Statement by H.E. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, The Secretary General of the OIC at the General Conference Paris, 31 October 2011

Madam President of the General Conference, Honorable Ministers, Excellency Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO Distinguished Delegates,

It gives me great pleasure to address this important General Conference of UNESCO. I am happy to see that under the able and wise leadership of its Director-General Mrs. Irina Bokova, UNESCO has achieved significant progress in key areas of its activities.

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The OIC applauds the significant vote and rightful recommendation of the Executive Board, to admit Palestine’s bid for full membership in UNESCO, and commends this very constructive and objective resolution. Therefore, the OIC calls upon UNESCO’s General Conference to adopt it, in order to foster the Palestinians legitimate aspirations for statehood and increase the possibilities for a lasting peace based on the vision of the two-state solution. After long years of occupation and oppression, it is now high time for the admission of Palestine to the UN and UNESCO. This is also imperative to create conditions to end ongoing violations in the occupied Palestinian territories through confiscating lands, demolishing houses, building illegal settlements, constructing the apartheid wall, erecting hundreds of checkpoints, detaining thousands of Palestinians and imposing unjust blockade on Gaza. The systematic process of altering the historical Arab-Islamic identity of the holy city by Judaizing occupied East Jerusalem, the efforts to change its demographic composition and the excavations underneath the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, is nothing short of an attack on the culture of a great civilization. UNESCO has responsibility to protect, preserve and promote the historical, cultural, natural, and heritage sites in East Jerusalem and I would to like reiterate my strong call to initiate appropriate actions in this regard.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need not have to emphasize the important and pivotal role of UNESCO in today’s world, where cultural diversity, intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue have become major challenges for a global order based on peace, mutual understanding and respect.

Distinguished Delegates,

It is a matter of great concern for the OIC and indeed for the entire international community that Islamophobia has emerged as a new form of racism. The prevailing situation calls for a structured and committed engagement to work out a mechanism to study and address the sources and root causes of this malaise.

The OIC’s initiative with the US and European Governments in drafting UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18 entitled “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief” and its unanimous adoption on March 21, 2011, broke the myth that a meeting of minds on the issue of intolerance was not possible. On 15 July, 2011 in Istanbul, the

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OIC hosted a Ministerial Meeting co-chaired with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the implementation of UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18. The OIC’s firm commitment to human rights is also reflected by the establishment of an Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights within the OIC.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Poverty and lack of access to basic needs such as education and health care are stains to the technological advancements of the 21st Century. We must shoulder a collective responsibility in adopting a strategy for holistic and all inclusive development and progress.

Education and Science are critical to human development and thus should always remain a priority. We are encouraged by the steady progress registered in the OIC Member States over the past few years in the field of Science and Technology. From an average spending of 0.2% of the GDP on R&D in 2005, the percentage has doubled to 0.41% in 2011. The number of scientific publications in international journals by scientists and engineers has risen from 18,391 in the year 2000 to 63,342 in the year 2010. The number of researchers, scientists and engineers in the OIC countries has risen from 250 per million to 649 per million. However, the OIC countries still have a long way to go.

Education and Scientific knowledge have to reach the youth, women and children who are vulnerable segments of society. Access to education is not only a necessity but also a basic human right. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) along with its subsidiary, specialized and affiliated organs is committed to promoting the status of women, children and youth in the Muslim world, which will help them contribute in building and maintaining peace and stability, and achieving prosperity and progress in their societies. The high priority accorded by the OIC to these issues is reflected in the OIC Plan of Action for Advancement of Women adopted in Cairo in 2008 and other related action programs.

Madam President,

In conclusion, allow me this opportunity to reiterate the OIC’s commitment to continue to cooperate and coordinate with UNESCO. The establishment of the OIC Liaison Office at the UNESCO Headquarters validates this commitment. I would also like to emphasize that the need for diversity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence has emerged very strongly in our present day and this requires continuous cooperation among our Member States and institutions.

I would also like to recall that Palestine’s request for full membership to UNESCO dates back to 1989 and has been reiterated at each session of the General Conference. Today, we are on the verge of a historic vote whereby, I am sure, the General Conference will approve the admission of Palestine to UNESCO allowing it to claim its rightful place in the international arena.

I thank you for your attention.

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