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DOHA, STATE OF QATAR 17-19 DHUL QAADAH 1418H (15-17 MARCH, 1998) Bismillahi Arrahmani Arrahim 1. In response to the kind invitation of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, the Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (The Session for Better Future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), convened in Doha, State of Qatar from 17 to 19 Dhul Qaadah, 1418H (15-17 March 1998). A) The Conference was attended by the following Member States:
B)- Also attended as observers: STATES
MUSLIM COMMUNITIES:
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
C)- Also attended the following Subsidiary Organs:
D)- Also attended the Conference the following specialised institutions of the OIC:
E)- Also attended the Conference the following affiliated institutions to the OIC:
F)- The following Islamic Foundations and Societies:
II. GUESTS:
3. His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, opened the Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers by delivering an address in which he analyzed the delicate international situation in which this Conference is being held. He also reviewed the major international issues included on the agenda and particularly the situation in the Middle East. In this respect, His Highness stated that the peace process in the region constitutes the major concern of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in view of the threat posed by the stalling of the peace process to international security and stability. His Highness reaffirmed the commitment of his country to peace as a strategic option. His Highness also raised the phenomenon of international terrorism and the direct threat it poses towards the rights of man to live, to freedom and to security. In this respect, he stressed the need to adjust the code of conduct towards combating international terrorism and to draw up an international agreement to fight terrorism. His Highness emphasized the economic importance of Islamic solidarity and the need to maintain it among the priorities of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. He expressed concern at the wars, conflicts and ethnic cleansing going on in several areas of the globe and the support of the State of Qatar to the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the other international organisations to make peace prevail in these areas. At the end of his address, His Highness stressed the need to reform the Organisation of Islamic Conference and to reorganize its structures and commended the efforts of the Secretary General in this regard. 4. The Conference decided to adopt the inaugural address of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, as an official working document. 5. Then His Excellency Mr. Lamine Kamara, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guinea, His Excellency Mr. Mustapha Othman Ismael, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Sudan, His Excellency Mr. Gohar Ayub Khan, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in turn, took the floor on behalf of the African, Arab and Asian groups, respectively to express their gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and to the Qatari Government and people for the generous hospitality and warm welcome and all the facilities extended to the participating delegations. 6. His Excellency President Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, took the floor to give an account of the serious crisis through which the peace process is going and the current stalling it is undergoing at all levels in the area due to the intransigent positions and policies adopted by the present Israeli government and to its failure to comply with the accords signed with the Palestinians. He also denounced the measures and practices of the government of Israel in the form of economic stifling, the persistent blockade and sealing off, the confiscation of lands to establish settlements on them, as well as the refusal to release the prisoners and detainees and to open the airport, harbour and the safe corridor. He also indicated the fierce and relentless campaign targeting the Holy City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif aimed at its complete judaization, obliterating its religious, historical and cultural heritage and effacing its Arab, Islamic and Christian identity. He called on the Islamic Ummah to join forces and to step up their efforts in order to save Al-Quds Al-Sharif from the clutches of Israeli occupation. 7. Then, His Excellency Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in his capacity as representative of His Excellency President Sayed Mohamed Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Chairman of the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, read out a message from His Excellency the President to the Conference. His Excellency started his address by recalling the Tehran Declaration and the Tehran Vision Statement, stressing the need to promote further dialogue to consolidate cooperation and build confidence among Member States. H.E. indicated that it was incumbent upon the Islamic Ummah, at the dawn of the third millennium, to draw up a strategy on sound and practical basis that would enlist the approval of all, and lay emphasis on diversity, pluralism, tolerance and dialogue, as well as international values such as respect for sovereignty, refraining from the use of force, exercising restraint in the settlement of conflicts and disputes, in addition to fighting terrorism and giving support to the struggles of peoples subjected to colonialism, and foreign domination and occupation. H.E. commended the cooperation and coordination of H.E. the OIC Secretary General, as well as Member States with the Islamic Republic of Iran in its capacity as Chairman of the Eighth Islamic Summit Conference. He indicated that Islamic leaders have adopted historic resolutions that must be followed up and implemented, thus helping to build confidence and consolidate solidarity among Muslims, reviewed a number of practical measures currently being studied and aimed at implementing those resolutions in the political, economic and cultural fields, and stressed the need to provide the OIC with sufficient working means to enable it to improve its performance. 8. Then, His Excellency Dr. Azeddine Laraki, Secretary General of the OIC, delivered an address, in which he expressed consideration and respect to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. H.E. affirmed that the OIC will continue providing unstinted support to the question of Palestine and Al Quds Al Sharif, the prime cause of Muslims. He stated that the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region demands Israel’s compliance with the resolutions of the international community and with the bases on which the peace process was started and the resumption of negotiations with Syria and Lebanon at the point where they were interrupted. He also reviewed developments in all the political issues of concern to the Islamic arena, and stressed the need to achieve major improvement in economic relations between Member States and to provide the necessary conditions to implement the Cultural Strategy. He stressed the importance of introducing structural reforms in the General Secretariat, and expressed the hope that Member States will approve a budget that will cover the needs of the OIC. 9. His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Nugroho Wisnumurti, read out the message of His Excellency Ali Alatas, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, Chairman of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. He emphasized the importance of strengthening South-South economic cooperation and among Member States of the OIC including, the necessity of crystallizing the idea of Islamic complementarity and the establishment of an Islamic Common Market. He underscored the adverse effects of the Globalization on the economies of some developing countries. 10. The Conference heard the addresses delivered by His Excellency Lakhdar Ibrahimi, Representative of the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Dr. Esmet Abdel Magid, Secretary General of the Arab League, His Excellency Ambassador Jaime Jabron Duarti, Representative of the Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, and His Excellency Ambassador Shaabane El Fitouri Ghashut, Representative of the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity. 11. The Conference, afterwards, unanimously elected His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, as Chairman of the Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. 12. Then, the Conference unanimously elected the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the State of Palestine as Vice-Chairmen and representative of the Republic of Indonesia as Rapporteur General. 13. Upon his election as Chairman of the Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, delivered an address in which he welcomed the participants and expressed his appreciation and gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Azeddine Laraki, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, for his efforts and cooperation to strengthen the Organisation and enhance the common goals of the Islamic Ummah. He indicated that the struggle between the countries of the world commands more consultations on the ways and means to face up to the challenges confronting the Islamic Ummah, in other words, that the new international situation is dealt with realism and objectivity. He reiterated the importance of preparing the Ummah to enter the Twenty-first Century, the beginning of which will coincide with the holding of the Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Doha. 14. The Conference decided that the motto of the present session shall be: "for a better future for the peoples of the Islamic Ummah". 15. The Conference approved the report of the Preparatory Meeting of the Senior Officials. 16. The Conference adopted the draft agenda prepared by the Meeting of Senior Officials. 17. The Conference took note with appreciation of the report submitted by the Chairman of the Twenty-fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. 