Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU836
2006-06-07 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO STRENGTHEN OIC'S INTERNATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0714 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHMRE RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0836/01 1581107 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071107Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0513 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA SZ PRIORITY 0166
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 BAKU 000836
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO STRENGTHEN OIC'S INTERNATIONAL
TIES TO OSCE AND OTHER INT'L ORGANIZATIONS
REF: A. STATE 78445
B. BAKU 757
Classified By: CDA Jason P. Hyland for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 BAKU 000836
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO STRENGTHEN OIC'S INTERNATIONAL
TIES TO OSCE AND OTHER INT'L ORGANIZATIONS
REF: A. STATE 78445
B. BAKU 757
Classified By: CDA Jason P. Hyland for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM)
Vagif Sadiqov told Charge June 5 that the GOAJ planned to use
its chairmanship of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) to expand the OIC's cooperation with
regional bodies such as the OSCE, ASEAN and other
organizations, on terrorism, law enforcement and
transnational issues. The GOAJ will begin its chairmanship by
hosting the OIC ministerial in Baku from June 19-21. Sadiqov
reported that the OIC Ministerial Agenda includes issues that
are rolled over from meeting-to-meeting, such as the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as education and social
development in the Muslim world. However, the DFM reported
that he did not believe there were any (for the OIC)
inflammatory resolutions on the table for the ministerial.
The OIC ministerial will also discuss Iran's nuclear program
urging a peaceful settlement to the problem consistent with
the position of the international community. The DFM informed
Charge that after the Baku ministerial, OIC member states
that neighbor Iraq plan to remain in Baku to discuss the
Iraqi political situation. The DFM did not report any new
information on the GOAJ position regarding Magen David Adom
(MDA) (ref. A). End Summary.
DFM: BAKU MINISTERIAL AGENDA EXTENSIVE, NO SURPRISES
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Sadiqov told us that the June 19 - 21 OIC Ministerial
in Baku would cover 31 political issues out of a total of 105
agenda items that ranged from the problem of refugees in the
Muslim world to the food deficit in Niger. (Full agenda text
reprinted below). Separately, the MFA's protocol chief said
they expected at least 40 foreign ministers for the event.
Sadiqov said several of these agenda items have been rolled
over from ministerial meeting-to-meeting and did not
represent a departure from past OIC practices. In addition,
the DFM noted that the OIC, as a recognized regional body
under the UN charter, did not as a rule permit inflammatory
language - such as the Iranian president's call for the
elimination of the state of Israel - in the drafting of OIC
resolutions. Rather, he noted OIC ministerial statements
traditionally focused on diplomatic calls for enforcement of
UN resolutions, adding that "stupid things" are not on the
June agenda. The Ministerial will, however, conduct a
discussion on Iran in the context debating the passage of a
resolution on the right of any nation to develop nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes however OIC ministers will state
that the Iranian problem must be settled in a peaceful way,
which he said was consistent with the USG's position. Sadiqov
also told Charge that the Palestinian Authority would be
represented at the Ministerial by its Ambassador to Tashkent
who is dually accredited to Baku.
A MORE MOBILE, OIC WITH STRONGER INTL TIES
--------------
3. (C) DFM told Charge that GOAJ objective for its
chairmanship of the OIC was to push the organization to
expand relations with other regional cooperation bodies such
as the OSCE, the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and
even the OAS. Sadiqov commented that the GOAJ believed the
OIC should become "more mobile and goal-oriented" by cutting
out elements of its internal structure deemed redundant. The
DFM added that the USG push to advance democracy in the
Greater Middle East provided the opportunity for the OIC to
expand its relationship with these regional bodies. Sadiqov
suggested that cooperation begin with activities such as
youth exchanges and journalism roundtable programs to
encourage mutual understanding between the Muslim world and
the West. He opined that OIC-organized exchanges might
include bringing reporters from CNN and Al Jazeera together
to discuss the image of Islam and the United States in our
respective societies. Secondly, Sadiqov stressed that the
GOAJ believed the OIC could be a vehicle for expanding
international cooperation on transnational issues such as
terrorism, narco-trafficking, illegal immigration and the
environment. Sadiqov also told Charge it would be helpful for
the USG to be more supportive of expanded cooperation between
regional bodies and the OIC. (He noted that the last time
cooperation was floated at the 1998 Istanbul summit the USG
seemed less than enthusiastic about efforts to strengthen
links between regional institutions and the OIC.) Charge
promised to explore with USOSCE and the Department our
thinking on such a proposed initiative.
