The 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states kicked off here today, under the theme "50 Years of Islamic Cooperation: a roadmap for prosperity and development." Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the valuable efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to preserve the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world. Sheikh Abdullah thanked OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen and his team for their efforts to promote joint cooperation and coordination among member states, to achieve the objectives of the organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary, calling for conducting a preventive study to confront terrorism and extremism to ensure stopping and non-embrace of all extremist ideas. For his part, the Secretary General of the (OIC) delivered a speech in which he expressed thanks and appreciation of the UAE leadership, government and people for hosting the session, in addition to the hospitality and good reception. Dr. Al-Othaimeen also sincerely thanked the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for the generous care received by the OIC from its headquarters' state. Highlighting the continuing efforts of the secretariat to implement the resolutions of the OIC summit and follow-up the issues relating to the Palestinian cause and the situation in Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Djibouti, Comoros, he expressed hope that these efforts will achieve the desired stability. Reiterating OIC keenness on the stability, security and prosperity of Iraq, he pointed out that the secretariat is working hard to organize a reconstruction conference, in Iraq, through consultation with the Iraqi government and other member states, to take the necessary preparations and mobilize financial resources. OIC Secretary General also referred to other important issues that the organization is pursuing in its efforts, including the issues of Muslim communities in non-member countries, the phenomenon of Islamophobia, the consolidation of the concept of dialogue between nations and civilizations and the establishment of a framework to combat all manifestations of intolerance, discrimination and xenophobia.
