JEDDAH — The United Nations Security Council underscored the significance of enhanced cooperation and partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in achieving global peace and ending conflict. In a special session on “strengthening the partnership synergy between the UN and OIC” held on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York, both the international bodies reiterated their commitment to foster global dialogue on tolerance and peace. This is the first time such a special session was convened by the world's largest organization with regard to OIC, the second largest organization, according to an OIC press statement. In a presidential statement adopted by consensus, the Security Council reiterated its commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The statement, read out by the Azeri envoy, who chairs the rotating presidency of the Council, noted that the UN and OIC shared common objectives in promoting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and a political solution to the Syrian conflict. The meeting called for enhanced cooperation toward a better understanding across countries, cultures and civilizations. In his opening speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon thanked outgoing OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for his many years of leadership and contributions and congratulated incoming Secretary General Iyad Madani. Ban Ki-moon touched on various issues where the UN's work with OIC continued to be critical, including Palestine, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sudan, Mali and Somalia. He urged the OIC to do everything possible to rebuild confidence between Muslim communities, particularly between Sunnis and Shiites. “I believe the OIC could be uniquely placed to launch a major initiative working with the United Nations and others to help bring an end to this upheaval that has caused the loss of so many civilian lives and represents such a threat to wider security,” he said. Ban Ki-moon pointed out that terrorism, though not associated with any particular cultures or people, had disproportionately affected OIC countries. While emphasizing the need to address the conditions conducive to its spread, he emphasized that intercultural dialogue between and within faiths was more important than ever. “The UN and the OIC are working closely on issues ranging from conflict prevention and resolution to counter-terrorism, from human rights and humanitarian affairs to intercultural dialogue and sustainable development. The two bodies must continue to deepen their strategic dialogue,” he said. Addressing the Council session, Ihsanoglu vowed OIC's strong commitment to an active partnership with the UN in promoting peace, security and development. He also emphasized the need to reform the Security Council by promoting its transparency, accountability, adequate representation, and full democratization. “Our principled position is that any reform of the Security Council must ensure adequate representation of OIC member states in any category of membership, given that our organization represents 57 states and 1.6 billion people of the world population.” With its new vision of "moderation and modernization”, Ihsanoglu noted, OIC was playing an important role in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts, promoting post-conflict reconstruction, and defusing humanitarian crises. On numerous occasions, OIC had expressed its readiness to forge a partnership with the UN on early responses to disputes, he said. In the debate, delegates hailed OIC's track record in promoting peace and security, citing its mediation and other efforts in Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan and Myanmar, as well as its substantial connections in areas where the UN did not enjoy full access. While noting that OIC's cooperation with the UN had not reached its full potential, many envoys underlined the need for further strengthening the two bodies' cooperation in combating terrorism, resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Syrian crisis, and fostering peace in both the Sahel and Horn of Africa countries.