18. The Conference took note with appreciation of the reports submitted by the Secretary General on the items included in the agenda, on the activities undertaken by the General Secretariat during the period between the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Sessions of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. 19. The Conference listened, during the general debate, to the interventions of Their Excellencies the Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations who laid emphasis on the issues of concern to the Islamic world and reviewed the questions raised on international arena. 20. The Conference listened with fraternal sentiments to the address of Mr. Taner Etkin who presented the just cause of the Muslim Turkish Cypriot people. 21. The Conference listened to the presentation of His Excellency Professor Nur Missuari, Chairman of the Moro National Front on the implementation of the agreement concluded between the Front and the Government of the Philippines. ORGANIC, STATUTORY AND GENERAL MATTERS: 22. The Conference approved the report of the Expert Group on the criteria for full membership in the OIC (Document No. OIC/ANFFM-97/REP.1 FINAL). 23. The Conference took note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary General on the cooperation between the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the United Nations, the Economic Cooperation Organisation and other international and regional organisations, welcomed this cooperation and called for its enhancement for the defence of their common causes. 24. The Conference elected the members of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for a mandate of two years starting from the Ist of July 1997. The Member States are:
25. The Conference also elected the members of the Finance Control Organ for a mandate of two years starting from July Ist, 1998. The Member States are:
26. The Conference welcomed the kind offer made by Burkina Faso to host the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, and decided it to be held in Ouagadougou in April 1999. POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Question of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, Palestine and the Arab Israeli Conflict: 27. The Conference called on the Member States to organise symposia, activities and festivals on the 15th of May to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Palestinian tragedy by sensitizing Islamic peoples and world public opinion to, and increasing awareness of the calamities and displacement suffered by the Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli occupation, oppression and terrorism. 28. The Conference stressed that the question of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif is the foremost Islamic cause. It expressed its full solidarity with the Palestine Liberation Organization in its just struggle to achieve the legitimate inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, to return to their homeland and to establish their independent state in their national territories, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. It called on Member States to undertake action within the international community to bring Israel to put an end to its occupation of, and withdraw its troops from, all Arab and Palestinian territories, and first of foremost Al-Quds Al-Sharif, in order to enable the Palestinian people to achieve and freely exercise all their rights and in order that peace and stability may prevail in the whole region. 29. The Conference stressed that Al-Quds Al-Sharif is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and that what applies to the rest of Palestinian territories applies to it, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly. The Conference called for action to put an end to the practices of the Israeli occupation authorities in Al-Quds Al-Sharif aimed at modifying the geographical and demographic situation and desecrating the holy Islamic and Christian places there with a view to judaizing the Holy City. It called for the need to exert maximum effort in order to restore the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif to Palestinian sovereignty, as capital of State of Palestine, for ensuring peace and security in the region. 30. The Conference also called on the international community to avoid any relations with Israeli occupation authorities which might be interpreted by the latter, in any way, as an implicit recognition of the "fait accompli" imposed by Israel when it declared the city of Al-Quds its capital. It stressed that all legal, administrative, and settlement measures and procedures aimed at modifying the legal status of the Holy city is null and void and contravene international treaties, charters and norms and contrary to the agreements signed by the Palestinian and Israeli sides. The Conference called on the international community, especially the two co-sponsors of the Peace Conference, to prompt Israel not to make any geographical or demographic transformation in the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif during the transitional period, to refrain from any action that might affect the outcome of the negotiations on the final status of the City, and to abide by the relevant international resolutions, especially those issued by the Tenth Extraordinary Session of the General Assembly on the halting of the Jewish settlement of Djebel Abu Ghoneim and of all other settlements and to induce Israel also to lift the blockade on the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif to safeguard freedom of worship in it, and to cease destroying houses, withdrawing the identity cards of the Palestinian citizens and emptying the city of its Arab citizens. 31. The Conference affirmed its full support of the peace process in the Middle East and its commitment to its foundations. The Conference called for Israel to respect and implement its commitments, pledges, and agreements concluded through this process and in accordance with the principles based on Madrid Conference pursuant to UN resolutions, in particular Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425, and the land-for-peace formula. All these instruments provide for Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Arab and Palestinian territories, including the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the occupied Syrian Golan up to the front line of 4 June 1967, the occupied Southern Lebanon and Western Bekaa and for the realization of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. It rejected Israel’s attempts at bypassing the requirements of the transitional period and jump directly to negotiations on the final status. It called for the faithful implementation of all the remaining articles in the agreements on the transitional period concluded between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel to end Israeli occupation and build Palestinian national institutions on the soil of Palestine. 32. The Conference underlined that Israel’s violation of the principles and foundations of the peace process, reneging on the commitments, pledges, and agreements concluded within that framework, and procrastination and evasion at the implementation level, have seriously undermined the peace process. The Conference held Israel wholly responsible for this state of affairs. 33. The Conference called on the Islamic States which had taken steps toward establishing relations with Israel within the framework of the peace process, to reconsider such relations by closing missions and bureau until Israel completes its withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories and guaranties the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish their own independent state on their national territory, Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. 34. The Conference urged the international community, particularly the co-sponsors of the peace process, to pressure Israel to comply with the resolutions of international legality and to end its settlement policy. It called on the Security Council to revive the International Committee for supervising and monitoring the ban on settlements in Al-Quds and the other occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. It also urged the international community and all states providing economic and financial assistance to Israel to stop such assistance which Israel uses to carry out its colonization scheme in the occupied Arab territories, in the occupied Palestine and the occupied Syrian Golan. 35. The Conference called for action by the United Nations and other international Organisations to force Israel to release the detainees, return the deportees, and put an end to the collective punishments, as well as to the operations of confiscation of land and properties and demolition of houses, and to desist from any acts endangering life and environment in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif. It emphasized the need to convene the meeting of the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 on the Protection of Civilian Persons in time of war and to take the necessary enforcement measures for implementing this Convention in the occupied Palestinian territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif. 36. The Conference requested the international community and the UN Security Council to force Israel to comply with UN resolutions, particularly Security Council resolution 487 (1981) and to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and implement the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 37. The Conference commended the efforts made by the Al-Quds Committee under the Chairmanship of His Majesty Hassan II, King of Morocco, and expressed satisfaction at the entry into operation of Bait-ul- Mal Al-Quds. 38. The Conference commended the resistance of the Syrian Arab citizens of the Golan against occupation and strongly condemned Israel for not complying with Security Council resolution 497 (1981). It stressed that Israel’s decision to impose its laws, its sovereignty and its administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal, null and void and without legal effect whatsoever. It condemned Israel for continuing to alter the legal and demographic status and the institutional structure of the occupied Syrian Golan. It reaffirmed the applicability of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War to the occupied Syrian Golan and called for Israel’s total withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan to the lines of 4 June 1967. 