ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (APP):Highlights of the inaugural session of the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers’ (CFM) moot under the theme ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development:
— The foreign ministers of OIC member states, foreign guests, delegates, parliamentarians and media persons started arriving at 0900 hours
— Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi greeted the dignitaries, distinguished guests and participating delegates.
— Prime Minister Imran Khan made his entry to the venue at 1115 hours. He was flanked by OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Islamic Development Bank President Dr Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasser, and Chair of the 47th OIC-CFM Hassoumi Massoudou.
— The meeting commenced at 11:18am with the recitation of few verses from the Holy Quran underlining the commandments of Almighty Allah to keep unity among the ranks of Muslims and have strong faith in the Omnipotent.
— As the session started, the national anthem of Pakistan was played on the occasion.
— A short video of the OIC journey covering decades long struggle to protect interests of the Muslim Ummah was screened in the House at 1121 hours.
— Foreign Minister of the Republic of Niger and also the Chair of the 47th Session of the OIC Hassoumi Massoudou, in his opening remarks, highlighted the role of Nigeria as the Chair of the CFM to hold seminars and webinars on the challenges faced by the Ummah in the shape of extremism and Islamophobia.
— After concluding his speech, Massoudu invited Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to officially hand over the Chair of the 48th Session of the OIC-CFM.
— The Pakistani FM started his speech at 1136 hours while underscoring the need of unity to synergize scientific and intellectual pool of OIC member states.
— Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan extended Pakistan felicitations on its 75th Independence Day anniversary and assuming the Chair of the 48th CFM.
— He highlighted the role of Muslim countries to achieve peace in Afghanistan and avert tragic humanitarian crisis there.
— OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha commenced his speech at 1207 hours saying that Ukraine and Russia crisis could cause serious impacts on the economy of the OIC member states which was 28 per cent of the world population.
— A video message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was played during the session at 1247 hours in which he urged the Muslim world to develop unity and cohesion for peace and development of humanity.
— Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi delivered a statement on behalf of regional groups.
— Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi started his speech at 1306 hours on behalf of the Arab Group and underlined that terrorism and violent extremism were common enemies, destabilizing the Muslim countries.
— “We need to work together to promote tolerance of others and convince others for our just causes for peaceful cohabitation,” he remarked.
—IsDB President Dr Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasser, in his speech at 1329 hours, emphasized to build economic linkages between the OIC member countries
— He informed the session that the OIC and the IsDB had signed the Charter of the Humanitarian Trust Fund for Afghanistan to ease the suffering of millions of Afghan people
— “This is the first but very pivotal step that will pave the way for operationalisation of Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund,” the IsDB President added.
— Chinese FM Wang Yi, in his address at 1340 hours, expressed his country’s desire to work with the Muslim countries for development and rejuvenation.
— He said China would never be missed for supporting the people of Palestine and Kashmir in their just freedom struggle.
— “We support the choice of people of Afghanistan for their recognition as a sovereign country,” he noted.
— He went on saying that China would always support Russia and Ukraine to hold dialogue for peace and de-escalate the tension to avert the conflict.
— Prime Minister Imran Khan started his speech at 1350 hours. He received appreciation from the House for stating the real definition of Islam before the world, while countering the Western propaganda.
— The prime minister made an extempore speech by highlighting challenges faced by the Muslim world, Islamophobia, hate speech, violent extremism and human rights violations in Kashmir and Palestine.