BAKU 00000836 002 OF 006
OIC STRUCTURE HAMPERS PROGRESS
--------------
4. (C) Sadiqov said the OIC suffered from a structural flaw
in that there are two parallel chairmanships within the OIC
at any given moment that compete and complicate the OIC's
operations. First, the OIC has a "summit chairman" which
convenes an OIC summit of heads of government every three
years. Second, OIC has a "ministerial chairman" who convenes
the annual meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC
membership. The GOAJ is currently the ministerial chairman of
the OIC and will therefore host two ministerials during its
12-month chairmanship, the first between June 19 - 21 and
then a second a year from now. Sadiqov implied that the
duplicative chairmanships have previously undermined the
OIC's effectiveness and left its without strategic direction
or focus. To improve its operation, the OIC has established a
new Executive Committee comprised of the incoming, outgoing
and current ministerial chairs joined by the OIC Secretary
General (currently Turkey) who is charged by the OIC with
providing regular recommendations and guidance to the body.
IRAQ MEETING AFTER OIC
--------------
5. (C) Sadiqov said that immediately following the Baku
Ministerial, OIC member states adjacent to Iraq planned to
hold a meeting on the situation in Iraq. The GOAJ is not/not
invited to participate in the meeting because Azerbaijan does
not border Iraq but would likely be asked to assist with
logistical arrangements for the expected half-day session.
NO NEW POSITION ON MDA
--------------
6. (C) Charge reaffirmed that the GOAJ could again
demonstrate its unique role as a secular Shite Muslim nation
by voting in favor of the Magen David Adom in Geneva as
President Aliyev told Deputy Secretary Zoellick during his
recent Washington visit (ref B). The DFM said that he was not
aware of new guidance to date from the President's office on
the issue. He said that he did not expect this issue to come
up at the OIC and that it was a Geneva issue. Post will
follow-up with the MFA.
OIC Ministerial Agenda
--------------
7. (SBU) Begin Text:
DRAFT AGENDA OF THE 33RD SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE OF
FOREIGN MINISTERS
Session of Harmony of Rights, Freedoms and Justice)
BAKU. REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN 23-25 JUMAD ULAWWAL 1427H (19-21
JUNE 2006)
OPENING SESSION:
1. Election of Chairman and other members of the Bureau.
2. Adoption of the Agenda.
3. Adoption of the Programme of Work.
(A) POLITICAL AFFAIRS:
4. The Cause of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict:
a) Development of Situation in Palestine and the City of
AI-Quds AI-Sharif, comprising AI-Quds Funds and Bait Mal
AI-Quds Agency.
b) The Occupied Syrian Golan.
c) Israel's continued occupation of parts of Lebanon and
detention
of Lebanese citizens in its jails and detention camps.
d) The current situation of the Peace Process in the Middle
East.
5. Islamic Office for the Boycott of Israel.
6. The Situation in Iraq.
7. The Situation in Afghanistan.
8. The Situation in Somalia.
9. Rejection of American Unilateral Sanctions imposed on the
Syrian Arab Republic.
10. The Situation in Cyprus.
11. Solidarity with the Republic of the Sudan.
12. The Jammu and Kashmir Dispute.
13. The Peace Process between India and Pakistan.
14. The Aggression of the Republic of Armenia on the Republic
of Azerbaijan.
15. The Problem of Refugees in the Muslim World.
16. The Imposition of Unilateral Economic Sanctions on Member
BAKU 00000836 003 OF 006
States.
17. Combating International Terrorism.
18. Security and Solidarity among Member States.
19. Situation of Cote d'lvoire.
20. Reform of the United Nations and Expansion of UN Security
Council's Membership.
21. The Conference of 2005 on Review of Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.
22. Establishment of Nuclear-weapons-free zones in the Middle
East, Africa, Central Asia and South-East Asia
23. Strengthening of the security of non-nuclear weapon
states against the use of the threat of use nuclear weapons
24. Cooperation by the Islamic Republic of Iran with IAEA.
25. Support of coordination and consultation among Member
States to adopt a unified stand of Muslim States in
international fora.
26. Cooperation between the organization of the Islamic
Conference, international and regional organizations and
other groupings.
27. Creation of a Mechanism for OIC-EU Dialogue.
28. Sponsoring the Children Victims of Tsunami.
29. The Dangerous Food Deficit in Niger.
30. The OIC Ten-year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah AI-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
31. Manifestations, Dimensions and Mechanisms of Confronting
Islamophobia
(B) ORGANIC. STATUTORY AND GENERAL OUESTIONS:
32. Requests for accession to the OIC as observer.
33. Candidacies for international positions.
34. Updating the Cooperation Agreement between the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab
States.
35. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the
OIC and the office of the UN High representative for the
Least Developed Countries, landlocked developing countries
and small Island States
36. Application for affiliation with the Organization of the
Islamic Conference.
37. The operationalization of the Executive Committee and
Adoption of its Rules of Procedure.
(C) QUESTIONS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND MINORITIES:
38. The Situation of Muslim Communities and Minorities in
non-OIC
Member States.
39. The Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
40. Turkish Muslim Minority of Western Thrace, Greece.
41. The Situation of the Muslim Minority in Myanmar.
(D) LEGAL AFFAIRS:
42. The International Islamic Court of Justice.
43. Follow-up to the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in
Islam.
44. Coordination among the Member States in the field of
Human Rights.
45. The signing/ratification of (accession to) the agreements
concluded in the framework of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference.
46. Convening of a United Nations Conference to define
terrorism and distinguish it from peoples' struggle for
national liberation.
47. Follow-up to the Convention of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference for combating international terrorism.
48. Legal issues on the Roadmap for the Implementation of the
Ten-year Program of Action.
(E) INFORMATION AFFAIRS:
49. Enhancing the role of information and communication in
promoting the causes and image of Islam in the world through
updating the Mechanisms for Implementing the Information
Strategy of the Member States and the Islamic
Information Plan.
50. Supporting the activities of specialized information
institutions.
51. Contribution of the Member States to following up the
results of the second phase of the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunis in 2005.
(F) - ECONOMIC AFFAIRS:
52. Economic Situation of Member States.
53. Economic Problems of the Least Developed and Land-locked
Member States.
54. Strengthening the multilateral trading system.
55. Supporting the reforms of the International financial
BAKU 00000836 004 OF 006
architecture.
56. Economic Problems of the Palestinian People in Occupied
Palestinian Territories, of the Syrian citizens in the
Occupied Syrian Golan and of the Lebanese citizens in
Southern Lebanon and the Western Beka'a formerly under
occupation. .
57. Economic and Social losses of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
as a result of the Security Council resolutions No. 748/92
and 883/93.
58. Economic assistance to the State of Palestine.
59. Economic assistance to Lebanon.
60. Economic assistance to Afghanistan.
61. Economic Assistance to Guinea.
62. Economic assistance to Member States stricken by drought
and natural calamities.
63. Economic assistance to Azerbaijan.
64. Economic assistance to Member States affected by regional
war, civil insurgence or political crises.
65. Economic assistance to Non-OIC countries and Muslim
Communities.
66. Economic assistance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
67. The activities of the Standing Committee for Economic and
Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC).
68. Cooperation in the field of Tourism.
69. The activities of the OIC Subsidiary Organs active in the
Economic and Trade fields.
70. The activities of the Islamic Development Bank.
71. The activities of the OIC Affiliated Institutions active
in the Economic and Trade fields.
72. The establishment of an Islamic Common Market.
73. The Promotion of Cooperation among the Stock Exchanges of
OIC Countries.
74. Continuous assistance to the Sahelian Member States.
75. Cooperation in Energizing Trade and Investment in Cotton
Sector. Capacity building for poverty alleviation in the OIC
Member States.
76. The creation of a World Fund for Solidarity and Poverty
Eradication.
77. Support to the victims of Earthquakes and Tsunami in the
affected Member Countries of the OIC.
78. The OIC Ten-Year Program of Action to meet the challenges
facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century adopted by the
3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
held in Makkah-AI-Mukarramah in December, 2005.
(G) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
80. Science and Technology.
81. Activities of the Standing Committee on Scientific and
Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
82. Activities of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT).
83. Environmental issues and the negative impact on the
environment in Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories.
84. An Advanced Medical Training and Research Centre in
Bangladesh.
85. Report of the 2nd Meeting of the OIC Task Force for
Vision 1441.
86. The OIC Ten-Year Program of Action to meet the challenges
facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21 It Century adopted by the
3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
held in Makkah-AI-Mukarramah in December, 2005.
(H) CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ISLAMIC AFFAIRS:
87. General Cultural Matters including ways and means of
implementing the Cultural Strategy of the Islamic World;
Cultural aspects of the Phenomenon of Globalization, the
Universal Declaration on Dialogue among Civilization, the
Unified Hijri Calendar for the beginnings of Lunar Months,
Promoting Waqfs and their role in the development of the
Islamic Societies and other similar subjects.
