| | | Issue 38 (30 September 2009) | | | | In this issue | | · OIC Chief holds bilateral meetings and addresses several key issues at a press conference in New York · Ihsanoglu addresses the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Member States' Foreign Ministers · OIC Secretary General condemns incursion by Israeli extremists into Al-Aqsa Mosque · OIC celebrates its 40th Anniversary in New York : A modern regime in the contemporary life of the Muslim world · Ihsanoglu addresses the 2009 Annual Balkan Leaders Reception · OIC Secretary General holds official meetings on the side of UNGA Sessions in New York · OIC Secretary General lauds recent achievements of ICDT on expansion of intra-OIC trade · The 12th Trade Fair of OIC Member Countries (OIC-EXPO 2009) will be held in Cairo on October 11 to 16 · IDB announces the winners of the International Architectural Design Competition for Fael Khair Program · Export Promotion Centre of Turkey (IGEME) awarded the 1430H Islamic Solidarity Prize for the Promotion of Trade among OIC Member States · Islamic Development Bank launches $850 million fixed-rate sukuk rated Aaa/AAA under its $1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Program · Meeting at ISESCO on lawsuit against Israeli war criminals · Japan-Islamic Countries Day | | 
| | 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. |
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| | | | 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 | | |
| | | | OIC Chief holds bilateral meetings and addresses several key issues at a press conference in New York | | The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, met in the past two days, while in New York, with the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Deputy Prime minister of Malta, and foreign ministers of Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Australia, Azerbaijan, and Belgium. He discussed with them bilateral relations between the OIC and their respected countries and the means and ways to enhance cooperation and coordination for the interests of all parties. On 26 September, the Secretary General attended several meetings concerning the OIC Contact Groups on Iraq , Palestine , Somalia , and Sierra Leon . Also, a consultative meeting was held between the OIC and UNDP and the OIC and EU Troika. Enhancing cooperation and coordination was the main topic. The Secretary General gave a press conference at the United Nations, addressed some of the key issues related to the Muslim World. He first praised the convening of a session by the United Nation Security Council at a high level, which adopted a resolution calling for global disarmament and control of weapons of mass destruction. He announced that the OIC strongly supports the resolution. Nevertheless, he emphasized that there is a need for a fair and just regime to implement the resolution while stopping the double-standard approach in that regard, which has been the case for a long time. With regard to the issue of Islamophobia the Secretary General stated that there has been a progress in handling Islamophobic acts by many states, however emphasized that there is a lot to be done especially at the grassroots level. Ihsanoglu condemned the latest cartoons that demonized Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), ignoring the fact that 1.5 billions of Muslims are his followers. He praised the Saudi Monarch King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz for launching an important initiative on interfaith dialogue at the United Nations last year. On the question of the US relations with the Muslim World, the Secretary General praised the statements of President Barrack Obama in Cairo , Egypt this year and hoped that the name of the new US special envoy to the OIC will be announced soon. He also hoped that the new US administration would carry out the promises made concerning the peace process and the establishing of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Ihsanoglu will be heading to Washington DC to give lectures at several think tanks. Also, the secretary General is schedule to meet with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to discuss the US – OIC relationships. | | | | Ihsanoglu addresses the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Member States' Foreign Ministers The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) held its annual coordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States on 26 September 2009 in New York at the sidelines of its participation in the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In his speech at the meeting, the OIC Secretary General , Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, extended his thanks and appreciation to Syria for successfully hosting and organizing the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in May 2009 in which very important decisions were adopted. He also expressed his congratulations to all OIC Member States on the occasion of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the OIC, which regroups and unites its Member States to defend the common causes. "Forty years has elapsed from the time when the OIC was established by our founding fathers. Since then, the tide of world affairs ebbed and flowed, new nations were born, and alliances appeared and vanished. But throughout all these far-reaching transformations the OIC has managed to withstand the test of adversity thanks to Islamic solidarity," said Ihsanoglu. The OIC 3rd Extraordinary Summit of December 2005 in Makkah was held in view to bringing about a radical change to the course and orientation of the OIC, its objectives, vision and concerns as well as to empower the Muslim world to meet the new challenges of the 21st century, the Secretary General stated. Since he assumed office at the beginning of 2005, Ihsanoglu embarked on a vast campaign to