39. The Conference strongly condemned Israel for its continuing occupation of parts of Southern Lebanon and Western Bekaa and urged the international community to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolution 425 (1978) stipulating Israel’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories to the internationally recognized borders. It called on the international community to take all measures to compel Israel to immediately free all the prisoners and the Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons and in the camps controlled by the forces allied to Israel and to endeavour to put an end to Israel’s aggression and inhuman practices against the defenseless inhabitants in the Lebanese territories. It reiterated its support to the efforts of the State of Lebanon to establish its sovereignty on its entire territory including the area occupied by Israel in Southern Lebanon and Western Bekaa. Bosnia-Herzegovina: 40. The Conference reaffirmed the commitment of the OIC Member States to the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina within its internationally recognized borders and fully supported the establishment of a sovereign, democratic, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It emphasized the importance of accelerating the process towards the effective, consistent and impartial implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and urged the international community to support the peaceful and democratic reconstruction of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It reiterated its commitment to fully participate in the implementation process. 41. The Conference stressed the vital importance of taking concrete measures for the arrest of indicted war criminals to ensure freedom of movement throughout the country, the return of refugees and displaced persons to their places of origin under safe and secure conditions, and enforcement of the results of the municipal elections and effective functioning of the State institutions. 42. The Conference urged all countries and multilateral institutions that have pledged resources for the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina to immediately disburse the funds in order to ensure timely completion of priority projects including funds for housing for returning refugees and displaced persons. It reiterated its readiness to providing resources for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina by promoting bilateral programmes of assistance and cooperation as well as through the OIC Assistance Mobilization Group and OIC institutions. 43. The Conference reaffirmed support for the "Equip and Train" Programme which will foster long term regional stability by creating a credible self-defense capability for the Federation to ensure full compliance with the agreements relevant to stability and regional weapons limitation. Meeting of the Contact Group on Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Ministerial Level. 44. The Conference took note of the Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Ministerial level and adopted the resolution it issued on the Plan of Action concerning Bosnia-Herzegovina. Jammu and Kashmir: 45. The Conference called for a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions and as agreed upon in the Simla Agreement. It condemned the continuing massive violations of human rights of the Kashmiri people and called for the respect of their basic human rights including the right to self-determination. It also called upon Member States to take all necessary measures to persuade India to cease forthwith the gross and systematic violations of the rights of the Kashmiri people and to enable them to exercise their inalienable right to self determination as mandated by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. 46. The Conference affirmed that any political process or elections held under foreign occupation cannot be a substitute to the exercise of the right of self-determination by the people of Kashmir as is provided in the relevant Security Council Resolutions. The Conference supported the initiative of the Government of Pakistan to engage India in a dialogue for resolving all outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir, and encouraged India to reciprocate positively. It commended as well as the efforts being made by the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. 47. The Conference appreciated the efforts made by the Secretary General for enabling the true representatives of the Kashmiri people to have their views expressed in OIC and other international fora, and asked him to continue to take all necessary steps in this regard. Meeting of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir at the Ministerial level: 48. The Conference took note of the Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir at the Ministerial level and adopted the recommendations of the Meeting alongwith the Memorandum presented by the true representatives of the Kashmiri people. Afghanistan: 49. The Conference expressed its deep concern over the continuation of the conflict in Afghanistan. It reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the Afghan crisis and called upon the Afghan parties for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. 50. The Conference emphasized the need for promoting national reconciliation and rapprochement as well as for the establishment of a broad-based government. It called upon all States to end immediately the supply of arms and ammunition to all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan. It also called for the full respect of the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, independence and the Islamic identity of Afghanistan, and for non-interference in its internal affairs. 51. The Conference emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of a fund under the auspices of the OIC to assist the Afghan people. It also called for effective measures by all Afghan nationals to eliminate the production and export of illicit drugs. 52. The Conference emphasized the need for continued close coordination of the efforts of the OIC and the UN to achieve a peaceful political settlement in Afghanistan. Somalia: 53. The Conference noted with satisfaction the intensive efforts exerted by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to promote peace and national reconciliation in Somalia in cooperation with the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of African Unity. 54. The Conference reaffirmed its commitment to contribute to the restoration of the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Somalia. It called for the convening of an International Conference on Peace and National Reconciliation in Somalia in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly, with the participation of all Somali parties, alongwith the concerned international and regional Organisations. It took note of the developments ensuing from the Cairo Meetings on Somalia last February, expressing its appreciation for the efforts of His Excellency President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak in this regard; as well as the meeting held by Somali leaders last February in Mogadishu. 55. The Conference expressed its appreciation of the initiative of His Excellency President Ali Abdallah Saleh, President of the Republic of Yemen, in calling for convening a Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Sanaa. It called upon all Somali parties to respond favourably to these efforts. Consequences of Iraqi Aggression against Kuwait: 56. The Conference called on Iraq to cooperate fully and seriously with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Tripartite Committee in Geneva which was established under its auspicious and supervision pursuant to Para 2C and Para 3C of resolution No. 686 (1991) and (30) of resolution No. 687 (1991) pertaining to the urgent release of prisoners and detainees from among Kuwaiti military troops and civilians and any other nationals, so as to soon put an end to this situation; and also Para 15 (d) which relates to return of Kuwaiti properties by Iraq. 57. The Conference reaffirmed that Iraq, by accepting resolution 686(1991) and resolution 687(1991), is held responsible for implementing paragraph (2-B) of resolution 686 and paragraph (16) of resolution 687, both pertaining to the responsibility of Iraq regarding Security Council resolutions relating to compensations for any direct losses or direct damage, including damage to the environment, the exhaustion of natural resources, or any damage to foreign governments, to their nationals or companies. 58. The Conference reaffirmed Security Council resolution 949 calling on Iraq not to use its armed forces or any other forces again in an aggressive or defiant manner to threaten its neighbours or UN operations in Iraq. 59. The Conference commended the agreement reached by UN Secretary General with Iraq on complying with its commitments to the relevant resolutions, and welcomed Security Council resolution 1154(1998). It called for Iraq’s commitment and serious cooperation with the special committee (UNSCOM) in carrying out its mission in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and to safeguarding the peace and stability of the region. It also welcomed the initiatives and efforts deployed by His Highness Cheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and the initiative of His Excellency President Mohamed Khatemi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Chairman of the Eighth Islamic Summit Conference, and of His Excellency President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and current Chairman of the Arab Summit Conference, as well as the other Arab, Islamic and international initiatives which have resulted in sparing the region from the disasters of a new war. 60. The Conference reaffirmed respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Iraq and expressed its sympathy with the Iraqi people and welcomed, in this respect, Security Council resolution No. 1153 (1998) in which the Security Council extended the effect of its resolution No.986 (1995) for another 6 month period so as to meet the humanitarian needs and to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people. 