88. World Mosque Week.
89. Desecration of Islamic Sanctities and Values, to include
such subjects as: the destruction of the Babri Mosque in
India as well as the destruction of the Islamic Complex of
Charar-e-Sharif Mosque in India and other Islamic Relics and
Shrines in Azerbaijan and other similar subjects.
90. Resolutions on social matters, to include such subjects
as: women, the child and youth.
(a) Muslim Women and their role in the development of the
Islamic Society.
(b) Child care and protection in the Islamic World.
(c) Education and Rehabilitation of Muslim Youth.
(d) Cooperation on combating illegal production, abuse,
processing and trafficking of drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(e) Cooperation among Member States in controlling epidemic
diseases affecting man, fauna and the flora.
(f) International cooperation on eradication of polio in OIC
Member States.
BAKU 00000836 005 OF 006
(g) Environment, sustainable development and ways and means
of resolving problems relating to environment and
health.
91. Islamic Universities: to cover matters relating to the
Islamic Universities in Niger, Uganda, Malaysia, Bangladesh;
also the proposed new building project for Zeitouna
University in Tunis; and the extension of assistance to the
King Faisal University in N'djamena.
92. Islamic Cultural Institutions and Centers: Regional
Institute for Islamic Studies and Research in Timbuktu
(Mali); Regional Institute for Complementary Education (Rice)
(Islamabad, Pakistan); Islamic Centre in Guinea-Bissau; and
the Islamic Institute of Translation in Khartoum (Sudan).
93. Project for the Establishment of a World Islamic
Authority for the Holy Quran.
94. PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS:
(a) Twinning of Palestinian Universities, Schools,
Kindergartens
and Hospitals with similar institutions in the Member States.
(b) Teaching the subjects of History and Geography of
Palestine. (c) Educational situation in the occupied
Palestinian territories
and the occupied Syrian Golan.
(d) Preservation of the Islamic character, human heritage,
and to address the policy of judaization of the City of
AI-Quds AI-Sharif.
(e) Israeli aggressions against Islamic shrines in AI-Khaleel
95. Activities of OIC organs and institutions involved in the
cultural
field:
(a) SUBSIDIARY ORGANS:
The Research Centre for Islamic History, Arl and Culture;
The Islamic Fiqh Academy.
Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf.
(b) SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS:
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.
Islamic Committee of the International Crescent.
(c) AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS:
Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation.
World Federation of Arab Islamic International Schools.
Islamic Conference Youth Forum.
96. The OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah-Al-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
97. Manifestations, Dimensions and Mechanisms of Confronting
Islamophobia. .
98. Islamic Dawa Activities and Committee for Coordination of
Joint Islamic Action:
(a) Dawa Activities and Coordination of Joint Islamic
Action.
(b) Strategy of Joint Islamic Action in the Field of Dawa
and their Implementation Mechanisms.
(c) Consideration of Challenges Facing the Islamic Ummah in
the
Twenty-first Century. (d) Educating pilgrims on the rites of
Haj. (e) Holding seminars to promote the cultural image of
Islam.
99. The OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah-Al-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
(I). ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS:
100. Final Report of the Thirty-fourth Meeting of the
Permanent Finance
Committee:
101. Review of the 266 Report of the OIC Finance Control
Organ on the General Secretariat and its Subsidiary Organs'
Closing Accounts for the fiscal year ending 30 June
2005(FC0/26-FINAL) and replies of the General Secretariat and
its Subsidiary Organs on the said Report.
102. Proposed budgets for the year 2006/2007 of the:
OIC General Secretariat.
Islamic Fiqh Academy. Statistical, Economic and Social
Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, Ankara.
Islamic University of Technology, Dhaka. Research Centre for
Islamic History, Art and Culture, Istanbul. Islamic Centre
for the Development of Trade, Casablanca
103. (a) Draft amendments to the Financial Regulations of the
OIC and Report of the Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group
of Experts considering the proposed amendments to the
Financial Regulations of the OIC.
(b) Discussion of the Budget for transition period of lit
July-31lt December 2007 for changing the period of the
BAKU 00000836 006 OF 006
Financial Year to calendar year as of lit January 2008.
104. (a) A Study of the Ankara Centre and the Report of the
General Secretariat for new scale of Member States' mandatory
contributions to the annual budgets of the General
Secretariat and its subsidiary organs ofthe OIC.
