The 43rd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Tashkent stressed the importance of maintaining security, integrity of lands and independence of the OIC member states.

The foreign ministers and heads of delegations of OIC member-states - who participate in the session due to wrap up work later Wednesday - recognized the leading role of the OIC in joining efforts to strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between the member states in political, economic, security, social, cultural, educational, scientific and other vital areas, an OIC statement said.

The conferees welcomed the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan on holding the 43rd Session of the CFM under the motto: «Education and Enlightenment - Path to Peace and Creativity».

"We once again place emphasis on the importance of ensuring security, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and respect for the legitimate
rights of member-states, as well as the need to resolve ongoing or emerging problems and conflicts through negotiations, with the use of political, diplomatic and international legal mechanisms based on the universally
recognized principles and norms of international law. In this regard, we support the new OIC Peace and Security architecture and the efforts of the OIC secretary general," read the statement.

"In the context of the motto of the Session: «Education and Enlightenment - Path to Peace and Creativity», we call upon member-states and relevant OIC institutions to continue and further expand the programs and activities in the field of higher education, in particular in the framework of Educational exchange program, put efforts to improve the training programs and courses, strengthen the links between higher educational institutions, promote the joint scientific and research projects, establish scholarships and programs of vocational training," added the statement.

"We note the need for dissemination of knowledge about enlightened Islam as an important tool to combat the ideology of terrorism, violent extremism and religious fanaticism. We highly appreciate the comprehensive efforts to combat radicalization and extremism using the true values of Islam and establishment of a broad educational process, inducting in the religious sphere. In this regard we note the positive role of the activities of the Tashkent Islamic University, which
has become one of the leading educational institutions in Central Asia in training the qualified theologians and religious scholars," the statement said. 

"We reiterate our full support for Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef, the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and return to their ancestral places of residence. In this context, we express support to the Arab Peace Initiative for the Middle East, as well as to fair and coordinated solution of the Palestinian refugee problem in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international law," added the statement.

"We underline the need for earliest stabilization of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa and other parts of the continent by way of urgent political resolution of crises in accordance with the principles of the UN and OIC Charters
and universally recognized international norms in order to bring to an end the sufferings of the people and the resultant migration and displacement of affected population," the statement said.

"We note that the earliest achievement of peace and stability in Afghanistan is an important factor in maintaining and strengthening security not only in the vast Asian continent, but also around the world. Reiterating the absence of a military solution to the Afghan problem, we support the settlement of the Afghan conflict through promotion of an inclusive process of national reconciliation and proceed from the fact that these efforts should be undertaken under the leadership of the Afghans and by the Afghans themselves, without putting any preconditions and under the central coordinating role of the UN in the process of international cooperation on Afghanistan," the statement said.

"We welcome the OIC efforts to convene an International Ulema Conference aimed at political reconciliation and restoring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan," the statement added.

"We reiterate that the struggle against terrorism and violent extremism in all forms and their manifestations, illicit production and trafficking of drugs, illegal trafficking of humans and arms, ammunition and explosives substances,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery should remain a priority of the OIC. We are convinced that these dangerous phenomena can be defeated and eliminated only through a joint action, elaborating the measures of influence both to the symptoms and the roots of these problems. We highly appreciate the launch of an OIC Messaging Centre to counter the sham narratives of radical and extremist groups. We are continuing to advocate for further close cooperation in the fight against terrorism, spread of extremist ideology, especially among youth," added the statement. 

"We underline the importance of sharing experience among OIC Member States in
addressing the issues of economic slowdown, introducing the innovative technologies, forming a favorable investment and business climate, implementing the long term mutually beneficial projects in priority areas of cooperation and infrastructure development. In this regard we commend the role played by COMSEC and other OIC Institutions in promoting intra OIC trade and exchange," added the statement.

"We affirm the special importance of development of tourism, as one of the sectors of economy, which contributes to a long-term sustainable growth, socioeconomic development, and as consequently, enhancement of mutual
understanding and promotion of tolerance among peoples and nations," the statement said. 

"We welcome the proposal made by Côte d’Ivoire to hold the 44th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC in Abidjan in June 2017," read the statement.

Source: MENA