61. The Conference noted with great concern the dangerous and constant deterioration in the food, health and humanitarian condition of the entire Muslim Iraqi people, and especially the children, women and the elderly, as recognized by the reports of the UN Secretary General , the specialized agencies, and numerous official and non-official humanitarian Organisations. 62. The Conference, proceeding from the precepts of the true Islamic religion and the principles and objectives of the Organisation, called on Member States to redouble efforts to assist Iraq in halting the deterioration and to deal with humanitarian situation in order to put an end to the suffering of the population in a serious and tangible manner as soon as possible. Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan: 63. The Conference reaffirmed its support for the three principles of the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan concluded in Lisbon in 1996 and also expressed its support for the last proposals made by the Minsk Group Chairman aimed at the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan armed conflict as the basis for the negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, and expressed appreciation for this approach aimed at the immediate elimination of the most serious consequences of the Armenian aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan. US Aggression against Libya in 1986: 64. The Conference reaffirmed its condemnation of the military aggression perpetrated by the United States against the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in April 1986. It supported the right of the Jamahiriya to seek appropriate reparations for the losses sustained as a result of the aggression in accordance with the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution No.38/41 of 20 November, 1986. 65. The Conference called upon the United States to positively respond to UN Resolution No. 38/41 concerning the right of Libya to reparations, to desist from provocations and threats against the Jamahiriya and to resort to peaceful means to solve its differences with the Jamahiriya. It also condemned the US economic boycott measures against Libya and called for their cancellation forthwith as they violate international law and norms. Crisis between Libya in one hand, the United States of America and the United Kingdom on the other hand: 66. The Conference welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice delivered on the 27th of February 1998, deciding on its competence and jurisdiction over the case, and took cognizance of the clarifications provided by the delegation of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on the matter. 67. The Conference called on the parties concerned to take the necessary steps to implement the ruling of the International Court of Justice. 68. The Conference urged the Security Council to immediately suspend the sanctions imposed upon Libya on the basis of Security Council Resolutions No.748/92 and No.883/93, pending the issuance of a ruling by the International Court of Justice to settle the case before it in accordance with the UN Charter, ending thereby the suffering of the Arab Libyan people and bringing the case back on legal course. Solidarity with Iran and Libya concerning D’Amato Law: 69. The Conference reaffirmed its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Great Socialist Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for their position concerning the so-called D’Amato Law and rejected any arbitrary or unilateral measures, whether political or legal applied by one country against another one. It urged all States to consider this law which is against the international law and norms, as null and void. Cyprus: 70. The Conference reaffirmed once again its past resolutions and declarations on Cyprus and expressed its solidarity with the Turkish Cypriot people in its rightful cause. It called on the two parties to negotiate together to seek freely a mutually acceptable solution and expressed its appreciation for the constructive efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side in this connection. It expressed its support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General within the framework of his mission of good offices. It called for a just political settlement by respect of the legitimate aspirations of the Turkish Cypriot people and emphasized in this regard the urgent need for respecting the principle of equal political status in the attainment of a freely negotiated and mutually acceptable solution. It also recalled its previous decision to remain seized of the Turkish Cypriot application for full membership in the OIC and to continue to promote the participation of the Turkish Muslim Community of Cyprus in the activities and meetings of all the organs of the Conference. It called on Member States to increase and expand their ties with the Turkish Cypriot people in all fields, including trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports. | ||
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Kosovo: 71. The Conference affirmed its total rejection of the arbitrary use of military forces against civilians in Kosovo, and called for an immediate end to such acts and for immediate withdrawal from the civil areas. 72. The Conference strongly condemned the large scale repression and violations of human rights against the defenseless Muslims of Kosovo from different ethnic origins committed by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) aiming at obliging them to leave their homeland. It called on the international community to take all necessary measures to immediately end all violations of the rights of the Muslims in Kosovo from different ethnic origins and revoke all discriminatory legislation which entered into force since 1989. 73. The Conference called for the setting up of genuinely democratic institutions in Kosovo, including the creation of a Parliament, a government and a judiciary system as the best means of protecting human as well as all political and national rights of all the Muslims in Kosovo from different ethnic origins, preventing the escalation of the conflict there, reopening all the scientific, cultural and educational institutions, setting all political prisoners in Kosovo free, and establishing a dialogue, under international patronage, with the people of Kosovo. Eastern and Central Europe: 74. The Conference reaffirmed the need to maintain and promote ties of friendship and cooperation between the Islamic World and the countries of Eastern and Central Europe on the basis of mutual interest. It also expressed the hope that the States of Eastern and Western Europe respect the Islamic identity of the Muslim communities and minorities living in their countries and their right to practice freely their language, religion and culture. Security and Solidarity: 75. The Conference reiterated that the security of each Muslim country is the concern of all Islamic countries. It expressed firm resolve to strengthen the security of Member States, through cooperation and solidarity among Islamic countries, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Charters of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and of the United Nations and as stipulated in the Dakar Declaration. It recognized once more that small states are particularly vulnerable to external threats and acts of interference in their internal affairs. Disarmament: 76. The Conference called for the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, notably nuclear weapons with a view to creating a world free of such weapons and for the intensification of efforts aimed at finding a solution to disarmament issues, particularly the elimination of nuclear weapons. It reaffirmed that all States have an inalienable right to develop their programmes for peaceful uses of nuclear energy for their economic and social development. 77. The Conference called upon all States, particularly the States concerned, to positively respond to proposals for the establishment of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia and South-East Asia. 78. The Conference urged all States, especially nuclear weapon States, to exert pressure on Israel to become party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and called on the international community and the Security Council to compel Israel to comply with U.N. Resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 487 (1981), to implement the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calling for the subjection of all Israeli atomic facilities to the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards System and implement the Resolution on the Middle East adopted by the Madrid Conference and the NPT Review Conference held in New York in April-May 1995. 79. The Conference calls on the Security Council to obtain Israel's renunciation of nuclear armament, and to submit a full report on its stockpile of nuclear weapons and ammunition to the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency as those steps are essential for the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction, and primarily nuclear weapons in the Middle East region, this being a fundamental factor for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region. The Conference called on Member States to re-include the item on Israel’s nuclear capacity and its dangers in the agenda of the next Government Conference of the IAEA. 80. The Conference called upon the States, including those Members of the Conference on Disarmament, to work urgently towards a binding agreement on an international convention to assure non-nuclear weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons and to explore all additional means to provide effective assurances of Non-Nuclear Weapon States in the global or regional context. It urged the Conference on disarmament for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on a non-discriminatory and universally applicable convention banning the production and elimination of stockpiles of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosives. 