The capital of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, will host the Forty-fourth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 10 and 11 July 2017. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, will deliver the opening speech of the meeting. He will be followed by the Secretary General of the OIC Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, who will give a speech that reflects the Organization's vision and stance on challenges and current issues facing the Islamic world. Al-Othaimeen will also review programs and activities implemented within the framework of the Joint Islamic action. Also at the opening session, the Chairmanship of the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, will be handed over by the Republic of Uzbekistan, President of the forty-third session, to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, OIC spokesman, indicated that the two-day conference will be concluded by the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration. The Foreign Ministers will discuss several issues, most salient of which are those relating to the Palestinian cause , the situation in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic and other current political issues, as well as issues of Muslim communities in non-member countries, especially Myanmar. Ambassador Bakhit pointed out that the Conference will discuss resolutions on combating terrorism and extremism, disarmament and combating Islamophobia as well as issues related to humanitarian, economic, media, science and technology, IT, cultural, social, family, dialogue and communication issues. On the sidelines of the Conference, meetings of Contact Groups on Jammu and Kashmir and on Muslims in Europe will be held as well as a special brainstorming session where recommendations and initiatives will be made on the theme of the 44th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers: "Youth, Peace and Development in a World of Solidarity".
