The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the peoples of the Islamic Ummah) held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 17 to 19 Dhul Quida 1418H (15-17 March 1998),

Referring to the resolution No. 35/24-E adopted on the subject by the Twenty-fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of foreign Ministers and Resolution No. 38/8-E (IS) of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference;

Acknowledging the close interdisciplinary relationship between the Environment and other developmental sectors including Health;

Considering the importance for Member States to preserve the basic necessities of sustainable development and to continuously assess and monitor their environmental problems and issues including Health;

Affirming that the Member States have to continue their economic growth in order to protect environment and achieve sustainable development and healthy societies;

Recalling the importance of effective cooperation between OIC and relevant international organization such as UNEP and World Health Organization in the field of "environment and health";

Noting with appreciation the Member States awareness of Environmental issues and active role during and after the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and 19th UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGAS);

Stressing that sustainable development will be achieved only through international cooperation and in particular by implementation of technological and financial commitments of the developed countries envisaged in Agenda 21;

Conscious of the urgent need for the Member States to avail themselves of objectives, independent and unbiased information on their environmental situation and possible remedies that would best serve their interests;

Appreciative of the efforts made by the Secretariat of the OIC, its Subsidiary Organs and the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) to prepare environment-related projects and programmes;

Having taken note of the recommendations of the Twenty-first Session of the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs;

Having examined the Report of the Secretary General on this subject,

1. Welcomes the offer made by Republic of Tunisia during the Twenty-first ICFM to host the meeting of the Governmental Expert Group to do an exhaustive study of the interconnected issues of the environment, health and sustainable development from a perspective that would serve the interests of Member States, better and would lead to the establishment of a closer cooperation between them and the relevant OIC and other international institutions.

2. Renews its request that the Secretary-General undertake the above mentioned study by constituting a Governmental Expert Committee comprising at least two Representatives from each geographic region of the OIC in addition to the relevant Representatives of the General Secretariat and COMSTECH to meet in Tunisia in order:

   1. to draft guidelines for the above study;

   2. to discuss the terms of reference of the said study and work out the administrative, logistic and financial details of its implementation.

3. Decides that the requested study should be carried out through COMSTECH in close consultation with the Member States and their relevant institutions and the General Secretariat and in cooperation with regional and international organizations.

4. Requests the Secretary General to submit the results of the aforesaid study by the Governmental Experts Committee to the next Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers for consideration.

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to identify the ways for effective cooperation between OIC and WHO and active participation of the Organization in WHO's meetings and conferences, follow the implementation of these resolutions and to report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

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