81. The Conference recognized the importance of enhancing regional security and stability through the settlement of outstanding disputes and the establishment of equitable and verifiable balance of armaments at lower levels. It called upon the international community and the states concerned to adopt measures which would ease global and regional tensions and result in a just and lasting resolution of outstanding conflicts and disputes thus facilitating meaningful disarmament and arms control measures. Dumping of Nuclear and Toxic Wastes: 82. The Conference reaffirmed that the dumping of toxic and nuclear wastes of foreign origin in the territories and waters of the member countries and the risks that it entails for human life is an abominable crime against the peoples of Member States and against humanity. Elimination of anti-personnel mines: 83. The Conference expressed its deep concern over the consequences of the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel mines on the security of civilian populations and their economic development. It took note of the decision taken by the Conference on Disarmament during its 1997 session to appoint a special coordinator to seek the views of its members on the most appropriate arrangement to deal with the issue of anti-personnel land mines and on his possible mandate. 84. The Conference urged the international community, particularly the developed countries, to provide substantial assistance for the removal of anti-personnel mines and to ensure access by all states, especially mine stricken states, to advanced material, equipment and technology as well as to ensure the removal of all existing obstacles in this regard. It appealed to the international community, in general, and OIC Member States, in particular, to assist in rehabilitation of anti-personnel mines victims. Consultation and Coordination among Member States: 85. The Conference called upon Member States to observe the principles of good neighbourliness, and to prevent the use of their territories or government bodies by individuals or groups bent on doing harm to other Member States. It decided that no movement exploiting the noble Islamic religion should be allowed to carry out any hostile activity against any Member State. It emphasized the necessity of strengthening coordination among the Member States to control all manifestation and forms of the phenomenon of terrorism, including intellectual terrorism and extremism. Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel: 86. The Conference took note of the meeting at the Ministerial level of the Committee for Islamic solidarity with the peoples of the Sahel and reaffirmed the necessity to accord greater attention to the speedy implementation of the Special OIC/CILSS/IDB Programme for the Sahelian populations. It expressed appreciation to the Committee for Islamic Solidarity with the peoples of Sahel for taking appropriate initiatives in favour of African countries stricken by drought and desertification. Critical Economic Situation in Africa: 87. The Conference welcomed the efforts made by the African countries towards their economic recovery and development in conformity with the Treaty of Abuja concluded in 1991 establishing the African Economic Community aimed at progressive economic integration of Africa. It stressed the importance of the successful implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990's and calls upon the international community to fulfill its commitments on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility and full partnership with Africa. Reparations of damages due to colonialism: 88. The Conference reaffirmed its condemnation of colonialism, in all its forms, as an act of aggression which violates all international conventions and principles of international law. It recognized that the effects of colonialism have impeded economic and social development plans and programmes in the developing countries and continue to impede their development and progress. It also reaffirmed the right of all the Member States, without exception, which suffered under the yoke of colonialism, to take all necessary measures to obtain fair compensation for the human and material losses they have suffered as a result of colonialism or foreign invasion. It affirmed the right of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya for reparations for all the human and material losses it has sustained as a result of the period of invasion, colonization and settlement on Libyan territories. It called on the countries responsible for these hazards to take practical measures in response to the Great Jamahirya's requests. Sudan: 89. The Conference reaffirmed its full solidarity with Sudan to face hostile designs and defend its unity, territorial security and stability. It commended the continuous efforts exerted by the Sudanese Government in order to reach a peaceful solution to the problem of Southern Sudan through negotiation and dialogue between the Sudanese parties and the positive outcome of these efforts which have led to the signature of the peace accords of Khartoum and Fachoda with the rebel factions of the South. Niger: 90. The Conference expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Niger and the Organisation of Armed Resistance. It commended the efforts exerted by mediating countries for their important contribution to the conclusion of this Agreement. It requested Member States, the General Secretariat of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the other Islamic Institutions to provide Niger with the necessary assistance to enable it to consolidate its national unity and achieve its regional developmental objectives within the framework of the implementation of the above-mentioned Agreement. Mali: 91. The Conference requested Member States and Islamic institutions to provide necessary financial assistance for the emergency programmes and projects for ensuring the return of the refugees, their rehabilitation and the social, economic and cultural development of the Northern Regions of Mali and recommended that the Member States and Islamic financial institutions actively support the implementation of the medium and long-term development strategy and of the emergency programme in the regions of Kidal, Gao and Timbuctu. Right to use of Science and Technology: 92. The Conference reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Islamic Ummah to develop, acquire and make use of science and technology for progress in the economic, social and cultural fields. It rejected policies and measures aimed at obstructing the achievement of technological progress for peaceful purposes in Member States. 93. It called upon industrialized States to facilitate the transfer of technology to developing countries and remove the restrictions hindering this process. It called upon Member States to strengthen cooperation among themselves in the fields of science and technology for peaceful purposes, especially in the framework of the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). Refugees: 94. The Conference expressed its appreciation to Member States, donor countries, the UNHCR, the U.N. specialized agencies, and other humanitarian institutions for the valuable assistance they extend to refugees in Islamic countries. It also expressed its deep appreciation to countries hosting refugees for their generous assistance to refugees irrespective of their critical economic situation as well as presence of large number of displaced persons. It reaffirmed its deep concern for the long-term impact of the presence of millions of refugees in Islamic States, especially its impact on the security, stability and infrastructure of those countries whose economic and social development is adversely affected by the presence of refugees. Assistance for Refugees in Sudan: 95. The Conference urged the international donors to extend assistance commensurate with the number of the refugees in the Sudan and to help in their voluntary repatriation and urged Member States and the Islamic Development Bank to extend financial assistance so as to support the efforts of the Government of the Sudan aimed at facilitating the return of Sudanese refugees to the areas liberated from the hold of the rebellious movement as well as to provide shelter to the displaced persons who migrated to the North due to the military operations conducted by the rebellious movement. NPT Review Conference in Year 2000: 96. The Conference called on Member States parties to the non-proliferation treaty to actively participate in the 2000 Review Conference of NPT and its preparatory committees. It called on all States parties to pursue vigorously the objective of nuclear disarmament in the international fora particularly in the 2000 NPT Review Conference as stipulated in Article 6 of the NPT. It invited all States parties to the NPT to exert pressure on Israel to accede to the Treaty and to place all its nuclear programmes under the IAEA safeguards. Support to Kazakhstan for Conference on Confidence-building Measures in Asia: 97. The Conference welcomed the efforts of the Republic of Kazakhstan for promotion of the initiative of the Conference for interaction and confidence-building measures in Asia. It considered that the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan for convening a Conference for interaction and confidence-building measures in Asia will contribute to the general process of strengthening international security. It recommended that the OIC Member States may join the process of promoting the confidence-building measures in the Asian continent. 98. The Conference reaffirmed, in the framework of the convening of the Conference on confidence-building measures in Asia, that Islamic countries do not consider Israel as being among the Group of Asian States. UN Reform: 99. The Conference reaffirmed that the OIC Member States have a direct and vital interest in determining the outcome of UN reform and Security Council expansion. It reaffirmed the readiness of the OIC Member States to contribute actively and constructively to the consideration of the reform and expansion of the Security Council. Situation in the Comoros: 100. The Conference considered that the separation of the Island of Mayotte from the others will seriously undermine the territorial integrity of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros and will constitute a serious obstacle to its balanced economic development. 