already signed on PRETAS while eight countries have ratified it. The Protocol will be enacted once two more member countries ratify it. | | | | The OIC celebrates its 40th Anniversary in Cairo | | The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, stated that holding a ceremony to mark the OIC 40th anniversary in the Egyptian capital Cairo reflects the pioneering and historical role Egypt has played throughout the ages in the field of spreading and defending Islam, thanks particularly to well-reputed institutions like Al-Azhar Sharif. The OIC held a dinner reception at the Cairo International Conference Center on Sunday 11th October 2009 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its creation. The reception was attended by several high-ranking Egyptian officials, a number of prominent figures, and a group of media professionals. The Secretary General affirmed during the reception that four decades after its founding, the OIC has grown into a forum that provides the framework for a major part of the foreign relations of its Member States. He pointed out that the creation of the OIC in 1969 marks the most significant development in the contemporary history of the Muslim world. He added that as one of its prime tasks, the OIC strives at present to disseminate the untainted and true image of Islam in different parts of the world, emphasizing that the Organization has embarked ever since its inception on the re info rcement of the principles of moderation and tolerance while denouncing and rejecting all forms and manifestations of intolerance and extremism. He explained that the OIC insists on the concept of dialogue among civilizations and religions on the basis of mutual respect and equality between interlocutors. Broaching the political aspect, the Secretary General noted that the OIC is increasingly involved through its good offices and the recourse to diplomatic channels in settling disputes between its Member States and developing strong partnerships with concerned international and regional organizations. The OIC, in fact, seeks to contribute to durable peace and to strengthen the pillars of security in troubled areas and countries, such as Palestine , Afghanistan , Kashmir , Somalia , Iraq , Darfur , Côte d'Ivoire , Mauritania , Guinea , Comoros , in addition to the conflict between Chad and Sudan. | | | | Ihsanoglu discusses the Successful Implementation of the OIC Five Year Cotton Action Plan | | In his message to the Workshop on Trade and Investment in the Cotton Sector in OIC Member States, held in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, from 12-13 October 2009, the Secretary General pointed out that this Workshop along with the Specialized Exhibition on cotton and textile are pragmatic steps in the direction of ensuring that the cotton and textile sectors are restored to their previous prime position. He mentioned that cotton farming was once popular in a number of member countries of the Organisation as an employer of rural labor and at the same time providing raw materials for local industries. And the collapse of this sector can be traceable to paucity of investment and inadequate research and development, such that eroded the competitiveness of this local product. The Secretary General urged this Workshop to review what is responsible for the present decay in the industry and how to overcome the current challenges. Closely related to the problems of the textile sector is the need to integrate the various processes in the industry, from the raw material stage to the intermediate and the final stages. He mentioned that there is the crucial problem of quality control, intellectual property rights, appropriate technology and the dumping imported fabrics in the market of member-countries. In this context, He stated that the OIC has been interfacing with funding agencies to ensure that all the projects already approved by the Project Committee are properly funded. The objectives of this workshop were to examine the situation of the sector with a view to recovering the potentialities for a lasting trade development; to create meeting opportunities between economic operators so as to enable them to establish direct relations between them; to enable different operators of this sector (exporters, importers, bankers, carriers, administrations, international organizations) to exchange their views and to confront their experiences; to develop industrial partnership between developing countries in cotton industry sector (spinning, weaving, clothing industry, etc.). In compliance with the resolution of the 24th Session of the COMCEC, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the General Organisation for International Exhibitions and Fairs (GOIEF) in collaboration with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) organized a Workshop on "Trade and Investment in the Cotton Sector in OIC Member States" in Cairo on 12th -13th October 2009 in concomitance with the 12th Trade Fair of the OIC Member States. | | Ihsanoglu Calls UNESCO to take concrete Steps to ensure protection of the Al-Aqsa Mosque | | The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, addressed the 35th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris yesterday. The Secretary General called the General Conference to take concrete steps to ensure protection of the Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem in particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque. “I strongly feel that the UN and UNESCO must adopt a binding resolution that would guarantee against any excavation in the Al Aqsa Mosque area”, Ihsanoglu said. He stressed that destruction of cultural heritage as a result of the excavations would be disastrous and irreparable loss for all humankind. Furthermore, the Secretary General stated that the new vision of the OIC emphasizes the importance of inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue based on mutual respect and equality among the interlocutors. The OIC also stands to defend the respect for human rights, endeavors to promote good governance, to widen political participation, to establish the rule of law and to ensure transparency and accountability. Ihsanoglu said that engagement and partnership for the entrenchment of a worldwide culture of peace is OIC’s new language. He condemned all forms of fanaticism, extremism and bigotry and rejected all attempts to justify the abhorrent phenomenon of terrorism. The Secretary General noted that OIC accords high priority to development and empowerment of women and to strengthen the family institution. The OIC Plan of Action for Advancement of Women (OPAW) was adopted in Cairo last year at the second OIC Ministerial meeting on Women, he said. In his speech, the OIC Secretary General expressed his congratulations to welcome Madam Irina Bokova as the Director General-elect of UNESCO. | | | | OIC Secretary General strongly condemns the Bomb Attack in Peshawar, Pakistan | | The Secretary General of the OIC, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has strongly condemned the horrendous suicide attack in Peshawar , Pakistan, on Friday 9 October 2009, which killed around 50 and wounded dozens of other innocent people. Expressing his