The First OIC Ministerial Conference on Water to be held in Istanbul on the sidelines of the 5th World Water Forum
The one-day OIC Ministerial Meeting on Water with the theme “Water Vision for OIC” is set to be held on March 20, 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey, on the sideline of the 5th World Water Forum.

The Conference will be chaired by the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and will provide an opportunity to discuss one of the most significant and sensitive issues facing the Muslim World.

The OIC initiative of convening the first-ever OIC Conference of Ministers responsible for Water is becoming a reality thanks to generous and comprehensive assistance of the Government of Turkey and personal support of His Excellency Prof. Dr. Veysel Eroglu, the Minister of Environment and Forestry of Turkey.

The increasing world population, decreasing water resources and increasing pollution in water resources as well as effects of global warming have made the issue of water one of the most important problems facing the 21st Century.

Within the OIC there is already a degree of political will to overcome these problems and giving high importance to the issue of the environment in particular the impact and effects of climate change to supply of water.

It is expected that in line with the new overall vision of the organization the OIC Ministers responsible for Water will discuss and formulate concrete proposals regarding cooperation on water through the initiative of preparing an OIC Water Vision.

It should be mentioned here that the First OIC Conference of Ministers responsible for Water is being arranged under the framework of the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the OIC.

Ihsanoglu discusses political development in Darfur with Al-Bashir
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu met on March 14, 2009 with the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum, where he discussed with him political developments related to the Darfur crisis. He expressed OIC’s solidarity with the Sudanese people "during this hardship they are going through", in reference to the political repercussions that followed the issuance of the arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese President al-Bashir.

The Secretary General stressed the rejection of the OIC of the double standards pertaining to the issue of justice, particularly in regard to the extradition of those accused of committing war crimes in Darfur. However, he noted that the exit from this crisis would be through doing everything required by justice, at the same time expressing confidence in the Sudanese judicial system with respect to dealing with this issue.

On the other hand, the Secretary General reiterated the OIC's position on the International Criminal Court's decision, on which the OIC Executive Committee expressed its position during its meeting in Jeddah in August 2008, and the OIC's press release issued on this matter, which criticized the move of the ICC concerning the Sudan. He noted the negative impacts of this decision on the ongoing efforts to reach a solution to the Darfur crisis, and the strengthening of security and lasting peace in the Sudan.

In turn, President Al-Bashir expressed the appreciation of the people and leadership of Sudan for the OIC's solidarity with his country, and reiterated the Sudanese government's keenness to achieve peace in Darfur, pointing out the importance of redoubling efforts for the further implementation of humanitarian and developmental programs in Darfur.

The Sudanese President welcomed the efforts made by the OIC for convening a conference on the reconstruction of Darfur, pointing out the necessity of intensification of humanitarian and developmental activities of the humanitarian organizations in Darfur.

In his statement to the media after meeting Al-Bashir in Khartoum, Ihsanoglu said that the talks with the President focused on the role of humanitarian relief organizations of the OIC Member States in the relief operations in Darfur, expressing his belief that "the Organization of the Islamic Conference forms a good and essential framework to overcome the current crisis, particularly that the clashing parties in Darfur are Muslims." He also stated that he discussed with Al-Bashir the issue of holding a donors conference for the development and reconstruction of Darfur, which is expected to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the OIC.

The Secretary General also stressed the "need to work hard at the national and international levels", noting that the OIC will continue its contacts at the United Nations "in the General Assembly and the Security Council...", emphasizing the significant role played by the OIC ambassadors in Geneva and New York and stressing the support of the OIC to the Sudanese people.

During his visit to Sudan, Ihsanoglu also met with Ms. Amira Haq, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator to Sudan, upon her request. Ms. Amira Haq briefed the Secretary General on the efforts undertaken by the United Nations in providing humanitarian assistance in Darfur.

In the meeting, the Secretary General stated that his visit to Khartoum comes within the context of consultation with the Sudanese government about the repercussions of the ICC's decision and to look for ways for resolving the Darfur crisis, noting the developments taking place in the relations between the OIC and the United Nations in various fields.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during his visit to Gaza
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during his visit to Gaza on March 15, 2009 in support of Gaza people and what they endured during the recent Israeli aggression in December and January. He toured the camps and sites that were bombarded and spoke to the people. Ihsanoglu was accompanied by a large delegation representing the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the OIC, the Islamic Solidarity Fund, the Islamic Development Bank and a number of humanitarian organizations from the Member States. The OIC is donating $100 million for the reconstruction of Gaza.

 

 

 Khamenei lauds OIC initiatives in strengthening solidarity among Muslims
During his participation in the Tenth Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Tehran on March 11, 2009, Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, Secretary General of the OIC, had a meeting in camera with Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei lauded the major initiatives taken by the Secretary General since taking office at the helm of the OIC General Secretariat and expressed his appreciation for the fact that the OIC has now become more active in many fields. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the OIC`s important role in strengthening rapprochement and solidarity among the Muslim countries.