101. The Conference took note of the political situation in the Comoros and called on all the concerned parties to safeguard the territorial integrity of the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros. 102. The Conference urged Member States to urgently extend economic assistance to the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros to enable it to overcome the difficult economic circumstances as well as the current political crisis. Unilateral Economic Sanctions Against Sudan: 103. The Conference called on the United States of America to lift the economic sanctions imposed on the Sudan in view of its harmful effects and the losses incurred at economic and social levels. The Conference decided to set up a Committee composed from the Member States to study the issue of imposing unilateral economic sanctions. Sierra Leone: 104. The Conference expressed its deep appreciation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its peace keeping force, the ECOMOG, for their efforts and action enabling the return of the constitutional system to Sierra Leone and the reinstitution of His Excellency Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, President of Sierra Leone to Office in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Community in August 1997. In this regard, the Conference requested all Member States to refrain from supporting, harbouring or giving refuge of any kind to any member of the vanquished AFRC/RUF Junta. 105. The Conference urged the Member States to provide generous and urgent assistance to Sierra Leone for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country following the reinstitution of the legitimate Government. The Conference also urged all Member States to provide adequate assistance to the neighbouring countries in order to alleviate the repercussions of the influx of refugees from Sierra Leone, totalling an estimated number of 400 thousand, pending their return to their homeland. Preservation of the Security and Territorial Integrity of the Islamic States: 106. The Conference affirmed its commitment to preserving the sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity and regional security of Iraq. It called for a halt to acts of intervention in Iraq and for refraining in the future from any such acts in order to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and the inviolability of its borders. Muslim Communities and Minorities: 107. The Conference welcomed the "peace agreement" between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front officially signed on 2 September 1996 in Manila, and expressed its consideration for the important steps taken towards its full implementation. It also called on the Government of the Philippines and on the Moro National Liberation Front to preserve the gains resulting from signing the peace agreement. 108. The Conference commended the efforts of the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front and of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for establishing peace in the south of the Philippines and asked the Secretary General and all concerned parties to continue extending the appropriate assistance in order to ensure the full implementation of the peace agreement during the transitional period until a self-rule zone in the south of the Philippines is established. 109. The Conference recorded with satisfaction the Secretary General’s efforts to implement the adopted resolutions on Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States, and particularly with the creation of a Contact Group from the Member States’ permanent delegations at the Untied Nations in New York and Geneva to examine the cases of violation of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States. 110. The Conference affirmed the need to take action for the attachment of Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States to their religious and cultural identity, to equal treatment in terms of rights, commitments and duties, and to the provision of all their civil or religious or other rights, without discrimination or segregation. 111. The Conference reaffirmed its commitment to Muslim communities and minorities living in non-OIC Member States. The Conference, keeping in mind that the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is an integral part of the Muslim World, regretted that the violation of the minority rights and fundamental freedoms of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is continuing. It deplored the sentencing to imprisonment of the elected Mufti of Xanthi, Mr. Mehmet Emin Aga, and expressed its concern on the obstruction of the building of Kimmeria Mosque. The Conference urged Greece to take all measures to restore the rights of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and recognize the elected Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official muftis. LEGAL AFFAIRS: 112. The Conference called for the setting up of an International Islamic Court of Justice as early as possible and urged member countries to promptly adopt the statutes of the Court. 113. The Conference reaffirmed the necessity of consolidating human rights and to ensure the follow up of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam for laying down the Islamic standards and values and incorporating them into Islamic treaties devoted to human rights. It also stressed the importance of coordination between Member States in the field of human rights and the need for them to take into account the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam as well as the principles outlining the position of the Member States on the issue of human rights in the discussions that will take place in course of the forthcoming Fifty-fourth Session of the Commission on Human Rights. It also underlined the need for a positive contribution by the Organisation towards the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and called on the international community to reaffirm their commitment to respect the international principles adopted in the area of human rights. 114. The Conference urged Member States to adhere to the agreements on the struggle against Sky Hijacking and extend help and assistance to victims upon any incident. It also stressed the need for holding an international Conference under the aegis of the United Nations to define the concept of terrorism and to make a distinction between terrorism and peoples’ struggle for national liberation. It also condemned terrorist acts that are perpetrated deceitfully in the name of Islam and laid stress on the importance of international and regional co-operation to fight against all forms of terrorism. 115. The Conference condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including state terrorism and expressed its deep concern over the continuing violent acts and barbaric crimes, especially those which were recently perpetrated against foreign tourists and earnestly appealed to Member States not to provide shelter to terrorists and help bringing them for trial and requested the Experts Group on Terrorism to prepare a draft treaty on the struggle against international terrorism in accordance with the principles stipulated in the Code of Conduct for Combating International Terrorism. It entrusted the General Secretariat with the task of preparing the draft treaty. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION: 116. The Conference expressed deep satisfaction at the activities undertaken by the Organisation under supervision of the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC) under the wise and able leadership of His Excellency President Abdou Diouf, President of the Republic of Senegal. 117. The Conference welcomed the adoption by COMIAC of the Islamic Information Strategy along with its implementation mechanisms, the Code of Conduct for Islamic Information, the Information Plan for Islamic Countries and the Islamic Programme Statute for the Development of Information and Communication. 118. The Conference endorsed the proposals of the OIC Secretary General on the redynamisation of the information sector to enable it to play its veritable role in promoting the just causes and the image of Islam, promoting the heritage and values as well as the achievements, the potentialities, and the various policies of the Islamic Ummah whilst giving priority to inter-Islamic exchange, encouraging dialogue among civilizations and bringing together Muslim minorities and communities and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Muslim peoples. 119. The Conference appealed to Member States to mobilize all the necessary means, particularly through voluntary contributions, in order to solve the crucial problem of securing the necessary financing for information and communication activities. 120. The Conference underlined the pressing need to start implementing , at the earliest convenience, the action programmes of the Information Plan and the important Islam Vision project whose realization will endow the Islamic Ummah with a most valuable communication instrument facilitating the expressions of its identity and culture while upholding the image and interests of Islam and opening up to the rest of the world within the framework of dialogue among civilizations. 121. The Conference hailed the progress made so far in the making of the documentary film on Al-Quds Al-Sharif. It underlined the necessity for the Member States to reactivate and support the activities of the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic States Broadcasting Organisation (ISBO), so they can attain their objectives in the service of Islamic information. ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: 122. The Conference urged Member States to pursue efforts aimed at strengthening economic cooperation among them so as to maximize the complementarities in their economies and avoid further marginalization. 123. The Conference reaffirmed the need to find new ways and means to reduce the negative impact of the international economic order on the economies of the Islamic world, and called on the international community to take the adequate measures to guarantee that all countries are equally positioned to reap the benefits of globalization. The Conference also called for further trade liberalization, more opportunities for products and services to reach markets where Islamic countries enjoy a certain advantage, the achievement of technology transfer on easier terms, and a more beneficent use of investment systems and technology. 