SIPDIS
(b) General Secretariat's report on Memer States'
contributions and
arrears (for information and consideration).
105. A study on the financial implications for the
possibility of opening an OIC Office in Somalia.
(J) SESSION FOR ANNOUNCING VOLUNTARY
CONTRIBUTIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY FUND.
(K) ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
(L) CLOSING SESSION:
(M) Date and venue of the 34th Session of the ICFM
(N) Adoption of Final Reports, Resolutions, and the Final
Communique.
End Text.
HYLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO STRENGTHEN OIC'S INTERNATIONAL
TIES TO OSCE AND OTHER INT'L ORGANIZATIONS
REF: A. STATE 78445
B. BAKU 757
Classified By: CDA Jason P. Hyland for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM)
Vagif Sadiqov told Charge June 5 that the GOAJ planned to use
its chairmanship of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) to expand the OIC's cooperation with
regional bodies such as the OSCE, ASEAN and other
organizations, on terrorism, law enforcement and
transnational issues. The GOAJ will begin its chairmanship by
hosting the OIC ministerial in Baku from June 19-21. Sadiqov
reported that the OIC Ministerial Agenda includes issues that
are rolled over from meeting-to-meeting, such as the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as education and social
development in the Muslim world. However, the DFM reported
that he did not believe there were any (for the OIC)
inflammatory resolutions on the table for the ministerial.
The OIC ministerial will also discuss Iran's nuclear program
urging a peaceful settlement to the problem consistent with
the position of the international community. The DFM informed
Charge that after the Baku ministerial, OIC member states
that neighbor Iraq plan to remain in Baku to discuss the
Iraqi political situation. The DFM did not report any new
information on the GOAJ position regarding Magen David Adom
(MDA) (ref. A). End Summary.
DFM: BAKU MINISTERIAL AGENDA EXTENSIVE, NO SURPRISES
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Sadiqov told us that the June 19 - 21 OIC Ministerial
in Baku would cover 31 political issues out of a total of 105
agenda items that ranged from the problem of refugees in the
Muslim world to the food deficit in Niger. (Full agenda text
reprinted below). Separately, the MFA's protocol chief said
they expected at least 40 foreign ministers for the event.
Sadiqov said several of these agenda items have been rolled
over from ministerial meeting-to-meeting and did not
represent a departure from past OIC practices. In addition,
the DFM noted that the OIC, as a recognized regional body
under the UN charter, did not as a rule permit inflammatory
language - such as the Iranian president's call for the
elimination of the state of Israel - in the drafting of OIC
resolutions. Rather, he noted OIC ministerial statements
traditionally focused on diplomatic calls for enforcement of
UN resolutions, adding that "stupid things" are not on the
June agenda. The Ministerial will, however, conduct a
discussion on Iran in the context debating the passage of a
resolution on the right of any nation to develop nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes however OIC ministers will state
that the Iranian problem must be settled in a peaceful way,
which he said was consistent with the USG's position. Sadiqov
also told Charge that the Palestinian Authority would be
represented at the Ministerial by its Ambassador to Tashkent
who is dually accredited to Baku.
A MORE MOBILE, OIC WITH STRONGER INTL TIES
--------------
3. (C) DFM told Charge that GOAJ objective for its
chairmanship of the OIC was to push the organization to
expand relations with other regional cooperation bodies such
as the OSCE, the African Union, European Union, ASEAN and
even the OAS. Sadiqov commented that the GOAJ believed the
OIC should become "more mobile and goal-oriented" by cutting
out elements of its internal structure deemed redundant. The
DFM added that the USG push to advance democracy in the
Greater Middle East provided the opportunity for the OIC to
expand its relationship with these regional bodies. Sadiqov
suggested that cooperation begin with activities such as
youth exchanges and journalism roundtable programs to
encourage mutual understanding between the Muslim world and
the West. He opined that OIC-organized exchanges might
include bringing reporters from CNN and Al Jazeera together
to discuss the image of Islam and the United States in our
respective societies. Secondly, Sadiqov stressed that the
GOAJ believed the OIC could be a vehicle for expanding
international cooperation on transnational issues such as
terrorism, narco-trafficking, illegal immigration and the
environment. Sadiqov also told Charge it would be helpful for
the USG to be more supportive of expanded cooperation between
regional bodies and the OIC. (He noted that the last time
cooperation was floated at the 1998 Istanbul summit the USG
seemed less than enthusiastic about efforts to strengthen
links between regional institutions and the OIC.) Charge
promised to explore with USOSCE and the Department our
thinking on such a proposed initiative.