profound horror and shock over this terrorist act which is denounced by all Muslims and the Islamic faith, the OIC Secretary General reiterated that those who are behind such heinous crimes are enemies of Islam and humanity and should therefore be brought to justice. Prof. Ihsanoglu, while conveying his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, expressed once more, his full support for the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to fight against all forms of extremism and terrorism. | | | | OIC Statement On the Occasion of the Launching of the National Polio Eradication Campaign by His Excellency Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan | | The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) highly commends the launching of the National Polio Eradication Campaign by His Excellency Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It also applauds the appointment Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari as Ambassador for Polio Eradication in Pakistan which reflects the strong commitment and resolve of the Government of Pakistan to eradicate polio. It is important to note that on this occasion the Postal Department has issued a special stamp that calls for polio-free Pakistan with a photo of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Shaheed giving polio drops to Miss Aseefa when she was 2 years old. The polio eradication continues to be among the critical issues that need to be addressed in earnest in the OIC Member States. Polio has been eradicated in the most regions of the world except in some countries, including the OIC Member States. The OIC in its various fora including at the Summit meetings has taken major decisions providing for joint action to eradicate polio. Action in combating polio is also in line with the objectives of the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action and the Millennium Development Goals. The OIC Ten-Year Program of Action calls for effective measures to eradicate polio. The 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit held on 7-8 December 2005 in Makkah Al-Mukarramah stressed the significance of international efforts for the eradication of polio in the OIC Member States. The Second Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers held on 1-4 March, 2009 in Tehran and the 36th Session of the Council of Islamic Foreign Ministers on 23-25 May, 2009 in Damascus adopted resolutions requesting the OIC General Secretariat to immediately initiate an OIC Polio Eradication Program to assist the remaining Member States. The Conferences further urged to dispatch a joint OIC/IDB mission to these Member States endemic with polio to explore ways of direct assistance for polio eradication. The International Islamic Fiqh Academy, on the request of the OIC Secretary General , has issued a fatwa on immunization of polio. It calls upon parents and guardians - to ensure that their children benefit from all polio vaccination efforts - and religious scholars and mosque leaders to encourage communities to support the initiative. Quoting extensively from the Holy Qu’ran, the fatwa lays out the duty to protect children when disease is preventable. The OIC General Secretariat has already circulated the fatwa to all Member States for general dissemination. The OIC General Secretariat will continue to plea for concerted efforts to eradicate polio in cooperation with the concerned international organizations to ensure a better tomorrow for our children. It calls upon the OIC Member States to provide necessary assistance to such programs and remains ready to coordinate all activities for the purpose. | | | | | | | | | | | | 
In Brief | | · An Intergovernmental legal experts meeting was held at the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah on 12 October to discuss the draft statute of an OIC specialized women center to be established in Cairo , Egypt . The meeting is expected to last until Wednesday, 14 October 2009. · A high level delegation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) headed by Mrs. Barbara Datwler Scheuer, Head of the Division of Europe and Mediterranean region visited the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah on Monday, 12 October 2009. The delegation was received by the Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ambassador Atta El-Mannan Bakhit and officials from the International Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The delegation discussed the scope of cooperation between the OIC and SDC in the humanitarian field in the OIC Member States. · The Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT) will participate in the 3rd Halal Expo 2009, organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry which will be held from 10th to 12th November 2009 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai , United Arab Emirates . More than an exhibition, it will be a high impact business platform to look for the lucrative business opportunities that the Global Halal market presents and caters to the needs of the Halal producers, traders and business leaders willing to expand their business in the Middle East region by showcasing Halal food & beverage, Halal lifestyle products, including Islamic banking & finance and Islamic fashion, cosmetics and healthcare. Islamic hospitality and Halal Logistics are also included in the exhibition profile. · The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) together with the e-Government Centre of the Public Administration Institute for Turkey and the Middle East (TODAİE eDEM), and the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) will co-organise an "International Conference on e-Government: Sharing Experiences" (eGOVsharE2009) on December 8-11, 2009 in Antalya, Turkey. The main objective of eGOVsharE2009 is to provide a platform for leaders, public managers and professionals, researchers as well as academics from all over the world to share their ideas and research results. However, the conference will try to explore collaboration potentials through the exchange of practical experiences in eGovernment project implementations within the region as well. The conference will cover eGovernment applications and a showcase of best practices from participating countries in addition to presentations, panels, paper discussions and working groups. | |
| | | | Calendar of Meetings | | · Oct. 11-16: 12th Trade Fair of Islamic Countries (OIC-EXPO 2009) – Cairo , Egypt . · Oct. 11-16: Exhibition on Cotton and Textiles – Cairo , Egypt . · Oct. 11-15: The Workshop for the Arab Countries on Tourism Statistics - Damascus , Syria . · Oct. 13-15: 6th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers: “Cultural Tourism: Safeguarding Heritage and Promoting Cultural Communication Between Peoples” – Baku , Azerbaijan . · Oct. 13-16: 1st International Multidisciplinary Women’s Congress - Izmir , Turkey . · Oct. 15-17: The International Investment Forum of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat , Turkmenistan . · Dec. 7-12: One Week Training Course on Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policy in Developing Countries – Islamabad , Pakistan . | |
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