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ON THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION IN PROMOTING THE JUST CAUSES AND IMAGE OF ISLAM
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 1418 H (15-17 March 1998), Recalling Resolutions No. 45/7-P(IS) and No. 57/8-P (IS) on COMIAC adopted by the Seventh and Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit Conferences respectively and approving the recommendations of the Committee during its Third and Fourth Sessions; Recalling also resolution No. 47/24-P adopted by the 24th Session of the ICFM on OIC activities under the auspices of the Fifth Session of COMIAC held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 8-9 Dhul Quida 1417H (27-28 March 1996); Considering the resolutions of the 4th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 29-30 Rajab 1418H (29-30 November 1997), in particular resolution No. 8/4-ICIM on the Islamic Programme for Development of Information and Communication (PIDIC); Having taken cognizance of the report of the Secretary General on the role of information and communication in promoting the just causes and image of Islam; Expressing its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Senegal for hosting the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs and the Fourth Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, 1. Commends the Secretary General for the reform measures in the sector of information and communication proposed by His Excellency so that it may play its effective role in promoting just Islamic causes and the image of Islam. 2. Follows with interest the efforts to establish the Islamic Programme for Development of Information and Communication (PIDIC) and the contacts of the Secretary General with the Member States and the international organization concerned in this respect. 3. Requests the Member States to draw on the principles of the Information Strategy of Islamic States in their national information programmes and plans. 4. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and make a report thereon to the Sixth Session of the COMIAC and to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE INFORMATION PLAN AND THE FINANCING PROBLEMS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES
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 1418 H (15-17 March 1998), Recalling resolutions 56/7-P(IS) and 58/8-P (IS) of the Seventh and Eighth Sessions of the Islamic Summits and resolutions 46/22-P, 47/23-P and 48/24-P of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th Sessions of the ICFM on OIC Information Plan; Also recalling the recommendations of the Fifth Session of COMIAC held in Dakar on 8-9 Dhul Quida 1417H (27-28 March 1996) on the funding and implementing of the Information Plan; Further recalling the commitments made by Member States in the framework of their cooperation to establish an appropriate communication network aimed at reducing the imbalance in the flow of information in the Islamic world on the one hand and a specific information system to assert their national and cultural identities and combat the hostile campaigns directed at Islam and Muslims, on the other hand; Inspired by the resolutions of the 4th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 29-30 Rajab 1418H (29-30 November 1997); Having considered the Secretary General's Report on the role of communication in promoting the just causes and the image of Islam as well as his Report on implementing the Action Programme for 1996/97 within the framework of the Information Plan (ICFM/25-98/INF/D.2), 1. Reaffirms the need for Member States' strong support to, and effective participation in, the implementation of the Information Plan to ensure its success.
2. Urges Member States to pledge financial, technical and material contributions for the Plan. 3. Requests to Member States: (a) To assume, individually or collectively, the execution of the various sections of the Information Plan; (b) To contribute financially to the activities of the OIC in the field of information and communication, notably by settling their arrears of contributions to the budget of the General Secretariat and making voluntary contributions so as to make up for the delay in implementing the Information Plan and provide for the financing of other areas. 4. Recalls the request of the Sessions of the Islamic Summit to the Secretary General: (a) to make direct contact with Member States for information about the programmes of the Information Plan whose cost they could assume; (b) to coordinate action with Member States with a view to mobilizing the donations and voluntary contributions required for the implementation of the entire Information Plan; 5. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
ON THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC NEWS AGENCY (IINA) 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 1418 H (15-17 March 1998), Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the role of communication in promoting the just causes of the Ummah and the image of Islam and his Background Report on the OIC institutions specialized in the field of information and also the report submitted by the Islamic International News Agency (IINA) on its activities and projects; Noting with satisfaction the decision of the 5th Session of COMIAC to maintain IINA and ISBO as two separate institutions; Having noted the efforts being made by the Agency to expand and diversify its activities through publication of books and bulletins on current events in the Islamic world, as well as reports and surveys on Member States, despite the financial, technical and journalistic difficulties it is confronting; Expressing deep concern over the failure of some Member States to settle their contributions to the Agency's budget, 1. Expresses its thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the constant support extended to the Agency, as well as to the Member States which have contributed human, moral and material assistance to the Agency, thereby enabling it to pursue its activities in the field of information. 2. Calls on Member States to pay their subscriptions and settle their arrears of contributions to the Agency's budget so that the Agency can fulfill its responsibilities. 3. Urges Member States to extend support to the Agency by providing it with editorial and technical staff so that it may achieve its objectives in the service of Islamic information and also to provide IINA with news reports and information on Islamic activities and development programmes, and to direct national agencies, radio and television to propagate the news reports of IINA.
ON THE ISLAMIC STATES BROADCASTING ORGANISATION (ISBO)
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 1418 H (15-17 March 1998), Having taken cognizance of the report of the Secretary General on the role of communication in promoting the just causes of the Ummah and the image of Islam and his Background Report on the OIC institutions specialized in the field of information and also the report of the Secretary General of the Islamic States Broadcasting Organisation on its activities, projects and programmes; Noting with satisfaction the decision of the Fifth Session of COMIAC to maintain IINA and ISBO as two separate institutions working in the field of information; Noting also with satisfaction the progress made by ISBO in Dawa activities, promoting the diffusion of the Arabic language and defending Islamic causes; Expressing concern at the accumulated arrears of contributions of many Member States to the Organisation's budget, 1. Expresses deep gratitude and appreciation to Member States who have paid their contributions and continue supporting ISBO activities, both materially and morally. 2. Calls on the Member States concerned to regularly settle their full contributions to the Organisation's annual budget and arrange for the early settlement of their arrears so that the Organisation can implement its programmes and projects normally.
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