IN THE NAME OF GOD

THE MOST COMPASSIONATE THE MOST MERCIFUL

Praise be to God and blessings and peace be upon His Prophet,

His Excellency President Yasser Arafat,

President of the State of Palestine

Your Highnesses and Excellencies

His Excellency Dr. Ezzedin Al-Iraqi,

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference

Distinguished audience.

I greet you with the best greeting, the greeting of Islam, Assalamu

Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuh.

 On behalf of the government and people of the State of Qatar, it gives me pleasure to welcome you in your country and among your kinsfolk and brothers to the 25th annual Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Conference.

 Your meeting is held under very critical and complicated circumstances, where the world is witnessing fundamental and successive political and economic changes which need awareness, discernment, consultation and cooperation. And your meeting’s agenda is fraught with several political, economic, social and cultural issues.

 Despite the multitude and importance of conflicts, disputes and discords prevailing in several parts of the world, yet we feel that the peace process in the Middle East is the principal axis which should attract our attention in the first place, since its stumbling down will threaten the region’s security and stability and will endanger the world security and peace.

 We in Qatar put emphasis on our commitment to peace as an indispensable strategic option. Commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace on all tracks including the Syrian and Lebanese tracks in accordance with the international legality resolutions, the Madrid conference, and the principle of land for peace including the complete withdrawal from the Golan Heights, and Southern Lebanon, enabling the Palestinian people to practice their established national rights, and to set up their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

It is indeed distressing to see the peace process reaching this extremely critical situation due to Israel’s non commitment to its obligations, and continued disregard of the resolutions of international legality, and persistence on imposing the fait accompli policy.

 Therefore it is the duty of the international community and the cosponsors of the peace process to put effective pressure on the Israeli government so that the peace process could achieve its aspired objectives.

 The issue of peace and security remains an obsession for humanity and our faith in God we the bearers of a sublime heavenly message impose on us to exert all efforts to achieve peace, security and development for all peoples in the world so that human values could prosper and stability and prosperity could prevail.

 Hence, on several occasions the State of Qatar expressed its concern about the ongoing wars, conflicts, ethnic elimination and violations of the rights of minorities in some countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Balkan, Africa and elsewhere.

 The State of Qatar also welcomed all agreements reached for the settlement of these problems, and furthermore endorses and supports the efforts exerted by the Organization of Islamic Conference and regional and international organizations to bring peace in several countries and territories with the objective of achieving security and stability for the peoples of the Muslim nation and of the world at large.

 Highnesses, Excellencies,

Distinguished audience,

 No doubt the phenomenon of terrorism is one of the problems facing the international community nowadays, as it is posing a direct threat to the rights of human beings to life, freedom and secure living. Also it represents a real risk to the stability of countries and their economic and social development, and moreover it contradicts the tenets of our true religion of Islam which is a religion of moderation, amity, tolerance and dialogue.

 While expressing our rejection and condemnation of all forms and manifestations of terrorism regardless of its motivations, objectives, means and modes, yet we feel that there should be a distinction between terrorism and the peoples struggle and their legitimate right to freedom and self determination in accordance with the rules of international law.

 Therefore, we are required to upgrade the code of behaviour for the combating of international terrorism and to draft an international agreement among member states of our Organization to fight international terrorism.

 Highnesses, Excellencies,

Distinguished audience,

 The economic dimension of Islamic solidarity should be kept at the top of priorities and our Organization is required to give it highest priority and include it in its continued efforts to find the appropriate conditions for the advancement of its peoples and the openness towards the fields of economic and commercial cooperation.

 This dimension remains one of the strongest factors capable of bringing rapprochement and inter-connection and establishing the common interests among the Organization’s member-states and help them to achieve progress and advancement in a world atmosphere of ever growing manifestations of globalization and economic blocks; and inadequate interest in the development and economic needs of the developing countries.

 No doubt the tireless work of the specialized bodies of our Organization to help the Muslim countries develop their economic structures and step up the inter state trade gives reason to be optimistic since it contributes to the realization of further achievements on the economic arena.

 Also the cooperation achieved in various fields among member states of our Organization gives reasons for a feeling of satisfaction, thanks to the great efforts exerted and still being exerted by the standing committees of political, economic, commercial, cultural, technical, scientific and information cooperation.

 However, there are still some obstacles which need to be overcome through more work on the part of our Organization in order to further boost cooperation and understanding among our Muslim countries.

 One of the main objectives of our Organization is to find solutions for the issues of our Muslim nation and to overcome the problems of poverty, starvation, backwardness, terrorism, pollution, drugs and deadly diseases.

 In the meantime it is the way to realise your conference’s slogan “For a better future of the Muslim nation”. This slogan encompasses notable and deep connotations which need a lot of hard work and sincere efforts.

 Highnesses, Excellencies

Distinguished audience,

 Mending our Organization’s conditions and reorganizing its structures is vital and needed for the sake of a better contribution of our joint march of cooperation. And all our countries in harmony with the aspirations of their peoples are invited to put into effect the reforms that are approved and agreed upon, and complete structures and institutions of the General Secretariat with the objective of providing all the necessary means to give a push to Islamic common action towards the goals aspired by our countries and to prove the credibility and success of our Organization.

 In this connection I would like to commend the good efforts being exerted by His Excellency the Secretary General of the Organization since his assumption of his post for the improvement the Organization’s performance, attempting to realize its objectives enabling it to shoulder its responsibility in the Muslim community and contributing a positive role on the international arena.

 Once again I would like to welcome you and in the name of God and with His blessings I announce the opening of the 25th session of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Conference; praying that the Almighty God might always bring us together on the path of welfare, to guide our steps to success and to crown your session’s work with success. Allah is hearing and answering.

 Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuh.