MAKKAH, Aug 17: The following is the final communiqué issued at the
just-concluded extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation in Makkah.
The
Summit was briefed on the reports and recommendations submitted to it
by the foreign ministers in their preparatory meeting for Summit and
reviewed a number of important issues on its agenda relating to the
Muslim world and its exceptional circumstances demanding their
consideration with wisdom and tackling them in a way to enhance Islamic
solidarity.
The Summit declares the following:
Enhancement of Islamic solidarity
1 - The Summit affirms that the meeting of the Islamic world and
its unity are the secrets of its strength which requires that the
Islamic world shall adopt all the reasons for unity, solidarity and
mutual assistance between its peoples, work to overcome all the
obstacles to achieve these goals, and build its capabilities through
practical programs in political, educational, economic and social fields
so that the peoples of the Islamic world can associate with each other
ideologically, emotionally and their destiny at present and future, and
reject all causes of political dissensions and discords, sectarian
strife and fragmentation, and commit to joint Islamic actions. The
summit emphasizes the pivotal role of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation in the enhancement of Islamic solidarity in accordance with
the Charter of the Organization and its ten-year program.
2 - The
Summit affirms that the media assume a heavy responsibility in achieving
the goals of Islamic solidarity and strengthening these responsible
foundations and principles, calling on Member States to ensure the
implementation of previous resolutions of the Standing Committee of
Information and Cultural Affairs of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and the resolutions of the Islamic Conference of Information
Ministers.
The political sphere:Palestine:
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- The Summit affirms that the issue of Palestine is the central issue
of the Islamic World, hence ending the Israeli occupation of Arab and
Palestinian territories since 1967, including East Al-Quds, Syrian Golan
Heights, and completion of Israeli withdrawal from the remaining
occupied Lebanese territories in accordance with UN Security Council
Resolution 425, is considered a vital requirement of the Islamic world
as a whole which will lead to settle the issue in accordance with
relevant United Nations resolutions, Arab Peace Initiative and the Road
Map plan, contribute to peace and security and enable the Palestinian
people to exercise their inalienable rights including the right to
self-determination and establishment of their independent sovereign
state on the basis of the borders of June in 1967 with Al-Quds as its
capital, and finding a just solution to ensure the return of Palestinian
refugees to their territories in accordance with United Nations General
Assembly resolution No. 194.
The Summit also calls for making
efforts for regaining Al-Quds and the preservation of its Islamic
historical characteristics and providing the necessary resources to
preserve Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy places and their protection.
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- The Summit reaffirms previous resolutions concerning the lifting of
the continuing illegal Israeli siege in the Gaza Strip, calling on the
UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities in preserving and
maintaining international peace and security, and taking immediate
action to lift the siege and compel Israel to stop its continual
aggression against the Palestinian people.
5 - The Summit
expresses its support for the accession of the State of Palestine as a
full member of the United Nations and calls on all Member States to
support decisions on the cause of Palestine at the United Nations and
other international organizations.
6 - The Summit commends the
efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in
the defense of Islamic holy sites in Al-Quds through its continuing
generous support for the Holy City's institutions and people to enable
them to stand in the face of Israeli attempts for the Judaization of
their city.
7 - The Summit commends the efforts made by King
Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee for the Protection of Islamic
Holy sites in Al-Quds and standing in the face of actions by Israeli
occupation authorities to Judaize the Holy City.
8- The Summit
commends the announcement of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of
Qatar, during the International Conference for the Defense of Al-Quds,
which was held in Doha in February 2012, for the readiness of the State
of Qatar to participate with all its potentials for the implementation
of strategic plan for Al-Quds, emphasizing the need to refer the Emir's
call to the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution for the formation
of an international commission to investigate all actions taken by
Israel since in Arab Al-Quds since its occupation in 1967 with a view to
erasing its Arab and Islamic features.
The situation in Syria:-
The Summit affirms the need to preserve the unity of Syria, its
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, strongly condemns
the continuing bloodshed in Syria, stresses that the Syrian authorities
shoulder the responsibility for the continued acts of violence and
destruction of properties, and expresses its deep concern at the
deteriorating situation and the escalation of killings that has killed
thousands of unarmed civilians and massacres in the towns and villages.
- The Summit stresses the importance of protecting religious and historical sites in Syria from destruction.
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The Summit welcomes the decision of the United Nations General Assembly
on the situation in Syria on August 3, 2012, which strongly condemns
the continuation of massive and systematic violations of human rights
and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities and the use of force
against civilians, arbitrary executions, murder and persecution.
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The Summit calls upon the Syrian authorities to immediately cease all
acts of violence and non-use of violence against unarmed civilians and
to refrain from violating human rights, and release all detainees, and
to allow relief and humanitarian emergency bodies to provide assistance
to those people affected by these events in coordination with the
Organization of Islamic cooperation.
- In light of the failure of
Syrian authorities to reach practical results in the implementation of
the initiative of UN-Arab Envoy to resolve the Syrian crisis, the Arab
initiative, and the decisions of the Executive Committee of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation and in view of the intransigence of
the Syrian authorities and their commitment to resolving the situation
through a military solution, the Summit decides to suspend the
membership of the Syrian Arab Republic in the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and all its subsidiary organs and to enforce the
recommendation of the Executive Committee meeting at the ministerial
level in this regard on June 24, 2012.
