Historic OIC CFM in Astana concludes with Important decisions
According to the Kazakh MFA, Kazakhstan has provided a unique dialogue platform for 57 OIC member states, having moderated intensive negotiations on most urgent issues that resulted in a number of important decisions. The delegates noted that given the latest development in the Arab states the 38th OIC CFM was rather dramatic. The participants stressed the high-level meeting, however, was also characterised by profound depth, efficiency and good organisation.
Addressing the final press conference in the Palace of Independence on June 30, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov summed up the outcome of the three-day OIC ministerial.
"Today is a new day for our Organization. It is highly symbolic that the Kazakh Chairmanship of the OIC kicks off with a historic decision by member states on a new name and new logo of the Organization. By changing the name to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, we all have demonstrated our readiness for change, adaptation and renewal", he said.
Minister Kazykhanov said the political, economic, cultural and religious potential of the OIC, spanning four continents, 57 countries and 1.5 billion people should never be underestimated.
Following the results of the session, the consensus of the participants was that the Muslim world finds itself at a threshold of a new era of its development. The dramatic events in North Africa and the Middle East clearly demonstrated the need for a fundamental social and economic modernisation.
The agenda for the CFM meeting, quite extensive, involved a number of sessions on different spheres of the Organisation's activity.
In the framework of the Political Committee, the sides covered the issues of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as other developments in various regions of the Muslim world, the assistance for social and economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan, possibilities for extended cooperation with other regional organizations, issues of disarmament, the fight against terrorism, extremism and illicit drug trafficking, the UN reform, the right for every individual and the fight against defamation of religions and Islamophobia.
One of the most significant decisions was the establishment of an Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights with its temporary headquarters at the General Secretariat in Jeddah. The Council also elected the 18 members of the Commission for a mandate of three years.
In addition, member states expressed their readiness to further examine the Organization's capacity in the area of international security, peace and conflict resolution. Great importance has been attached to the coordination of actions in preparation for the 2012 international conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
At the economic sessions, close attention was paid to such aspects as widening trade and economic ties between OIC member states, the development of agricultural potential in the context of food security, and enhancing the cooperation in the transport and financial sectors. The participants looked into further development of cooperation in the areas of science and technology, healthcare, environment and humanitarian assistance, having agreed on further steps in cultural and social areas, as well as in the area of protection of Islamic shrines.
In the course of the CFM meeting, a regulation on OIC observer states, clearly defining the rights and obligations of those states, was adopted.
Another significant development in terms of Central Asian socio-economic, cultural and humanitarian integration was the adoption of the OIC Action Plan on Central Asia.
Finally, the next chairman of the OIC CFM, Djibouti, was chosen by a vote of the majority of member states, thus creating a powerful democratic precedent in the history of the Organisation.
The outcome document, the Astana declaration of the CFM, reflects deliberations and the most meaningful issues of substance by renewing the commitment of OIC member states to the principles of the Organization and charting a new way forward for it.
As OIC CFM's Chairman in 2011, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its responsibility in taking the Islamic World forward along the path of modernisation, on the basis of the OIC 10-year Programme of Action, adopted in 2005 that meets the challenges for the Muslim World in the 21st century.
"The participants of the session were united in the opinion that it was a robust success. And it was also their universal view that it was that special and vital Spirit of Astana, that had earlier helped Kazakhstan successfully hold a summit of the OSCE last year that has helped us now to forge the environment conducive for change and renewal and make our consensus stronger," Kazykhanov stated at a press conference.
"In that very Spirit of Astana, we look forward to working with all our brothers in the Ummah to promote Peace, Cooperation and Development, the three words that represent the motto of our chairmanship. In partnership with all Member States, Kazakhstan is committed to leading the OIC, under a new name and a new logo, towards a new reality", he contended.
Concluding the work of the 38th OIC CFM, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, on behalf of all the participants, thanked President Nursultan Nazarbayev for hosting the meeting and for the generous hospitality extended to the delegates, which contributed to the success of the CFM