Rais Leads Malaysian Delegation To OIC Council Of Foreign Ministers
By S. Retnanathan
PUTRAJAYA, June 16 (Bernama) — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Rais Yatim will lead a Malaysian delegation comprising senior Ministry
officials to the three-day, 35th Session of the Council of Foreign
Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Kampala,
Uganda, beginning June 18.
Previously known as the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
(ICFM), the 35th Session, now known as the Council of Foreign Ministers
of the OIC (CFM) is an annual meeting of foreign ministers of OIC
member states.
The council is expected to consider proposals by member states and
to review progress in the implementation of OIC resolutions adopted at
the 34th ICFM, held in 2007, in Islamabad, Pakistan.
“Malaysia will announce its ratification of the revised OIC charter, becoming the second member state to do so, after Senegal.
“Among issues that Malaysia would bring forth to the council
concerns the need for OIC member states to act in unison and
unselfishly for the betterment of the ummah, in particular, resolving
the stalemate of the Palestinian Peace Process,” Rais told Bernama in
an interview at his office here Monday.
The conference will also discuss the current oil and food crises,
propose that the OIC Secretariat undertake follow-up action on the
outcome and recommendations of the 3rd International Conference and
deliberate on bridging the gap between Muslims and the West.
It would also be used to ensure agreements, statutes and organs of
the OIC remain current to the changing global demands, call on all OIC
member states to renew their interest and implement decisions,
agreements and activities of the OIC, including poverty alleviation
projects through capacity building programmes.
“Malaysia’s initiatives include the establishment of the
International Zakat Organisation (IZO), the development of
international halal standards and the establishment of the
International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI Alliance), and
collaborations in various projects in the field of science and
technology under the science and technology Vision 1441H.
“Early harvest projects such as Collaboration of Computer
Emergency Response Team Among OIC Member Countries (OIC-CERT) and
e-learning (Pintar Learning) will be brought to the attention of the
conference,” said Rais.
He said the conference would also allow Malaysia to reiterate its
positions on vital international issues, as well as enhance the
existing role played by Malaysia on matters concerning the Ummah.