BAKU 00000836 002 OF 006
OIC STRUCTURE HAMPERS PROGRESS
--------------
4. (C) Sadiqov said the OIC suffered from a structural flaw
in that there are two parallel chairmanships within the OIC
at any given moment that compete and complicate the OIC's
operations. First, the OIC has a "summit chairman" which
convenes an OIC summit of heads of government every three
years. Second, OIC has a "ministerial chairman" who convenes
the annual meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC
membership. The GOAJ is currently the ministerial chairman of
the OIC and will therefore host two ministerials during its
12-month chairmanship, the first between June 19 - 21 and
then a second a year from now. Sadiqov implied that the
duplicative chairmanships have previously undermined the
OIC's effectiveness and left its without strategic direction
or focus. To improve its operation, the OIC has established a
new Executive Committee comprised of the incoming, outgoing
and current ministerial chairs joined by the OIC Secretary
General (currently Turkey) who is charged by the OIC with
providing regular recommendations and guidance to the body.
IRAQ MEETING AFTER OIC
--------------
5. (C) Sadiqov said that immediately following the Baku
Ministerial, OIC member states adjacent to Iraq planned to
hold a meeting on the situation in Iraq. The GOAJ is not/not
invited to participate in the meeting because Azerbaijan does
not border Iraq but would likely be asked to assist with
logistical arrangements for the expected half-day session.
NO NEW POSITION ON MDA
--------------
6. (C) Charge reaffirmed that the GOAJ could again
demonstrate its unique role as a secular Shite Muslim nation
by voting in favor of the Magen David Adom in Geneva as
President Aliyev told Deputy Secretary Zoellick during his
recent Washington visit (ref B). The DFM said that he was not
aware of new guidance to date from the President's office on
the issue. He said that he did not expect this issue to come
up at the OIC and that it was a Geneva issue. Post will
follow-up with the MFA.
OIC Ministerial Agenda
--------------
7. (SBU) Begin Text:
DRAFT AGENDA OF THE 33RD SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE OF
FOREIGN MINISTERS
Session of Harmony of Rights, Freedoms and Justice)
BAKU. REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN 23-25 JUMAD ULAWWAL 1427H (19-21
JUNE 2006)
OPENING SESSION:
1. Election of Chairman and other members of the Bureau.
2. Adoption of the Agenda.
3. Adoption of the Programme of Work.
(A) POLITICAL AFFAIRS:
4. The Cause of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict:
a) Development of Situation in Palestine and the City of
AI-Quds AI-Sharif, comprising AI-Quds Funds and Bait Mal
AI-Quds Agency.
b) The Occupied Syrian Golan.
c) Israel's continued occupation of parts of Lebanon and
detention
of Lebanese citizens in its jails and detention camps.
d) The current situation of the Peace Process in the Middle
East.
5. Islamic Office for the Boycott of Israel.
6. The Situation in Iraq.
7. The Situation in Afghanistan.
8. The Situation in Somalia.
9. Rejection of American Unilateral Sanctions imposed on the
Syrian Arab Republic.
10. The Situation in Cyprus.
11. Solidarity with the Republic of the Sudan.
12. The Jammu and Kashmir Dispute.
13. The Peace Process between India and Pakistan.
14. The Aggression of the Republic of Armenia on the Republic
of Azerbaijan.
15. The Problem of Refugees in the Muslim World.
16. The Imposition of Unilateral Economic Sanctions on Member
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States.
17. Combating International Terrorism.
18. Security and Solidarity among Member States.
19. Situation of Cote d'lvoire.
20. Reform of the United Nations and Expansion of UN Security
Council's Membership.
21. The Conference of 2005 on Review of Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.
22. Establishment of Nuclear-weapons-free zones in the Middle
East, Africa, Central Asia and South-East Asia
23. Strengthening of the security of non-nuclear weapon
states against the use of the threat of use nuclear weapons
24. Cooperation by the Islamic Republic of Iran with IAEA.
25. Support of coordination and consultation among Member
States to adopt a unified stand of Muslim States in
international fora.
26. Cooperation between the organization of the Islamic
Conference, international and regional organizations and
other groupings.
27. Creation of a Mechanism for OIC-EU Dialogue.
28. Sponsoring the Children Victims of Tsunami.
29. The Dangerous Food Deficit in Niger.
30. The OIC Ten-year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah AI-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
31. Manifestations, Dimensions and Mechanisms of Confronting
Islamophobia
(B) ORGANIC. STATUTORY AND GENERAL OUESTIONS:
32. Requests for accession to the OIC as observer.
33. Candidacies for international positions.
34. Updating the Cooperation Agreement between the
Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab
States.
35. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the
OIC and the office of the UN High representative for the
Least Developed Countries, landlocked developing countries
and small Island States
36. Application for affiliation with the Organization of the
Islamic Conference.
37. The operationalization of the Executive Committee and
Adoption of its Rules of Procedure.
(C) QUESTIONS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND MINORITIES:
38. The Situation of Muslim Communities and Minorities in
non-OIC
Member States.
39. The Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.
40. Turkish Muslim Minority of Western Thrace, Greece.
41. The Situation of the Muslim Minority in Myanmar.
(D) LEGAL AFFAIRS:
42. The International Islamic Court of Justice.
43. Follow-up to the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in
Islam.
44. Coordination among the Member States in the field of
Human Rights.
45. The signing/ratification of (accession to) the agreements
concluded in the framework of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference.
46. Convening of a United Nations Conference to define
terrorism and distinguish it from peoples' struggle for
national liberation.
47. Follow-up to the Convention of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference for combating international terrorism.
48. Legal issues on the Roadmap for the Implementation of the
Ten-year Program of Action.
(E) INFORMATION AFFAIRS:
49. Enhancing the role of information and communication in
promoting the causes and image of Islam in the world through
updating the Mechanisms for Implementing the Information
Strategy of the Member States and the Islamic
Information Plan.
50. Supporting the activities of specialized information
institutions.
51. Contribution of the Member States to following up the
results of the second phase of the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunis in 2005.
(F) - ECONOMIC AFFAIRS:
52. Economic Situation of Member States.
53. Economic Problems of the Least Developed and Land-locked
Member States.
54. Strengthening the multilateral trading system.
55. Supporting the reforms of the International financial
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architecture.
56. Economic Problems of the Palestinian People in Occupied
Palestinian Territories, of the Syrian citizens in the
Occupied Syrian Golan and of the Lebanese citizens in
Southern Lebanon and the Western Beka'a formerly under
occupation. .
57. Economic and Social losses of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
as a result of the Security Council resolutions No. 748/92
and 883/93.
58. Economic assistance to the State of Palestine.
59. Economic assistance to Lebanon.
60. Economic assistance to Afghanistan.
61. Economic Assistance to Guinea.
62. Economic assistance to Member States stricken by drought
and natural calamities.
63. Economic assistance to Azerbaijan.
64. Economic assistance to Member States affected by regional
war, civil insurgence or political crises.
65. Economic assistance to Non-OIC countries and Muslim
Communities.
66. Economic assistance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
67. The activities of the Standing Committee for Economic and
Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC).
68. Cooperation in the field of Tourism.
69. The activities of the OIC Subsidiary Organs active in the
Economic and Trade fields.
70. The activities of the Islamic Development Bank.
71. The activities of the OIC Affiliated Institutions active
in the Economic and Trade fields.
72. The establishment of an Islamic Common Market.
73. The Promotion of Cooperation among the Stock Exchanges of
OIC Countries.
74. Continuous assistance to the Sahelian Member States.
75. Cooperation in Energizing Trade and Investment in Cotton
Sector. Capacity building for poverty alleviation in the OIC
Member States.
76. The creation of a World Fund for Solidarity and Poverty
Eradication.
77. Support to the victims of Earthquakes and Tsunami in the
affected Member Countries of the OIC.
78. The OIC Ten-Year Program of Action to meet the challenges
facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century adopted by the
3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
held in Makkah-AI-Mukarramah in December, 2005.
(G) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
80. Science and Technology.
81. Activities of the Standing Committee on Scientific and
Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
82. Activities of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT).
83. Environmental issues and the negative impact on the
environment in Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories.
84. An Advanced Medical Training and Research Centre in
Bangladesh.
85. Report of the 2nd Meeting of the OIC Task Force for
Vision 1441.
86. The OIC Ten-Year Program of Action to meet the challenges
facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21 It Century adopted by the
3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
held in Makkah-AI-Mukarramah in December, 2005.
(H) CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ISLAMIC AFFAIRS:
87. General Cultural Matters including ways and means of
implementing the Cultural Strategy of the Islamic World;
Cultural aspects of the Phenomenon of Globalization, the
Universal Declaration on Dialogue among Civilization, the
Unified Hijri Calendar for the beginnings of Lunar Months,
Promoting Waqfs and their role in the development of the
Islamic Societies and other similar subjects.
