OIC foreign ministers wrap up meeting in Burkina Faso
Regional, Politics, 7/2/1999

Foreign ministers of member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) wound up on Thursday their 26th session.

Some 600 delegates, representing 55 Islamic member countries, called for a large autonomy in Kosovo, the safe return of all refugees and an end to the tension in Kashmir (disputed territory between India and Pakistan).

According to the OIC secretary general, Azeddine Laraki, the meeting was held in an international juncture marked by the crisis in the Balkans and the changes in the Middle East.

Laraki, a former Moroccan prime minister, stressed that the United Nations Organization has to play its role as a factor of peace in Kosovo.

Regarding the conflict in Kashmir, Laraki called India and Pakistan to start negotiations and authorize humanitarian organizations to ship aid to the populations.

The pan-Islamic organization also urged for resuming negotiations on the middle east conflicts, following the election of Israel's labor prime minister, Ehud Barak.

The foreign ministers also met to prepare for the OIC next year's summit in Qatar.

The meeting was also an opportunity to mark the 25th anniversary of the Islamic Development Bank "IDB" which has carried out since its creation over $ 18 billion worth investment in 53 member countries.

The 55-member country Organization was set up 30 years ago in Rabat.

Previous Stories:
  Common Syrian, Iranian stances in support of Lebanon   (7/1/1999)
  OIC foreign ministers meeting condemns Israel   (7/1/1999)
  OIC secretary calls on Pakistan, India for self-control   (6/2/1999)

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