Upon the request of the Permanent Mission of Mauritania to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and in line with other regional groupings such as African Group and NAM (Non-aligned Movement), the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) Group in Geneva has received Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of new Government established after military take over in Mauritania, according to a press release of the OIC issued in Jeddah yesterday. During the meeting held at the weekend, which was chaired by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mohamed Mahmoud, Ould Mohamedou has briefed the participants about the latest development of the political situation in Mauritania and the engagement of the military Government to promote human rights, rule of law and democratic transition. It should be noted that the stand of the Organization of the Islamic Conference concerning the military take over in Mauritania was clearly stated by the OIC Secretary General in an earlier press release in which Ekmeleddin lhsanoglu expressed his concern over the military take over staged against the democratically elected government in Mauritania and detention of President and Prime Minister by the army officers. The Secretary General had also stated that he was particularly dismayed by this development as Mauritania had been exhibiting exemplary development towards the entrenchment of democracy and rule of law in the country with the visible positive role and support of its armed forces. Therefore, he had said, he would have wished that all matters related to the conduct of political process in the country to be handled within the democratic principles and supremacy of law. He had reminded that all Mauritanians and international community, as well as the OIC, had invested heavily in the democracy project in Mauritania and hoped that the armed forces would continue their positive role in favor of democracy. He had called for the restoration of democratic process as soon as possible including an immediate release of the President, Prime Minister and other members of the government.
