SPECIAL REPORT: 38 CFM
Zibari: The OIC exhorted great efforts in bringing Iraqis together Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari said that the OIC had consistently played a positive and constructive role in supporting Iraq, particularly its efforts in uniting the Iraqi religious sects on adopting the Makkah Document. “It is to the credit of the OIC that it exhorted great effort in bringing the Iraqi religious sects together to adopt the Makkah Document,” said Zebari to the OIC Journal. He said that this Document enters the history of Iraq for its importance and vision, which called for tolerance, Islamic agreement and national Iraqi reconciliation. He added that the OIC has always stood by Iraq in all the international gatherings in support of its security, stability and prosperity. He appreciated the visits by the Secretary General to Iraq. The most recent visit by the Secretary General was in March 2011. The Assistant Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs also visited Baghdad in April 2011. The outcomes of those visits emphasized the strength of the relations between Iraq and the OIC. “We look forward to hosting the next ministerial meeting in Baghdad in order to emphasize the role of Iraq in the OIC because it was one of the founding members,” said Zebari. Iraq had submitted a request to host the 39th Session of the CFM, but the Member States voted in favor of Djibouti, which had also requested to host it. It was the first time in the history of the OIC meeting that a matter was settled by a secret ballot vote. Djibouti received the highest number of votes by a large majority.
Resolution on the situation in Iraq: The Thirty-eighth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers adopted a resolution on the situation in Iraq in
which it reiterated its respect for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and national unity; and welcomed the development achieved in the political process. It also appreciated the efforts of the Government of Iraq in improving the security situation and raising the standard of living in Iraq; and welcomed the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions 1956, 1957 and 1958 on 15 /12/ 2010 which ended the restrictions imposed on Iraq in the area disarmament, the closure of the remaining deals in the Oil for Food Program, the ending of the operation of the Iraq Development Fund as representing an important turning point on the path to restoring Iraq’s role in the international community as an effective member of the international family. Furthermore, the Council renewed its support to reconstruction and welcomed the efforts of the Government of Iraq in this regard and reiterated the right of the Iraqi people to control and administer their natural resources. It also welcomed the decisions made by a number of States to reopen their diplomatic missions in Iraq, and called upon all States that do not have representations in Baghdad to follow suit. Referring to the Makkah Document on the situation in Iraq adopted on 20 October 2006, the Council stressed on the need to follow up the implementation of this important document. The Resolution invited all states to control fatwas and operate an effective mechanism to preclude action that ignites the embers of sectarian sedition and charges of disbelief that target the unity of Muslims. The Council lauded the position of the State of the United Arab Emirates and the steps taken by the Paris Club in settling Iraq’s debts, and called on Member States to review Iraq’s debts with a view to cancelling or reducing them whenever necessary. Moreover, it invited all Member States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in order to combat illicit trade in and smuggling of Iraqi antiquities and to assist in returning them to Iraqi museums.
Resolution on the humanitarian situation: The CFM expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the OIC humanitarian mission to Iraq and expressed deep concern over the critical humanitarian situation in the country mainly among the orphans, widows and people with special needs. It requested the General Secretariat to develop programs for orphans in Iraq similar to the one implemented in favor of Tsunami affected children in Indonesia and called upon all Member States, financial institutions and civil society organizations to generously contribute in this program. 28
the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org June - August 2011