OIC not taking sides in Afghan conflict: Alatas

OIC not taking sides in Afghan conflict: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas, as
chairman of the Ministerial Conference of the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC), said yesterday that the group was not
taking sides in the conflict raging in Afghanistan.

"The conference is not the taking side of anyone. This must be
understood, don't misinterpret it," Alatas told journalists
yesterday.

The 24th OIC foreign ministers' meeting, at the end of its
opening day Monday, agreed to leave Afghanistan's seat vacant.
The meeting continues through Friday.

Representatives from the Taliban and those loyal to ousted
President Burhanuddin Rabbani are both in Jakarta vying for the
seat.

The Taliban seized Kabul in September and ousted the Rabbani
government. However fighting continues as both sides battle to
gain control of the country.

Rahim Gaffoorzai, a representative of Rabbani's faction,
expressed disappointment at the decision, saying that it was like
a stabbing victim who been attacked again.

Nevertheless he said he could understand the OIC's position.

Gaffoorzai also met with Alatas yesterday to discuss the
recent developments in Afghanistan.

"I emphasized the need for Indonesia to play a role to exert
every effort and use their good offices to see that this conflict
can be brought to an end," he said.

Formed in 1971, the OIC currently comprises 54 member states.
Suriname became the newest member Monday.

Meanwhile both the plenary and the four committees of the
conference continued yesterday with delegates deliberating on
various resolutions.

The committee on economic and social affairs finished its
debate on 35 resolutions -- 30 on economic cooperation between
members and five on science and technology, and have them ready
for adoption at the end of the gathering.

Agus Tarmizi who is Indonesia's permanent representative to
the UN office in Geneva, said the committee agreed to issue a
call that regional economic cooperation, including that among
developed countries, should not be promoted in ways which harm
the interests of OIC members.

One of the committee's resolutions will be to call on the
World Trade Organization (WTO), currently holding its meeting in
Singapore, not to let political issues determine its decisions on
membership applications.

Agus then directly referred to the WTO's stance on China.

Hadi Wayarabi, who represents Indonesia on the administrative
and financial affairs committee, said one of the subjects
discussed yesterday was some members' failure to pay their
membership fees.

Other draft resolutions being drawn up include the
establishment of Islamic universities, the building of mosques in
Bosnia and various expressions of concern toward the stalled
Middle East process.

Officials have also said that the issue of Afghanistan will be
included in the final communique however its substance has yet to
be revealed.

Meanwhile conference sources said Indonesia plans to nominate
Indonesian Hadi Wayarabi for the vacant post of assistant to the
OIC secretary-general in Asia. Three other countries -- Iran,
Turkey and Pakistan -- are also reportedly campaigning for their
own candidates.

Wayarabi refused to comment yesterday when asked for
confirmation. (swe/mds)