reform and restructure the OIC General Secretariat with a view to providing it with the fundamental means to elevate its work and efforts to greater efficacy. He also said that strengthening economic bonds among OIC Member States is the most effective way to foster their real solidarity and unity. The OIC introduced several programs aimed at increasing intra-OIC trade, investment promotion, poverty alleviation, agro-industrial capacity building, infrastructure development and women’s empowerment. Those actions and others are presently being executed with the active involvement of various OIC organs and institutions, he added. As such, the main OIC intra-trade target under the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) was set to achieve a 20% level by 2015. In 2008, the OIC achieved 18.87%. At the political front, Ihsanoglu pointed out that he has been increasingly using his good offices and engaging in preventive diplomacy to settle conflicts between the OIC Member States and developing solid partnership with relevant international and regional organizations to contribute to the prevalence of durable peace and security in troubled spots like Palestine, Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Somalia, Iraq, Darfur, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Guinea, and Comoros as well as between Chad and Sudan. Externally, the Secretary General addressed a number of issues. Issues pertaining to Muslim Communities and the challenges they face either in the West, Philippines , China or elsewhere enjoy support from the OIC. An OIC mission visited China recently in the aftermath of the disturbances that took place in July this year in the Uyghur Xinjiang Autonomous Region, he added. He stated that Islamophobia is another issue for which the OIC is struggling on a daily basis to inject the significance of dialogue among nations and civilizations. The OIC is trying its best to put into full use the normative framework to combat intolerance, xenophobia and prejudices. The OIC referred the question of defamation of religion to the UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Commission and UNESCO, which have adopted several resolutions over the last few years providing for the respect of religions with particular reference to Islam, he added. The Secretary General also said that over the past four years, the OIC has launched a vast and dedicated Public Relations campaign and engaged with the United States by building a partnership that seeks to address the issues of mutual interests. On the issue of violence and bloodshed tormenting some of the OIC Member, Ihsanoglu called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and killings in Iraq , Afghanistan , Gaza , Somalia , Yemen and Darfur . In the case of Palestine , he mentioned that Israel has demolished myriad of Palestinian homes, including numerous historical and religious sites to ensure full control and judaization of the city with a view to separate Al-Quds from the rest of the West Bank areas. On the other had, he said the occupation authorities are imposing harsh restriction measures on construction by Palestinians and confiscating identity documents of the citizens of Al-Quds who are living outside the city to reduce the number of Palestinians in the city. He exhorted the OIC Member States to rescue Al-Quds before it is too late and called for rendering urgent financial assistance for the Arab and Muslim inhabitants of the city as well as for the Islamic and Christian institutions in the city. | | OIC Secretary General condemns incursion by Israeli extremists into Al-Aqsa Mosque | | | | | | OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed his vigorous condemnation of the incursion by Israeli extremists under the protection of Israeli occupation forces into the courtyard of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Kiblah's [Direction of Prayer in Islam] and the destination of the Prophet's (PBUH) Night Journey [Israa]. Ihsanoglu indicated that the escalation of attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque is part of a judaization campaign that targets the holy city of Al-Quds and is a provocation of Muslim feelings. He warned against the dangerous ramifications likely to emanate from such grave attacks on the sanctities of Muslims. The Secretary General called upon the international community to exert pressure on Israel and coerce it to put an end to its violations and comply with the provisions of international law and the Geneva Conventions. | | | | | | | 
| OIC celebrates its 40th Anniversary in New York : A modern regime in the contemporary life of the Muslim world | | 
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC, welcomed many heads of states, prime ministers, ministers, diplomats, prominent media figures, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, at a reception on the occasion of the OIC 40th anniversary held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on 25 September 2009. The Secretary General said the OIC is an intergovernmental organization set to enhance the bonds of solidarity and cooperation among its Member States, coordinate their endeavors in the political, economic and cultural fields. He emphasized that after four decades of its existence the OIC now constitutes an arena where a significant part of its Member States’ external relations is streamlined. It is the second largest political organization in the world after the United Nations. It is the voice and representative of 1.5 billion Muslims spread over a wide geography extending from the Atlantic shores to the confines of China and the shores of the islands of the Philippines and Indonesia , and in addition, countries in South America , he added. Ihsanoglu stressed that the establishment of this Organization in 1969 at a Summit meeting of Muslim leaders is probably the most significant development in the contemporary history of the Muslim world. He added: "The birth of the OIC came as a realization of Muslim nation-wide aspiration for founding an umbrella institution for Muslim solidarity. Its birth provided the Muslim world with a modern institution different from the traditional umbrella represented by the Caliphate under which the Muslim world lived until the year 1924." In fact, as a modern regime in the contemporary life of the Muslim world, the OIC serves as an engine for progress and prosperity in the Muslim world. It is considered the rallying assembly of Muslims, where their leadership meets to discuss their affairs, and elaborate their common decisions to better serve their interests and concerns. One of the duties of the OIC nowadays is to project the true enlightened message of Islam to the world, based on Islam’s compassionate image through presenting its noble values and supreme principles. Presently, the OIC is regarded as the unique and the most trusted and authoritative spokesman for the Muslim world on the major global issues. It is in this light that the United States administration has recently came to appreciate and recognize this role and took the decision of nominating a Special Envoy to the OIC. It is also based on this premise that both President Bush and President Obama acknowledged the OIC role in the international arena. Since its birth, the OIC firmly stands for moderation and tolerance. It condemns and rejects all forms of fanaticism, extremism and bigotry. It emphasizes the inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogues based on mutual respect and equality among the interlocutors. The OIC also stands to defend respect of human rights, endeavors to promote good governance, to widen political participation, establish the rule of law, ensure transparency and accountability, while combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and rejecting all attempts to justify this abhorrent phenomenon. A great deal of the effort of the OIC is directed toward human development in the socio-economic spheres in its Member States through concrete and practical programs, including poverty alleviation, education, science and technology, and empowering woman and elevating her status. Fighting Malaria and Polio has recently become an important priority for our organization. We are working hard for reconciliation between Islam and the West because we believe that today’s human civilization is one civilization with a multitude of tributaries and branches. Ihsaoglu said: "We in the OIC, inspired by our new Charter, are striving to build the new Muslim man and woman with new vision, by merging the rich heritage of the past with the positive aspects of the present and future. We are eager to see the Muslim world go forth in the world with all developed bodies, fairly developed brains and developed hearts." | | | | 
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| | Ihsanoglu addresses the 2009 Annual Balkan Leaders Reception At the Annual Balkan Leaders Reception organized by the Federation of Balkan Americans (FEBA) and Rutgers University at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on 26 September 2009, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu pointed to the active role of the OIC in contributing to the establishment of peace and prosperity in the Balkans. “We are living in a world that is shrinking day by day and where the different cultures, ethnicities, religions have to encounter one another ever more, and with the advancement of globalization, the borders disappear and no nation remains immune to interaction with the others,” he said. Making such an encounter a productive one and avoiding possible clashes between different ethnicities and cultures require extreme attention, he added. Failing to do so has unfortunately cost many lives in the Balkans, in the heart of Europe only little more than a decade ago. At the root of those clashes were the lack of understanding of the self, and the lack of understanding and respect for the other. Today, as a direct or indirect result of those clashes, there are quite many Balkan-Americans living in the United States where they came to find tranquility and prosperity in this country, said Ihsanoglu. “It is a responsibility for all of us- the regional and international organizations, the Balkan states, and most importantly civil society and academic institutions like the FEBA and the Rutgers University- to help the Balkan-Americans successfully integrate into the American society. The better and faster they integrate, the more they will benefit the American society, and the stronger and better representatives of their homelands they will be in this country.” On its part, the Organization of the Islamic Conference has been quite active in contributing to the establishment of peace and prosperity in the Balkans, he said. “The Balkan Americans live in Pax-America in harmony, peace and welfare, similar to the conditions of Pax-Ottomana when for centuries harmony, co-existence and tolerance prevailed in the Balkans. When commonalities and shared values take precedence over differences, we should not be worried about the future of the Balkans and Balkan diasporas elsewhere.” | | | | | |