The OIC Secretary General also separately met with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani and Minister of Foreign Affairs Manouchehr Mouttaki, to exchange views on the cooperation projects to be conducted within the framework of the OIC.

In his statement addressed to the leaders of the ECO Member States, the Secretary General underlined the importance of the Summit as an opportunity for all the ECO Member States, who are all at the same time members of the OIC, to jointly evaluate the current global economic crisis under all its aspects and discuss the measures to be taken in dealing with it. He pointed out that in the present climate of economic crisis, the Member States must seriously consider further increasing cooperation and raising the volume of trade amongst themselves through engaging in concrete projects and signing the economic cooperation agreements of the OIC.

OIC urges Manila and MNLF to strike compromise
The OIC urged the Philippines Government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to enter into a “compromise solution” for the full implementation of the 1996 final peace agreement signed between them. Ambassador Sayyed Qasem El-Masry, OIC special envoy, made the call to the government and the MNLF on behalf of the Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu during the conclusion of the third session of the Government-MNLF-OIC tripartite meeting in Manila on March 11-13, 2009.

In his message read by El-Masry, Ihsanoglu said that thirteen years after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement and thirty three years since the Tripoli agreement is a very long time by any standards, and a very long wait for the Bangsamoro people who put their confidence in their leaders and the promise of long awaited peace that we give them hope for a better life and a prosperous future. “We cannot allow this process to go on forever. We cannot continue to participate in a process that will give the people false hopes. We have to put a time frame for this process and a bench mark to measure its success or failure,” he added.

He concluded his statement by expressing hope that he will have the pleasure to communicate to the leaders of the OIC Member States at their next meeting due to be held in May 2009, in Damascus, Syria, the results achieved in the meeting as a continuation of the OIC dedicated efforts in contribution towards safeguarding peace and stability in the world.

A joint communiqué by the government and the MNLF after the meeting said they had agreed to form a legal panel to propose improvements in the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The communiqué also proposed the establishment of a peace and development fund mechanism for Mindanao to be supported by the OIC’s member states and special bodies. The two sides also affirmed their commitments to “preserve the primacy” of the 1996 agreement.

COMSTECH Announces Research Grants for young scientists of the OIC member states
OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), has announced joint research grants for the young scientists of the OIC member states.

Fourteen grants amounting to $15000 each shall be awarded to young scientists (under 40 years old) for projects of maximum 18 months duration. COMSTECH and TWAS have allocated US $ 200,000 per annum for this program.

COMSTECH has set March 31, 2009 as the first and August 31, 2009 as the second deadline for submitting applications to either COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan or to TWAS in Trieste, Italy. The aspiring young scientists must be resident nationals of any of the OIC member states.

Application form and more information about eligibility conditions, requirements, and contact person's phone numbers, email and postal addresses is available at www.comstech.org and www.twas.org.

The program aims at encouraging the pursuit of scientific excellence in OIC member states by identifying and supporting the best young scientists. It also aims at counteracting the brain drain and reducing the exodus of scientific talent from these countries.

The priority areas for research projects under this program include earth sciences, engineering sciences, information technology and computer sciences, materials science including nanotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and renewable energy.

COMSTECH-TWAS Joint Research Program for the scientists of the OIC member states is the outcome of a bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation as agreed by both the organizations on the eve of 25th anniversary celebrations and 19th General Meeting of TWAS from 10 - 13 November, 2008 in Mexico City.

During the meeting it was agreed that TWAS will provide $100,000 annually with a matching grant of US $100,000 by COMSTECH per annum to launch the cooperative program.

COMSTECH, founded in 1981, is based in Islamabad, Pakistan and strives to promote science, technology and research in the OIC member states. TWAS, Academy of Sciences for the Developing World is an autonomous international organization founded in Trieste, Italy in 1983 with principal aim to promote scientific capacity and excellence for science-based development in the South.

Kazakhstan adopts law on Islamic finance
Kazakhstan became the first CIS (Commonwealth for Independent Countries) country to develop legal framework for Islamic finance.

The importance of developing a legal framework for Islamic finance in Kazakhstan emerged a few years ago and was well supported by government bodies and private sector. In 2007, the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Regulation of Activities of the Regional Financial Center of Almaty City (ARA RFCA) created a working group including both state bodies’ representatives and market players. RFCA attracted special grant from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and invited top experts from around the world to ensure a high level of expertise.

In 2008, the working group led by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Supervision and Regulation of Financial Market and Financial Organizations (FSA) worked out draft law on Islamic finance and submitted it to the Parliament.

The Law creates important conditions and legal framework required for Islamic financial instruments, operations of Islamic banks, Islamic special purpose vehicles and Islamic investment funds. Islamic financing is one of the promising directions of the Kazakhstan securities market development.

The Law on Islamic Finance will help Kazakhstan to further explore the country’s leadership as the center for international investments in the CIS and Central Asian region. It will also help Almaty, already the business and financial hub of the region, to become the center of Islamic finance of Central Asia. The Law expands investment opportunities between Kazakhstan and the Middle East and South-East Asia.