The situation in Mali and the Sahel region:The
Summit expresses its deep concern over the developments of the
situations in Mali and Sahel Region and the escalation of acts of
terrorism fueled by the scourge of organized transnational crimes,
particularly trafficking in weapons and drugs.
Rohingya Muslim group in Myanmar:-
The Summit condemns the policy of violence exercised by the Government
of the Union of Myanmar against Rohingya Muslim Group which are
incompatible with human rights principles, values, and international
laws, adopting in this regard the recommendations of the Executive
Committee meeting at the level of permanent representatives which was
held at the Organization of Islamic cooperation on 5 / 8/2012 including
the dispatch of a fact-finding mission and the formation of a contact
group.
- The Summit hails the donation amounted to $ 50 million
by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as humanitarian aid to Rohingya
Muslims.
Solidarity With Other Member States:
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The Summit affirms its solidarity and full support for Sudan, Somalia,
Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir, Iraq, Yemen, Ivory Coast, the Union
of Comoros and the Republic of Turkish-Cyprus in addressing the
challenges facing these countries. It also condemns the aggression of
Armenia against Azerbaijan and calls for the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from Azerbaijani territories.
Reform issues-
The Summit underlines that the reform and development are renewable and
sustainable options and that these are the sole responsibility of the
(Muslim) nation and not others.
It underlines the significance of
developing scientific plans and programs that could bring about the
Muslim nation's renaissance and ensure its status of elevation under the
guidance of the holy Quran and tenets of the Prophet's (PBUH) Sunnah.
The
Summit urges member states to take measures to avoid raising discord
and strife between Islamic sects, and that States shall endeavor in this
regard to take up their roles of reconciliation and pursue the unity of
peoples and bring about the national unity and equality among the
people of one nation.
Confrontation of Extremism and Immoderation:-
The Summit affirms that Islam is a religion of moderation and openness
which rejects all forms of extremism and immoderation, emphasizing the
importance of confronting deviant thoughts by all available means,
calling for the development of curricula to enhance Islamic values in
the areas of understanding, tolerance, dialogue and pluralism, and
extending bridges between the Islamic world to strengthen their unity
and solidarity.
- The Summit stresses the condemnation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, praising the significant
efforts made by the Government of Saudi Arabia in the establishment of
International Counter-Terrorism Centre under the umbrella of the United
Nations to implement the recommendations of the International Conference
on Combating Terrorism held in Riyadh in 2005 which emphasizes the need
to distinguish between terrorism and legitimate resistance to foreign
occupation, which does not allow killing of innocent civilians.
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The Summit expresses deep concern for the emerging phenomenon of
linking Islam with terrorism, which is exploited by some extremist
trends and parties in the west to offend Islam and Muslims.
- The
Summit affirms that the dialogue of civilizations is the best way to
embody the values of mutual respect and understanding and equality among
peoples to build a world of tolerance, cooperation, peace and
confidence among nations and calls on Member States to participate in
the programs of King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud International
Center for Dialogue between the followers of religions and cultures
established by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Vienna
in cooperation with the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain to
enhance dialogue between religions and cultures as well as participation
in the UN Alliance of Civilizations, chaired jointly by Turkey and
Spain.
In economic and social sphere:- The
Summit stresses the importance of optimal use of human resources,
natural and economic resources available in the Islamic world and using
them to promote cooperation between countries and work to implement the
action plan to develop this cooperation and to study the possibility of
establishing free trade zones between Member States and activate other
related activities.
- The Summit welcomes the increase of the
volume of trade between Member States of the Organization to achieve the
goals set forth in the ten-year program.
It also calls to
increase the capital of the Islamic Development Bank to enable it to
meet the needs of Member States, and renewed importance of the vital
role of the private sector in development.
- The Summit stresses
the importance of cooperation in the field of capacity- building and the
fight against poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and disease eradication
and seeks to mobilize the necessary resources and calls on the Islamic
Development Bank to study the establishment of a special fund in the
bank and assign the Board of Governors of the Bank to follow up that.
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The Summit calls for supporting and stimulating cooperation among the
OIC Member States to achieve agricultural and industrial development and
achieve the desired food security.
- It also calls for
supporting development in Africa and reaffirms its commitment to
achieving the Millennium Development Goals by taking appropriate
measures to alleviate poverty in the Member States. It also encourages
initiatives of Member States to promote economic cooperation with other
Member States and least developed countries and low-income countries of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
- The Summit decides
adoption of specific procedures and clearly defines steps for the
Advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation and Higher Education,
including the achievement of self-sufficiency in the areas of the
peaceful use of technology under the auspices of the International
Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to support sustainable development in the
Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
- The
Summit lauds the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and his strenuous efforts and highly appreciates the efforts
of workers in the OIC General Secretariat for their professionalism and
mastery of works and accomplishment of the tasks assigned to them in a
record time.
Courtesy: Arab News