| | | OIC Secretary General holds official meetings on the side of UNGA Sessions in New York OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu attended in New York on 23 and 24 September 2009 the opening of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City, and met the Egyptian and Syrian Foreign Ministers, Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Walid Muallem, and discussed means and ways with regards to coordination among member states on OIC initiatives as well as recent international developments. He also met the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Hamrokhon Zarif i, to coordinate the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in May 2010 in Dushanbe . Ihsanoglu also met the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmed Davutoglu, to discuss regional and international developments and coordination of the OIC Economic Summit to be held in Istanbul , Turkey , on 9 November 2009, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the OIC Standing Committee on Economic Cooperation (COMCEC) under the patronage of the President of Turkey. He later met Harris Sladzic, a member of presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina , discussed bilateral relations. The secretary General also met the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Dr. Jean Ping, and discussed the means and ways to improve cooperation and coordination between the OIC and the AU. In addition, Ihsanoglu was the honorary speaker at a historic Balkan leaders Forum organized by the Federation of Balkan Americans and Rutgers University under the theme “Challenges of the Third Millennium”, lasting Peace and Prosperity in the Balkans. He delivered a speech on the matter. The Secretary General also attended, upon the invitation of Mr. Ray Chambers, UN Secretary General ’s Special Envoy for Malaria, the launching of African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). Afterward, He attended the special meeting of the International Contact Group on Somalia , organized by the UN Secretary General ’s Special Envoy on Somalia . Finally, the Secretary General attended the Session of the UN Security Council, which was presided by the US president Barack Obama. | | |
OIC Secretary General lauds recent achievements of ICDT on expansion of intra-OIC trade The Secretary General of OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has noted, with satisfaction, the achievements of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) in the area of facilitation and expansion of trade among OIC Member States. In his message to the 26th Ordinary Session of the Board of Directors of ICDT, held in Casablanca , Morocco from 29-30 September 2009, the Secretary General observed that the successful follow-up of the programs and projects aimed at fast-tracking trade exchanges within the OIC was due to the diligence of members of ICDT Board of Directors and its management. Pledging his continued support to the ICDT towards realization of the developmental objectives enunciated in the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action, Ihsanoglu urged the management of ICDT to concert efforts with other OIC agencies to sustain, and improve upon, the progress so far realized. The message of the Secretary-General was delivered at the session by Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary General of OIC for Economic Affairs, who participated in the two-day session.
The 12th Trade Fair of OIC Member Countries (OIC-EXPO 2009) will be held in Cairo on October 11 to 16 The Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the General Organization for International Exhibitions and Fairs (GOIEF) will organize under the High Patronage of H.E. Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt, the 12th Trade Fair of OIC Member Countries (OIC-EXPO 2009) from 11th to 16th October 2009 in Cairo under the theme "New Economic Partnership in the service of the Nation." This fair is considered a promotional framework for trade, investment and inter-enterprise cooperation among the enterprises operating in the economic and commercial field in the member states. On these grounds, the fair is open to all the OIC member states and the economic operators of these states. This fair may also be attended by countries enjoying the status of observers as well as by Muslim economic operators of non- member countries.
IDB announces the winners of the International Architectural Design Competition for Fael Khair Program The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) announced the six top award winners of the International Architectural Design Competition for Fael Khair Program on School and Shelter Buildings , in favor of the people who were hit by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh , including five winners from Bangladesh and a winner from the U.K. With the intention of providing a long-term solution to the hazards faced by the population due to the recurring cyclones which afflict Bangladesh , an anonymous philanthropist (fael khair in Arabic) has entrusted to the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) a generous donation of $130 million for assistance to the cyclone victims. The assistance program includes construction of about 600 schools to be designed as multi-purpose shelters, and the restoration of livelihoods for the afflicted population in the coastal belt of Bangladesh . The IDB, has, on 4 March 2009, invited Architects/Engineers to participate in an international Design Competition for producing the best Architectural Design of a model multi-purpose school and shelter, which, to the extent possible, should incorporate Islamic architectural features and blend with the local environment. The IDB has commissioned a 4 member Jury Board of renowned architects and engineers to review the 77 designs received and to select the three best designs in two categories; i) buildings on raised earth embankment (Killa), and ii) buildings on reinforced concrete stilts. The Jury Board made the following selections: First Category: Shelters on Killa Design Winners, first, Alamgir Hossain , Bangladesh , second, Khairul Enam , Bangladesh , third Jointly by Emtiz Zafree, Md. Ahmed Rajeeb, Al Numan Md. Younus, all from Bangladesh . Second Category: Shelters on Stilts Design Winners, first Jointly by: Mohammad Naimul Ahsan Khan, Farzana Rahman , Md. Saidur Rahman, all from Bangladesh . Second Arch. Tanvir Mahmud , Bangladesh . The third is Mr. Fahim M. Tonmoy, United Kingdom .
