On 18-19 October, 2016 Tashkent will host the next 43th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC CFM), which will be conducted under the motto “Education and enlightenment – the path to peace and creation”. From this moment Uzbekistan officially receive the presidency of the Ministerial Council until the next 44th session of this authority.
History of the Organization starts from a summit of 25 Islamic states, taken place in Rabat (Morocco) on September 25, 1969. Its initial name – the Organization of the Islamic Conference has been changed on June 28, 2011 to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The goal of the unification is the consolidation of the Islamic world efforts to protect its interests and ensure conditions for the full development of Islamic countries and promote the establishment of peace and harmony between different nations.
Currently, the OIC brings together 57 countries of the Islamic world and is considered the second largest international organization after the UN. As a subject of international law, the OIC takes decisions on political, economic, social and other issues.
In modern conditions the value of the OIC increases in promoting tolerance, mutual respect of cultures, peace and harmony within the Islamic world, and between representatives of different faiths and peoples. Such principles of the OIC activities become relevant, as the search for peaceful, political and diplomatic, preventive methods of conflict resolution, as well as timely response to them. The task of defending the true Islamic values and Islamic culture, demonstrating their great historical significance as a religion which preaches peace and harmony, education and intellectual enrichment, stands as priority plan of the organization’s activity.
The Republic of Uzbekistan was accepted in the OIC as an observer at an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of member countries in New York in the autumn of 1995, and October 2, 1996, our country became a full member of the organization.
As a member of the OIC, Uzbekistan attaches great significance to further enhancing cooperation with the organization and its bodies on all matters of mutual interest.
The decision on the presidency of Uzbekistan in 2016 in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers was adopted in May 2015 at a meeting of this body in Kuwait.
It should be recalled that the Council of Foreign Ministers – the second most important after the Islamic Summit of the OIC body that convenes annually in one of the member countries. This is major annual event which allows develop guidelines for the implementation of common policies of the structure. The Uzbek side has conducted extensive preparatory work to ensure its effectiveness and opening up new prospects for cooperation.
Thus, in the framework of the preparation for the 43rd session of the Ministerial Council, the delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov has participated in the meetings of the Senior Officials and the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs on July 23-28, 2016 in Jeddah. During these events there were considered and approved more than 100 projects of resolutions on major activities of the OIC which will be submitted for approval to the Council of Foreign Ministers session in Tashkent.
According to the spirit of the motto of the 43rd session of Foreign Ministers Council – “Education and enlightenment – the path to peace and creation», Uzbekistan has identified the strengthening and further development of the intellectual, scientific, technical and technological capacities of the OIC countries as one of the priorities for the period. In this context, particular importance is of to study and popularize the achievements of our great ancestors – the thinkers of the Islamic world, and their invaluable contribution to world civilization. Uzbekistan has a unique heritage of Islamic culture, and the names of such great figures as Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Tirmidhi, Abu Rayhon Beruni, al-Khwarizmi, Imam al-Maturudi and others are well known in the history not only of the Muslim countries, but also all over the world.
The broad scientific and technical cooperation which is focused on ways to simplify the introduction of new innovative technologies, other scientific and technological achievements, has been defined as one of the other important activity of our country during its presidency. Uzbekistan intends to actively promote the establishment of exchange of scientific and technological expertise and joint research in various fields of science, thus contributing to the development of cooperation and expansion of mutually beneficial relations on these issues.
The need of improving mechanisms for cooperation and expansion of mutually beneficial trade and investment relations in the framework of the OIC between Member States of the Organization and other leading countries is of particular importance too. After all, the Islamic world has a huge economic and investment potential, as well as energy resources to support high rates of sustainable economic and social development.
Thus, during the presidency of the Council of Foreign Ministers Uzbekistan will stand for strengthening the role of the OIC as an effective and authoritative forum of Muslim countries, with special emphasis on the issues of strengthening the scientific and educational, cultural and humanitarian potential of the organization.
In Uzbekistan there are convinced that by implementing abovementioned priorities it can be ensured peace, security and prosperity in the Muslim community.
Jahon Information Agency
