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Dhaka gives 7 ideas to OIC


Published : 19 Feb 2020 08:41 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 11:13 AM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday placed seven ideas to make the OIC more relevant with reforms. “This reform is not cosmetic or administrative in nature. Rather, this reform is for making the organisation more relevant to the Ummah that it serves,” he said while inaugurating the ‘Second Brainstorming Session on Comprehensive Reform of the OIC’ at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka.

The two days session jointly co-chaired by Bangladesh, Turkey and Saudi Arabia for re-engineering legal, political and administrative architecture of the OIC is expected to come up with stronger policy recommendations. The recommendations will be discussed at the next council of Foreign Ministers to be held in April 2020 in Niamey, Niger.

In his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister urged the delegates from all OIC member states, OIC General Secretariat, and Organs of OIC to offer views and visions to identify areas, issues and possible solutions towards a comprehensive reform of the OIC. The foreign minister’s seven ideas are:

First, and in general, this reform process ought to be taken with an open mind, in collective perspective and not in the narrower purview of national interests. We must put the Ummah’s interest first. The visions of Islam was always synchretic and inclusive. OIC must also adhere to similar principles.

Second, we ought to consider means and mechanisms to strengthen the internal dynamics – its software - its role, functions, relations, tools, means, vision, strategies and possibilities in the context of new paradigms of international relations and new opportunities available to meet the emerging challenges of the Ummah.

The capability to rise up to the core challenges emanating from the deteriorating climatic conditions of the planet, rising chauvinism and protectionism in the field of trade and finance, disruptive innovations in technology – leading to possible shifts and retrenchments in productive conditions, amongst others, must be recognised as the core deliverables of the organisation.

Third, we must keep in mind that OIC is the Organisation representing exclusively the Muslim Ummah – its hope, aspirations and voice. A large part of the Ummah remains outside the OIC membership. The question of an equitable identity for the Muslim population must be incorporated into the domain of deliverables that the OIC mechanisms and programmes can shape. Relevant are also questions of how OIC conducts humanitarian diplomacy creating stable resources and management procedures. I must congratulate The Gambia, and indeed, the whole brotherhood of the OIC, for its innovative approach towards resolving the Rohingya crisis through international legal mechanism at the ICJ.

Fourth, we need to identify ways and means to engage non-state actors like the private sector and civil society that are emerging to make a difference in new partnership models. We must harness the energy of the youth and the women to encourage various professional associations and networks such as the STI community in furthering OIC objectives and advancing its collective agenda.

Fifth, in an era where individuals provide thought leadership, technology breaks boundary, and innovations disrupt, focused networking and thematic alliancing prove to be key in handling the 4 IR already knocking round the bend. We need to develop professional networks, thematic alliances and OIC culture of work in various human endeavors and use our soft power in dealing with hard problems more durably. Innovative ideas and thoughts are expected on how best to utilize civil paths to peace and soft powers including media, literature, art and culture at least for image righting if not for policy and strategy purposes.

Sixth, in view of the intensity of conflicts that we are witnessing across a greater part of the Muslim ummah, we need to ensure that mechanisms and initiatives created for dispute and conflict resolution and diffusion of tension through peaceful means like mediation, arbitration, joint diplomatic moves and peace- making/peace-building missions are activated, harmonised and put into operation. We must stop infighting amongst the Muslim Ummah.

Seventh, ideas and concepts should come suggesting innovative ways and means for faster development of the Muslim world using complementarities and strategic resources we possess. With peace and stability, development is also our priority as development solves many problems automatically.

Dr Momen congratulated the Gambia, and the whole brotherhood of the OIC, for its innovative approach towards resolving the Rohingya crisis through international legal mechanism at the ICJ. He beseeched delegates to identify ways and means to engage the private sector and civil society in new partnership models.

He urged to harness the energy of the youth and the women to encourage various professional associations and networks such as the STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) community in furthering OIC objectives and advancing its collective agenda. The Foreign Minister noted that Bangladesh always wants to ensure that mechanisms and initiatives created for dispute and conflict resolution and diffusion of tension through peaceful means like mediation, arbitration, joint diplomatic moves and peace-making/peace-building missions are activated, harmonized and put into operation.

He made a clarion call to stop the fratricidal conflicts plaguing the Muslim ummah. “We must stop in fighting among the Muslim Upmmah,” he said. As Co-Chair from the host country, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen conducted the inaugural ceremonies.