DUSHANBE, February 5, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi today left for Cairo, Egypt to attend the 12th meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that is being held there from February 6-7, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
Tajik foreign minister is scheduled to deliver a statement at the meeting that will outline Tajikistan’s position on topical problems facing the OIC member nations, the source said.
During his stay in Cairo, Zarifi will also hold bilateral meetings with representatives of a number of the OIC member nations.
Meanwhile, Taqrib News Agency (TNA) reports the main theme of the 12th meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cairo is “Muslim World: New Challenges and Increasing Opportunities.” Some important issues of the Muslim world, mainly Palestine and settlement expansion and also desecration of religions and confrontation with Islamophobia are to be discussed at the OIC meeting in Cairo.
The preparatory meetings of foreign affairs ministers are being held on February 4 and 5 to review the issues to be discussed during the summit, according to the same source.
The summit will discuss various themes including the review of all ways and means to strengthen economic cooperation and political consultation between the members of the Organization, the fight against all acts prejudicial to religions and religious symbols and the Israeli colonization of occupied Al Quds (Jerusalem).
The leaders of and representatives of the 57 the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries will attend the meeting.
This is the first time that Egypt is hosting OIC meeting and the move aims at announcing the support of the country for shared Islamic activities and unity among Islamic countries in political, economic and development arenas, TNA said.
Established on September 25, 1969, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is an international organization consisting of 57 member states. The organization attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world and to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of its member countries in an atmosphere of international peace. The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English and French.
The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation has 57 members, 56 of which are classed by the United Nations as member states. Some, especially in West Africa, are – though with large Muslim populations – not necessarily Muslim majority countries. A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States, while others, such as India and Ethiopia, are not members.