Export Promotion Centre of Turkey (IGEME) awarded the 1430H Islamic Solidarity Prize for the Promotion of Trade among OIC Member States Turkish Export Promotion Centre (IGEME) was declared as the winner of the 1430H Islamic Solidarity Prize for the Promotion of Trade among OIC Member States. The Prize, which is provided by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), will be awarded to the winners during the Annual COMCEC Session in November 9, 2009. IDB has established this Prize in the year 1428H with the aim to Recognize, appreciate and encourage the activities and efforts contributing to the promotion and increase of trade among member countries as well as celebrate the outstanding success of individuals/institutions in the said activities.
Islamic Development Bank launches $850 million fixed-rate sukuk rated Aaa/AAA under its $1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Program Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has successfully launched a $850 million 5-year sukuk transaction under its recently updated $1.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Program with BIBD, BNP Paribas, CIMB, Deutsche Bank and HSBC as joint lead managers. Book building began on September 8th. Official price guidance was released at 8:30am London time on September 9th at the MS + 40 - 43bps range while the book continued to grow, finally reaching close to $2 billion and allowing IDB to price a $850 million transaction at the tight end of the guidance. The 5-year fixed sukuk was priced at par with a 3.172% semi-annual profit rate to yield 40bps over 5-year mid-swaps and 77bps over 5-year benchmark US Treasuries respectively. The success of IDB's transaction was underpinned by a comprehensive international road show undertaken in Asia, Middle East and Europe . IDB’s AAA ratings and the scarcity value of the sukuk made a compelling story. The transaction order book was over 2.4x oversubscribed with 90 orders. Investor distribution was diversified with over 60% of the paper placed outside the GCC region. In terms of the geographic split, Asian investors accounted for 37%, European investors 24%, GCC region 37% and others 2%. IDB achieved a high quality order book with the vast majority allocated to real money accounts.
Meeting at ISESCO on lawsuit against Israeli war criminals The task force established by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and entrusted with preparing the lawsuit to be filed against Israeli war criminals will hold its second meeting on 2 October 2009 at ISESCO's headquarters in Rabat , Morocco . The meeting whose opening will be presided over by Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO, will examine the required legal procedures to finalize the lawsuit against the Israeli war criminals who committed crimes against cultural property in Al-Quds and in Palestinian territories in general. An international conference on “Israel: War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity" was convened by ISESCO last January in Rabat and the task force established by this conference held its first meeting in February at ISESCO's headquarters.