124. The Conference also reaffirmed the need to make specific arrangements between OIC Member States designed to help them take the necessary steps to have their desired share of the economic and commercial international order by various methods, including in this respect the analysis of the impact of establishing an Islamic common market. 125. The Conference expressed desire for OIC Member States to extend their cooperation and coordination in the areas of market access, competition policy, transfer of technology and know how, finance, investment and eventually development of an integrated network of information as well as physical infrastructure for achieving the objective of an Islamic Common Market. 126. The Conference called upon the developed countries to bring about an environment charaterised by a greater measure of pragmatism, justice and transparency to enable developing countries to implement their structural adjustment programmes in order to enable them to achieve sustainable development. 127. The Conference expressed deep concern over the tendency of some advanced countries to link environment-related action and means with trade transactions, and reaffirmed that such tendency hinders the establishment of an equitable, free and transparent trade environment. 128. The Conference realised that if the Organisation’s Member States wanted to be effective partners in the global economic decision-making process and the World Trade Organisation, coordination of efforts among them would be the best means to reduce losses and increase benefits. 129. The Conference agreed on the need for strict control of the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreement and requested the General Secretariat and the relevant OIC institutions to submit a conception and a proposal for the implementation of technical assistance programme to help those member states who may experience difficulties in facing new challenges. 130. The Conference realised the need to meet the requirements of land-locked and transit countries to enable them to develop their basic transport infrastructure and road networks. 131. The Conference urged the developed countries to increase their contributions, to initiate new means within the framework of the International Development strategy and to follow the example of the countries which have turned their debts to the Least Developed Countries into grants-in-aid so as to facilitate the implementation of the reform measures undertaken by those countries. 132. The Conference launched an appeal to the international community and the developed countries in particular to implement the 1990 Action Plan for least Developed and Land-Locked countries, as well as the other resolutions adopted by the United Nations, particularly UNCTAD 9, and the recommendations made in the Report of the High-Level International Governmental Meeting on the Mid-term Comprehensive Review concerning the implementation of the 1997 Action Plan for the Least Developed Countries. 133. The Conference further welcomed the UN decision to convene the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries at a high level in the year 2001. 134. The Conference called on all Governments, Governmental and Multilateral Institutions to take appropriate steps in preparation for the said Conference and to participate actively in the related preparatory meetings. 135. The Conference renewed the call made to the international community, especially the developed countries to offer substantial reduction of African debts and lowering of the burden of servicing charges while ensuring that this process is combined with the flow of fresh and considerable finances soft term to African countries. 136. The Conference invited all concerned bodies to expedite the extension of the necessary assistance to help the Palestinian people to establish their national economy, consolidation of their national institutions and to enable them to establish their independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. 137. The Conference urged the international community to extend assistance to the Member States affected by drought and natural disasters. 138. The Conference called upon Member States and OIC Affiliated Organizations to assist Islamic members of Inter-governmental Agency for Development (IGAD) and the Inter-State Committees for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) so that they can address the extremely difficult circumstances they are now faced with. 139. The Conference emphasized the need to urgently implement the Plan of Action to Strengthen Economic and Commercial Cooperation Among Member States within the framework of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), in accordance with the principles and operational modalities of the strategy and the procedures set forth in its chapter on follow-up and implementation. 140. The Conference called on the Member States to participate in various schemes recently launched by the Islamic Development Bank and to benefit from the Longer Term Trade Financing Scheme, Islamic Banks’ Portfolio, IDB Unit Investment Fund, the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Investment and Export Credit along with IDB’s other existing schemes, programs and operations. 141. The Conference called upon the Islamic Development Bank to initiate consultations with OIC Organisations and the relevant Islamic institutions in order to determine the implementation methods needed to translate the recommendations in the IDB document into operational programmes. They should have both qualitative and quantitative goals in the following fields: human resource development; expansion of trade and investment between Member States; securing the coordinated provision of basic needs such as health services, education, and food. To achieve these goals, the public and private sectors may be called upon to participate, using the facilities of specialized international organizations and institutions. 142. The Conference requested the OIC Standing Committees and the OIC institutions to explore the challenges of the 21st Century each contributing to its respective fields of competence and to delineate possible responses by the Ummah for these challenges. Financial and economic situation in South East Asia. 143. The Conference noted that, in recent months, the stability of the financial system in several Asian countries, including some OIC Member Countries in the South East Asia region, despite their strong economic fundamentals and solid growth, has come under serious pressure arising from amongst others speculative activities against their currencies. This reflects the vulnerability of the international financial and capital markets due to the lack of regulatory and transparency in such markets. 144. The Conference recognized that this financial turmoil can degenerate into global crisis as the contagion effect has spread to equity markets in different regions of the world. In this regard, it acknowledged that the severity of the problem and its possible repercussions to the global economy, will create a general slow-down in economic growth everywhere. 145. The Conference underscored the importance of strengthening regional and international cooperation in managing such situations in the future and in this regard, underlined the need for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to study recent developments in currency markets with a view to appropriately regulating them, in order to make them more open and transparent. It further urged the two said institutions to take a lead in efforts to bring about a fuller understanding of developments in the global financial markets and to recommend ways and means by which developing countries can continue to avail themselves of such capital flow while minimizing financial and monetary risks so that it would enable the countries concerned to resume their economic growth. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: 146. The Conference urged the Member States to continue to take into account the environmental issues in their development policies and to mobilize their financial and institutional resources towards implementing their national programmes for the protection of the environment. The conference expressed satisfaction at the current fruitful cooperation between the OIC and the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP). 147. The Conference reaffirmed its support of the declaration of the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian Ocean regions as nuclear weapon free zones and condemned Israel’s refusal to sign the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its burying dangerous poisonous waste in the occupied Palestinian territories and disposal off the Lebanese coasts. It condemned the policies of aggression practiced by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan and the Western Bekaa. It condemned its confiscation of lands, burning of woods, diversion of irrigation water, and seizure of Palestinian water resources. 148. The Conference called for cooperation among Member States in fighting epidemics of human, animal or environmental origin, and particularly AIDS. It called on Member States to act collectively to fight its dissemination through medical means. It also called on them to lay special emphasis on religious and moral values in their educational institutions, their information media and their Dawa activities, for this constitutes a more effective preventive measure against AIDS. With respect to the mad cow disease, the Conference urged Member States and specialized international cooperation agencies to expedite the establishment of a mechanism for early warning, monitoring and quick exchange of information about the marketing and importation of meat and meat products affected by this disease. It also called for a Conference of the Ministers of Health of OIC Member States in the near future upon the kind offer of the Islamic Republic of Iran to host the said Conference. 149. The Conference requested Member States to actively follow the relevant guidelines issued by the meeting of the OIC Experts Committee in Istanbul in 1988 concerning cooperation in fighting the misuse, production, manufacturing and illegal marketing of drugs and narcotics. It urged them to coordinate their efforts and harmonize their regulations within the framework of relevant international Organisations, and to give greater attention to raising religious awareness of the total religious and legal prohibition of these drugs. 