ISTANBUL - The UAE is absolutely
committed to the principles of respecting sovereignty of states and their
territorial integrity and adopting a policy of good neighborliness, Dr. Anwar
bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs told the
preparatory meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey.
The ministers are to hammer out agenda
of the 14-15 April OIC Summit Conference.
Dr. Gargash said the 13th Session of the
Islamic Summit Conference is being convened amidst very critical and delicate
circumstances the Islamic World is passing through.
''Extremism, terrorism and
sectarianism have become the scourge that threaten to undermine the national
structure of the state, tear apart the social fabric, communal harmony, and
pose a risk to national and regional security as well as international peace
and security,'' he noted.
Firmly recognizing the important role
that thought can play in correcting the misconception of linking violence to
Islam, the UAE has established the Hedaya Center for countering violent
extremism, hosted the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies under the
leadership of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, and has launched, in partnership with
the United States, the Sawab Center to harness the social media networking
sites to refute malicious propaganda of terrorist organizations, notably Daesh,
and respond to its mischievous fatwas, and to correct misconceptions they try
to spread.
''With their geographic extension and
cultural diversity, the OIC member states are in a desperate need to emphasize
on these principles to establish normal ties between them. Building on this
belief, the UAE is absolutely committed to the principles of respecting
sovereignty of states and their territorial integrity and adopting a policy of
good neighborliness,'' the UAE minister added.
''On the other hand, we confirm our
categorical rejection of interference into the internal affairs of other
states, particularly if that intervention could stir up sectarian strife and
trigger troubles and sedition among citizens. We also call on all member states
to pursue a policy that respects international law, abandons illusions of
hegemony, stops support for armed militias and tampering with components of the
nation state,'' he said.
Following is the full text of
Gargash's speech: Mr. President, The 13th Session of the Islamic Summit
Conference which is taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, is being convened amidst
very critical and delicate circumstances the Islamic World is passing through.
Extremism, terrorism and sectarianism
have become the scourge that threaten to undermine the national structure of
the state, tear apart the social fabric, communal harmony, and pose a risk to
national and regional security as well as international peace and security.
Reading this reality and out of the
desire to address and confront these threats, the UAE believes the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has a core role to play in the following matters:
First, the prevailing fears by some Islamic countries and Muslims which gave
rise to Islamophobia requires the OIC to exert relentless efforts to correct
the negative mind-set about our tolerant religion and promote its essence of
centrism and tolerance. It needs a collective comprehensive cultural,
intellectual and media strategy which engages both scholars and religious
institutions to correct misconceptions about Islam by renewal of the religious
rhetoric, promotion of Islam's core values of tolerance and peace and rejection
of extremism and violence.
Firmly recognizing the important role
that thought can play in correcting the misconception of linking violence to
Islam, the UAE has established the Hedaya Center for countering violent
extremism, hosted the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies under the
leadership of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, and has launched, in partnership with
the United States, the Sawab Center to harness the social media networking
sites to refute malicious propaganda of terrorist organizations, notably Daesh,
and respond to its mischievous fatwas, and to correct misconceptions they try
to spread.
Second, the OIC member states maintain
wide diversity in the structure of their people socially, culturally and
humanitarianly but there is a common factor which is to adhere to the goals of
Islam and its values of centrism, moderation, tolerance and acceptance of the
other which together represent the foundations of Islamic civilization. This is
what urges us to call on the OIC to work diligently to co-ordinate stances and
policies so as to address delicate, perilous challenges and circumstances our
Islamic World is experiencing including the increasingly dangerous phenomena of
terrorism and violence which don the cloak of Islam.
Though a majority of victims of
terrorism are Muslims, the stereotype that some people have by one way or
another is the link between Islam and violence.
Therefore, we expect the OIC to urge
its member states to take decisive action against all forms of terrorism,
regardless of their motivation, track down perpetrators, dry up financial
sources of terrorism, and adopt national and international mechanisms to reach
these goals. To do this, the OIC should have an effective framework to ensure
the minimum level of concerted policies among its member states so as to speak
with one voice at international gatherings.
Third, to arrive at these objectives,
member states should set aside their differences that arose from divergent
political opinions towards some issues and files, and they are urged to rise
above these disagreements to replace divergence with convergence, and agree to
a joint strategy for development and enlightenment of the Islamic peoples in
the social, economic and cultural fields.
As a pool of the Islamic World, the
OIC should honestly reflect the constructive role of Islam in establishing
collaborative ties with other states in general and between member states in
particular. It needs to have a convincing, true rhetoric that respects
diversity without compromising national sovereignty of individual states,
guided by the words of Allah! ''O mankind! We created you from a single (pair)
of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know
each other.'' Fourth, you are well aware of the firm principles of
international relations that were laid down by the international law which call
for respecting regional sovereignty of states and non-interference into the
internal affairs of other states. Commitment to these principles is a sure
guarantee to realize security and stability in inter-state relations.
With their geographic extension and
cultural diversity, the OIC member states are in a desperate need to emphasize
on these principles to establish normal ties between them. Building on this
belief, the UAE is absolutely committed to the principles of respecting
sovereignty of states and their territorial integrity and adopting a policy of
good neighborliness.
On the other hand, we confirm our
categorical rejection of interference into the internal affairs of other
states, particularly if that intervention could stir up sectarian strife and
trigger troubles and sedition among citizens. We also call on all member states
to pursue a policy that respects international law, abandons illusions of
hegemony, stops support for armed militias and tampering with components of the
nation state.
Fifth, being a staunch advocate of the
rule of law and of peaceful settlement of international disputes, the UAE -
from this platform, calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to positively respond
to the repeated initiatives by the UAE to reach a peaceful solution that ends
the Iranian occupation of its three islands - Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu
Mousa - either through direct negotiations or recourse the issue to the
international arbitration in line with the United Nations Charter and principle
of international law. Solving this long dispute will contribute to building
confidence measures; promote the policy of good neighborliness on a historic
stage that requires solidity and realization of mutual interest conducive to
stability in our region, which was rocked by troubles.
