OIC ministers end meeting with new economic vigor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
\nended its five-day foreign ministers meeting here yesterday with
\na new-found vigor to forge economic cooperation and the
\npossibility of an Islamic common market.<\/p>\n
While political issues remained at the forefront of the 54-
\nmember organization's concerns, economic cooperation gained new
\nimpetus in the meeting chaired by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The 130-point joint communique reflected this new push for
\ndeeper cooperation.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas welcomed the
\npositive response to boost economic cooperation which had been
\nunderscored by President Soeharto in his opening statement to the
\nmeeting Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We have therefore resolved to strengthen and enhance the
\ninstitutions and mechanisms for economic cooperation that we have
\nalready established, with a view to rendering then fully
\noperational and thus accelerate social and economic development
\nin the Islamic world,\" Alatas said in his closing remarks.<\/p>\n
The OIC was formed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1971. Suriname
\nbecame the newest member when ministers adopted its admission
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The OIC comprises mostly of Middle East and African nations.
\nIndonesia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia and Pakistan
\nmake up the Asian membership.<\/p>\n
The admission of Suriname however has prompted the OIC to
\nponder establishing a more definite criteria for membership.
\nSuriname is neither a Moslem state nor does it represent a
\ncountry with a high percentage of Moslems.<\/p>\n
The organization's new impetus in economic cooperation is
\nclearly stipulated in the joint communique which urges Islamic
\ncountries to establish a common market.<\/p>\n
While details are vague, the joint communique asserts the need
\nto take serious steps to ensure economic integration of a common
\nmarket with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic
\ncommon market.<\/p>\n
Addressing ongoing political issues, the OIC expressed its
\nconcern on the impasse of the Middle East peace process.<\/p>\n
The need for support in the rehabilitation of Bosnia-
\nHerzegovina was highlighted and the urgent necessity for a
\nmechanism which would allow reconciliation in Afghanistan was
\nalso stressed.<\/p>\n
Unrest in Afghanistan caused much debate on the first day of
\nthe meeting as delegates from both sides of the conflict vied for
\nthe Afghan seat in the OIC. Controversy was averted by keeping
\nthe seat vacant.<\/p>\n
In an unprecedented move, the OIC, in its communique,
\naddressed the issue of East Timor. The organization expressed its
\nsupport for Indonesia's position after Indonesian delegates in
\nthe political committee meetings explained Jakarta's version of
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is also grateful for the firm support that all of
\nyou accorded to its position on the East Timor issue,\" Alatas
\ntold delegates yesterday.<\/p>\n
The OIC's show of support comes hot on the heels of the Nobel
\nPeace Prize presentation to an East Timor bishop known for his
\ncritical comments of Jakarta and a leading figure in the East
\nTimorese independence movement.<\/p>\n
Other international issues touched upon included the question
\nof Jammu and Kashmir, cooperation on tackling the refugee problem
\nin Moslem states, and concern over the extra-territorial
\napplication of domestic laws by certain countries.<\/p>\n
The meeting also elected Azzadine Laraki as new OIC secretary-
\ngeneral to replace Hamid Algabid.<\/p>\n
It further welcomed Qatar's offer to host next year's
\nministerial meeting.<\/p>\n
After chairing the meeting for the past five days, Alatas
\nexpressed satisfaction at the results. \"We conducted intensive
\ndeliberations on issues of vital concern not only to the Islamic
\nworld but to all of humankind,\" he remarked. (mds)<\/p>",
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