150. The Conference expressed the need to have a study carried out by governmental experts on the links between the fields of environment, health, and sustainable development, and welcomed the invitation to host the meeting extended by the Republic of Tunisia through the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) in close consultation with the Member States and the General Secretariat and in cooperation with the relevant regional and international organisations. 151. The Conference reaffirmed the need for scientific and technological exchange for peaceful purposes and for the enhancement of social and economic development, calling on all States and particularly the developed countries to initiate comprehensive talks to establish general non-discriminatory guidelines for the transfer of advanced technology, materials and equipment which have military applications. It also urged the relevant international organisations and agencies to facilitate the transfer of science and technology to the developing countries for peaceful purposes. 152. The Conference called on the United Nations to declare the Aral Sea region and the Semipalatinsk as a zone of global ecological catastrophe. It expressed its support to the government of Kazakhstan in its efforts to rehabilitate those areas, and called for a special meeting of the Ministers of the Environment of the Member States to discuss environmental issues in the Islamic world, and particularly the two above-mentioned areas. It called on the Member States, the Islamic Development Bank and the charitable Organisations to extend political, economic and financial assistance in order to alleviate the devastating effects of environmental disasters and prevent their aggravation, particularly in the Semipalatinsk area, which is considered the only area in the Islamic world where the greatest number of lethal nuclear tests in the world were conducted for the last forty years. CULTURAL AFFAIRS: 153. The Conference took cognizance with appreciation of the reports on Islamic universities, cultural institutions, centres and institutes submitted by the Secretary General. It stressed the need to set up a Waqf with sufficient resources to ensure fixed income for the Islamic universities in both Niger and Uganda. It urged donors to redouble their efforts to help attain this objective. It further urged Member States, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Solidarity Fund and other Islamic institutions to increase their financial assistance to such universities, centres and institutes in view of their significant contribution to human resource development which constitutes an indispensable component of any developmental effort of the Islamic Ummah. 154. The Conference took note with appreciation of the efforts made by the General Secretariat and ISESCO for the holding of the Second Islamic Conference of Ministers of Culture in 1998 in the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss implementation mechanisms for the Cultural Strategy for the Islamic world and recommended to Member States to integrate it in their national policies in the fields of education, of teaching and culture. It expressed its thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hassan II, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Morocco for his Government’s kind acceptance to host the forthcoming Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers. 155. The Conference expressed deep concern over the attacks on Muslim values and religious heritage in many parts of the world. 156. The Conference requested Member States to take appropriate steps to organize women’s activities at the national and international levels in all fields. It also called for the holding of a Ministerial Conference on the child and social affairs as soon as possible. It urged Member States to pursue their efforts in strengthening their own Islamic values and cultural activities among all Muslim youths. It also expressed its appreciation to the State of Kuwait for its proposal to add a separate resolution on the Waqfs and their protection, requested that attention be given to it and paid tribute to the State of Kuwait for the preparation of a strategy aiming at promoting the Waqfs, in coordination with the Executive Council of Waqfs in Riyadh. 157. The Conference expressed deep appreciation for the action-oriented activities and pioneering achievements made by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), in the field of education, science, culture and communication, especially for its strategy to develop education, culture, science and technology in the Islamic countries, for the constructive dialogue it established between various cultures and civilisations and for raising the level of its activities to match those of similar major international organisations and institutions through its participation in the organisation and sponsoring of an important number of international conferences. 158. The Conference expressed appreciation of the intensive activities being made by both the Research Centre for Islamic History, Arts and Culture and the International Commission for the Preservation of Islamic Heritage so as to revive Islamic heritage and publicize the various aspects of Islamic civilization. It also expressed appreciation for the excellent efforts being made by the Islamic Fiqh Academy so as to find solutions to topical life issues facing Muslims. 159. The Conference was apprised of the report of the Chairman of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund on the Fund’s activities and Waqf. It reaffirmed the importance of the noble goals of the Islamic Solidarity Fund as an august symbol of joint Islamic will. It expressed appreciation to the Member States that provided generous donations to the Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf. It called upon all Member States to pledge to extend annual voluntary donations to the Fund’s annual budget. It also invited Member States to contribute to capital of the Islamic Solidarity Fund’s Waqf. 160. The Conference invited all Member States and Islamic institutions to support the efforts of the Islamic Committee for the International Crescent to implement its programmes and ensure the welfare and protection of refugees and prisoners in cooperation with the UN High Commission for Refugees. It urged Member States which have not ratified the agreement of this institution, to do so with a view to enabling the Committee to commence its work towards achieving the objectives assigned to it. 161. The Conference expressed appreciation and thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Faysal Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud for the great care he gives to the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation and to the Pakistani Government and its Olympic Committee for the excellent facilities and assistance put at the disposal of the Federation on the occasion of the First Session of Sports Organisation and Management of the English-speaking Islamic countries. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS: 162. The Conference commended the Secretary General for his initiative to increase the efficiency of the Organisation and implement reforms within the General Secretariat in order to modernize its working methods and help it keep abreast of modern developments. 163. The Conference adopted the findings of the report of the Experts Group on the Secretary General’s report on the OIC’s financial situation and the means of administrative reform and financial redress. 164. The Conference approved the creation of a computerization department within the General Secretariat and requested the Secretary General to complete the preparation of the four year multilateral programme. 165. The Conference decided to extend the mandate of the Experts Group to allow it to complete the study of the proposals on the administrative and structural reform which entail financial implications. 166. The conference approved the General Secretariat’s budget for the financial year 1997-98 with an increase of 7% over last year’s budget. CLOSING SESSION: 167. His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the 25th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, expressed his gratitude to the participants for their constructive cooperation and valuable contributions to the consideration of the various issues raised in the Conference. VOTE OF THANKS 168. At the end of the proceedings, His Excellency Dato Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, expressed on behalf of all the participants, his deep thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar for the great hospitality which was extended to the participating delegations as well as for the arrangements and facilities put at their disposal which contributed a great deal to the success of the Conference. He also expressed appreciation to His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the 25th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, for his sagacity and competence in steering the proceedings of the Conference. 169. The Conference decided to address a telegram expressing appreciation and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, commending the efforts of the State of Qatar, under his wise and able leadership, in support of the lofty values on which OIC action is based, as it commended Qatar’s propitious hosting of the 9th Islamic Summit Conference at the threshold of the 21st Century. CLOSING ADDRESS: 170. In his closing address His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar, Chairman of the 25th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, commended the smooth running of the Conference. He viewed the important resolutions adopted by the session. H.E. expressed warm thanks to Their Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of Islamic States for the spirit of Islamic solidarity and brotherhood that they manifested and which greatly contributed to the adoption of important resolutions for the future of the Islamic Ummah.
Doha, State of Qatar |