DUSHANBE, August 16, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi represented Tajikistan at the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that took place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on August 14-15.
In a statement delivered at this Islamic Solidarity Summit, Zarifi, in particular, noted that OIC had failed to use its potential to prevent civil wars in North African and Middle Eastern nations, the Tajik MFA information department reports. Tajik minister offered to develop and adopt the strategy of development of the Muslim world that would provide for construction of power transmission lines as well as highways and railroads connecting countries of the Muslim world.
He reportedly also offered on behalf of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to set up a think tank or permanent group of experts at the OIC leadership for studying economic potential and investment climate in the OIC member nations.
On the sidelines of the OIC summit, Zarifi also held bilateral talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistani President Asef Ali Zardari and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash. Issues related to expansion of cooperation of Tajikistan with these nations were the focus of the talks.
We will recall that convened on the suggestion of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the summit brought together leaders from the Islamic countries to discuss the current situation facing the Muslim world.
This was the fourth such extraordinary summit of the OIC and it came at a time when Muslim countries are facing many challenges, including the current situation in Syria, recent killings of Muslims in Myanmar and conflict in Afghanistan.
The OIC is the world’s second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations.
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 attempts to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims.
The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations. It changed its name from the Organization of the Islamic Conference to its current name on June 28, 2011.
