In a symbolic yet significant development, the OIC foreign ministers reaffirmed the inalienable right of its member states to acquire and use atomic energy for peaceful purposes, in a non-discriminatory manner and in accordance with their international legal obligations. It was part of the final communiqu ermed “Islamabad Declaration” that the 34th session of the?Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) adopted on May 17 in the scenic capital of Pakistan. The conference had an ambitious agenda and the declaration was the culmination of three days of hectic consultations between the top brass of the foreign ministries of its 57 member countries.
Some noteworthy points in the declaration are as follows:
1) Demand for a just and peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
2) Commitment for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital, liberation of all occupied Arab territories of Palestine, Syria and Lebanon , return of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes.
3) Demand for the early restoration of peace and stability in Iraq with the earliest possible withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq .
4) Condemnation of the growing trend of Islamophobia and systematic discrimination against the adherents of Islam and a call to the international community to prevent incitement to hatred and discrimination against the Muslims and take effective measures to combat defamation of religions and acts of negative stereotyping of people based on religion, belief or ethnicity.
There were other demands based on the situation in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan and a reiteration of commitment to peace, tolerance, justice and human dignity and pursuit for progress and prosperity for the Ummah and humanity.
The 33rd ICFM also discussed proposals to amend the Organisation’s Charter which includes changing the Organisation’s name, promote its role and activities and empower the Secretary General to discharge his duties.
The Jeddah, Saudi Arabia based OIC is the second largest international organisation and was set up in Rabat, Morocco , 1969 in reaction to an arson attack against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The OIC is made up of
1) The Islamic Summit : its highest policy-making organ, attended by the Kings and the Heads of State and Government of the member states and is convened every three years.
2) The Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers( ICFM): meets once a year to examine a progress report on the implementation of its decisions taken within the framework of the policy defined by the Islamic Summit.
3) The Permanent Secretariat: its executive organ entrusted with the implementation of the decisions of the two preceding bodies. Since January 2005 the Secretary General is Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, from Turkey .