Japan-Islamic Countries Day Fujiatlas World Exchange Centre Inc, international Japanese Company has been operating inclusively for the last 35 years in the field of trade, tourism, event organization and management, hotels, museums, mall management, and world's handcraft promotions. This year they are organizing Fujiatlas World Exchange Seminar in Kobe , Japan which will be held from 2 to 5 November 2009. It will have the following forums: Day-1 World Exchange Day Day-2 World Craft Day Day-3 Japan-Islamic Countries Day During Japan-Islamic Day, they will be discussing the multilateral relations between Japan and Islamic Countries in the fields of tourism, trade, investment, Islamic finance, transfer of technology, education and cultural exchange. The main purpose of the third day discussion is how these two civilizations can cooperate and collaborate with each other for a better future for both of them. As no doubt, Japan has proved itself a great economic power in a short span of time with having four times GDP of Islamic Countries. The dialogue will help bridge this gap and will open opportunities for both civilizations. The General Secretariat of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) are cooperating with the organizers for successful organization of this event in Japan . For further details, the interested participants may contact the following for confirmation of their participation: Japan: Mr. Mohamed Zekrioui President / Founder Fujiatlas World Exchange Centre Inc. Fax: +81-664509333 Mobile ( Japan ): +81 804010 9920 Mobile (KSA): +966-5-449-92020 Email: president@fujiatlasgroup.com Email: secretary@fujiatlasgroup.com Web: http://www.fujiatlasworld.com Saudi Arabia Mr. Faisal Tahir Khan Business Development Manager Mob: +966-50-2626122 Email: ftkhan@fujiatlasgroup.com
In Brief | - OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu deplored the use of force on 28th September 2009, by the security forces in Guinea to disperse a rally in Conakry organized by the coalition of civil society groups, which resulted in the tragic loss of dozens of lives. Ihsanoglu who called for calm and restraint in order to prevent a further escalation of the situation, appealed to the all Guineans to return to the path of dialogue. He urged the CNDD Government and the stakeholders to resume serious negotiations with a view to preserving stability the country and guaranteeing a peaceful political transition leading to a free, fair and credible election.
- The Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, strongly condemned the two suicide car bombs in northwestern Pakistan on 26 September 2009, which killed at least 16 people and wounded about 150 others. Expressing his deep regret over the terrorist acts which continue to cause the loss of precious lives and undermine security and stability of the area, the OIC Secretary General conveyed his profound condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Pakistan. While reiterating his support for the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to fighting against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the Secretary General appealed to the concerned authorities in Pakistan to bring perpetrators of these heinous attacks to justice.
- Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia , on the official inauguration on 23rd September 2009 of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. The Secretary General expressed his deep confidence that this remarkable scientific icon would mark a qualitative leap for science and technology in Saudi Arabia , and would represent an academic tributary for various applied sciences across the Muslim world.
- The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) will organize jointly with the Central Bank of Turkey and the COMCEC Coordination Office, the Meeting of the Central Banks of the OIC Member States on 3 October 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey prior to the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. The meeting will bring together Governors of the Central Banks of the OIC Member States. The main objective of the meeting is to discuss possible means and ways of cooperation with a view to strengthening economies of the Member States in the face of the current global financial crises. The Meeting of the Central Banks of the OIC Member States also coincides with the 40th establishment anniversary of the OIC and the 25th establishment anniversary of the COMCEC.
- The International Investment Forum of Turkmenistan will be organized by the Government of Turkmenistan in collaboration with “IC Energy LTD”, and held in Ashgabat on 15-17 October 2009. The Forum is designed to assist potential investors in gaining an in-depth and updated insight into the latest economic trends, investment climate, legal and tax frameworks, business conditions and opportunities for partnerships. It is believed that the Forum will play an important role in highlighting the investment opportunities that exist in Turkmenistan . The International Investment Forum of Turkmenistan is an intensive and interactive three-day event, which will cover key areas of investment opportunities in the following sectors: oil and gas, power generation, construction, real estate, textiles, agriculture, banking and finance, telecoms, tourism, transport, and healthcare and pharmaceuticals. For additional detailed information, please visit the website of the Forum at: www.turkmenistan-investmentforum.com
- In collaboration with the Ugandan National Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with the kind support of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) will organize a workshop on manufacturing coffee and its products in Kampala , Uganda on October 5 – 8, 2009. Also in Kampala , the ICCI will organize a regional training program for cadres working in the African member chambers during the period 9 - 12 October, 2009 in collaboration with the national chamber of Uganda .
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| | | | Calendar of Meetings | - Oct. 3: The Meeting of the Central Banks of the OIC Member States – Istanbul , Turkey .
- Oct. 5-8: Workshop on Manufacturing Coffee – Kampala , Uganda .
- Oct. 9-12: Regional Training Program for Cadres Working in the African Member Chambers – Kampala , Uganda .
- 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. 15-17: The International Investment Forum of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat , Turkmenistan .
- Oct. 25: 31st Executive Committee and 23rd General Assembly Joint Meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Ship-Owners' Association (OISA) – Beirut , Lebanon .
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