The 37Th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan The 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Dushanbe 2010 BBK 86.38+87.717+87.3 (2Tadis) K-64 The 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Edited by Hamrokhon Zarifi The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Repulic of Tajikistan Dushanbe, “Vizaprint”, 2010, 172 pages, illustrated Series: Tajikistan Foreign Policy ISBN 978-99947-801-6-7 © Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan 2010 Introduction The Republic of Tajikistan, which pursues an «open door» foreign policy, is a member of many international and regional organizations and makes continuous efforts to develop closer and integrated relationship and cooperation with member states of these organizations. In this context, after gaining the state independence, the Republic of Tajikistan placed a particular emphasis on the issues of restoring and strengthening friendly and partnership relations with Muslim countries and took necessary measures in further developing these ties both on bilateral and multilateral levels. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as an effective mechanism of multilateral relations among Muslim countries is becoming increasingly important in the process of ensuring well-being and development of its member states, as well as bringing peace and stability in the Islamic world. Today, OIC as a collective voice of the Islamic world is urged to provide Muslim solidarity in social, economic and political spheres. The Organization is the guarantor of protection of interests of the Islamic world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among nations around the globe. Many positive changes and reforms aimed at development of all aspects of Organization’s activity have been carried out in recent years with the purpose of strengthening the Organization’s role in international arena. Adoption of a new Charter of the Organization in 2008, the Ten-Year Program of Action with consideration of necessity for reforms in the Organization in accordance with the requirements of the day and priorities of the Islamic world, establishment of the Islamic Solidarity Fund, as well as other measures taken within the past few years are clear examples of these transformations. Given the growing role of the Organization in international arena, Tajikistan shortly after the break-up of the Soviet Union as one of the first newly independent Central Asian countries joined the Organization of the Islamic Conference and considers its active participation in the Organization as an important aspect of its foreign policy. Therefore, Tajikistan, since joining the Organization, has been actively participating in all OIC Summits, Islamic Councils of Foreign Ministers, as well as other important meetings, widely supporting on this basis constructive efforts and closer cooperation between the OIC member states. Thanks to the constructive internal and external policies of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the image of the Republic of Tajikistan in international arena, as well as in the Islamic world is strengthened and developed. As a result of an «open door» policy of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon and his consistent efforts for implementation and development of bilateral and multilateral relations of Tajikistan with the Muslim countries, for the first time in the history of Tajikistan and Central Asia, one of the most important international events of the OIC, the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of member countries was held in Dushanbe where one-year chairmanship of the Organization was handed over to Tajikistan. Being held on 18-20 May 2010, the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers under the motto “Shared Vision of a More Secure and Prosperous Islamic World” is considered as a sign of growing attention of the Organization and its Member States to Central Asia, known in the history of Islam as «Mawaraunnahr» and underlines the contribution and cultural role of the region in the history of Islam. Along with this event, Dushanbe city was declared the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2010. Tajikistan-OIC Business Forum was held on the eve of the Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which is also a proof of a recognition of various achievements of our country in economic, scientific, cultural fields and establishment of lasting peace and overall stability and national unity, as well as valuable contribution of Tajikistan in the protection and enrichment of Islamic culture and education. The mentioned initiatives have been important steps for demonstration of cultural and economic environment of Tajikistan to the Islamic world. It will create favorable conditions for further development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Muslim countries in trade, economic and cultural fields. The present book is a compendium of the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States, which deservedly recognized as historic. It contains a wealth of meaningful information and illustrative photos about the Session as well as events that took place in the Tajik capital – Dushanbe in the days of the Session. I hope that it will serve as a reliable tool for getting familiar with the outcomes of this Session, which became a milestone in further promotion of Islamic solidarity and prosperity. HAMROKHON ZARIFI Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan The Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Republic of Tajikistan The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), being the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. As the collective voice of the Muslim world it plays a key role in fostering mutual coordination and cooperation between its Member States. The Organization ensures to safeguard and protect interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various peoples of the world. The Organization keeps wide consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. Along with it, the Organization has taken various steps to safeguard the true values of Islam and Muslims on a constant basis. The fundamental purposes of the Organization, as well as the objectives and principles of its activity, are focused on strengthening solidarity and cooperation among the Member States, as well as achievement of their sustainable development, enshrined in the Charter of the Organization, which was adopted at the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008. Adoption of the Charter of the Organization is a clear example of those numerous positive changes and transformations that have been carried out in recent years with a view of development of all aspects of activities of the Organization. Moreover, the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action was approved at the Third Extraordinary Makkah Summit in December 2005 after all-round discussions and deliberations. Today, the necessity is arisen to responsibly consider an issue of further implementation of the Ten-Year Program of Action within the Organization. Without any doubt, setting urgent issues of the modern life, reflected in the Program, will promote security and stability, as well as contribute to further development and prosperity of the Muslim world. The abovementioned measures demonstrate that the OIC as an important and influential structure of international cooperation, whose activities cover a large part of the world community, is in the process of continuous improvement according to conditions of dynamically developing world. Today, it is obvious that the activities of this Organization, which expresses the interests of the Islamic world and reflects wishes of all Muslims, are adequate and The 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers 5 continuously being adapted to the rapidly changing socio-economic conditions and emerging modern processes. Given the growing role of the Organization in international arena, the Republic of Tajikistan in December 1992, shortly after obtaining the state independence, joined the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Since the first days of joining the OIC, Tajikistan endeavors to establish good bilateral and multilateral relations with Muslim countries and strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Organization on the basis of historical, cultural, religious and civilizational commonalities with consideration of human aspects as a core principal. Therefore, the Republic of Tajikistan has broad and multifaceted cooperation with OIC Member States and its specialized agencies taking into account its national interests within the organization. The Parliament of the country ratified the new Charter of the Organization on 8 April 2009. Earlier, Tajikistan became a member of the OIC Parliamentary Union in 2007 and has established close cooperation with such entities of the Organization as the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO), Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), etc. Tajikistan considers its active participation in the organization as an important aspect of its foreign policy. On this basis, Tajikistan is interested in strengthening the Organization’s