Islamic Summit roundup
Regional-Iran, Politics, 12/12/1997

The 8th Islamic Summit concluded its meetings yesterday in Tehran after issuing the Declaration of Tehran which determines the vision of the Islamic world towards the diverse political, economic, social and cultural issues which face the Islamic world.

Concluding three-days of deliberations, the summit approved some 142 political, cultural and economic resolutions prepared by earlier meetings of OIC foreign ministers.

The Summit also issued another declaration submitted by Malaysia regarding the Islamic vision of the future in addition to the concluding statement of the summit. The summit had been described by many as the summit of dignity, discussions, and strong participation.

The summit condemned the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian and Arab lands including holy Jerusalem, the Syrian Golan heights and South Lebanon. A declaration adopted by the 55 OIC member states, taking part in the summit praised Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian resisting to occupation.

The declaration strongly condemned Israel's policies and its aggressive and expansionist acts with the purpose of changing demographic and geographic conditions in the Palestinian territories especially in the city of Jerusalem. It stressed that Israel must halt "state terrorism", and called for making the Middle East free from nuclear and mass destruction weapons, noting Israel has to join the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and must subject all its nuclear installations to the guarantees of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The declaration also stressed the Islamic countries' intention to restore Jerusalem and inalienable Palestinian rights.

The conference expressed deep concern over military cooperation by some OIC member countries with Israel and demanded that these countries reconsider this cooperation with the purpose of canceling it because it endangers the security of Islamic countries, Turkey's name was not mentioned explicitly although this resolution was directed towards it.

The resolutions, endorsed successively, dealt with different issues of great concern to the Islamic world. Foremost of these issues is the Palestinian cause, and the situation in Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina the conflict of Jamo and Kashmire.

The Summit rejected the decision against those companies that deal wit Iran and Libya based on United States' Damato Act. Regarding Somalia, the summit called on all the Somali factions to cooperate for achieving the stability of Somalia.

Regarding the economic field, the summit stressed the importance of setting up a Joint Islamic Market through a unified Islamic strategy.

Following are excerpts from the declaration:

"Pledge solemnly to promote solidarity, peace and security within the Islamic world as a whole"

"Resolve to consolidate cooperation and coordination among the OIC member states."

"Emphasize that the establishment of Islamic common Market constitutes a significant step towards strengthening Islamic solidarity and enhancing the share of the Islamic world in all fields."

"Pledge their commitment to extend full support to Muslim communities and minorities in non-Muslim countries in collaboration with their governments and revival of Islamic civilization and identity."

"Entrust "the Group of Experts on the Image of Islam" to formulate and recommend pragmatic and constructive steps to counter negative propaganda, to remove and rectify misunderstandings, and to present the true image of Islam, the religion of peace, liberty and salvation."

"Emphasize their full respect for the dignity and the rights of Muslim women and enhancement of their role in all aspects of social life in accordance with Islamic principles."

"Strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while distinguishing terrorism from the struggle of peoples against colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation and their right for self-determination."

"Welcome the participation of the UN Secretary General at Tehran Summit as a sign of excellent relations between the UN and OIC, invite the UN Secretary General to pursue reform of the UN in a manner that ensures maximum democratization of the decision making within the UN system."

"consider the revival of the Islamic civilization a peaceful global reality, express their concern at tendencies to portray Islam as a threat to the world, and emphasize the need to establish understanding and interaction among various cultures, in line with the Islamic teachings of tolerance, justice and peace, denounce various manifestations of cultural invasion."

Previous Stories:
  Summit's deliberations concluded   (12/11/1997)

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