88. World Mosque Week.
89. Desecration of Islamic Sanctities and Values, to include
such subjects as: the destruction of the Babri Mosque in
India as well as the destruction of the Islamic Complex of
Charar-e-Sharif Mosque in India and other Islamic Relics and
Shrines in Azerbaijan and other similar subjects.
90. Resolutions on social matters, to include such subjects
as: women, the child and youth.
(a) Muslim Women and their role in the development of the
Islamic Society.
(b) Child care and protection in the Islamic World.
(c) Education and Rehabilitation of Muslim Youth.
(d) Cooperation on combating illegal production, abuse,
processing and trafficking of drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(e) Cooperation among Member States in controlling epidemic
diseases affecting man, fauna and the flora.
(f) International cooperation on eradication of polio in OIC
Member States.
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(g) Environment, sustainable development and ways and means
of resolving problems relating to environment and
health.
91. Islamic Universities: to cover matters relating to the
Islamic Universities in Niger, Uganda, Malaysia, Bangladesh;
also the proposed new building project for Zeitouna
University in Tunis; and the extension of assistance to the
King Faisal University in N'djamena.
92. Islamic Cultural Institutions and Centers: Regional
Institute for Islamic Studies and Research in Timbuktu
(Mali); Regional Institute for Complementary Education (Rice)
(Islamabad, Pakistan); Islamic Centre in Guinea-Bissau; and
the Islamic Institute of Translation in Khartoum (Sudan).
93. Project for the Establishment of a World Islamic
Authority for the Holy Quran.
94. PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS:
(a) Twinning of Palestinian Universities, Schools,
Kindergartens
and Hospitals with similar institutions in the Member States.
(b) Teaching the subjects of History and Geography of
Palestine. (c) Educational situation in the occupied
Palestinian territories
and the occupied Syrian Golan.
(d) Preservation of the Islamic character, human heritage,
and to address the policy of judaization of the City of
AI-Quds AI-Sharif.
(e) Israeli aggressions against Islamic shrines in AI-Khaleel
95. Activities of OIC organs and institutions involved in the
cultural
field:
(a) SUBSIDIARY ORGANS:
The Research Centre for Islamic History, Arl and Culture;
The Islamic Fiqh Academy.
Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf.
(b) SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS:
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.
Islamic Committee of the International Crescent.
(c) AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS:
Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation.
World Federation of Arab Islamic International Schools.
Islamic Conference Youth Forum.
96. The OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah-Al-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
97. Manifestations, Dimensions and Mechanisms of Confronting
Islamophobia. .
98. Islamic Dawa Activities and Committee for Coordination of
Joint Islamic Action:
(a) Dawa Activities and Coordination of Joint Islamic
Action.
(b) Strategy of Joint Islamic Action in the Field of Dawa
and their Implementation Mechanisms.
(c) Consideration of Challenges Facing the Islamic Ummah in
the
Twenty-first Century. (d) Educating pilgrims on the rites of
Haj. (e) Holding seminars to promote the cultural image of
Islam.
99. The OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action to meet the
challenges facing the Muslim Ummah in the 21st Century
adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic
Summit Conference held in Makkah-Al-Mukarramah in December,
2005.
(I). ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS:
100. Final Report of the Thirty-fourth Meeting of the
Permanent Finance
Committee:
101. Review of the 266 Report of the OIC Finance Control
Organ on the General Secretariat and its Subsidiary Organs'
Closing Accounts for the fiscal year ending 30 June
2005(FC0/26-FINAL) and replies of the General Secretariat and
its Subsidiary Organs on the said Report.
102. Proposed budgets for the year 2006/2007 of the:
OIC General Secretariat.
Islamic Fiqh Academy. Statistical, Economic and Social
Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, Ankara.
Islamic University of Technology, Dhaka. Research Centre for
Islamic History, Art and Culture, Istanbul. Islamic Centre
for the Development of Trade, Casablanca
103. (a) Draft amendments to the Financial Regulations of the
OIC and Report of the Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group
of Experts considering the proposed amendments to the
Financial Regulations of the OIC.
(b) Discussion of the Budget for transition period of lit
July-31lt December 2007 for changing the period of the
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Financial Year to calendar year as of lit January 2008.
104. (a) A Study of the Ankara Centre and the Report of the
General Secretariat for new scale of Member States' mandatory
contributions to the annual budgets of the General
Secretariat and its subsidiary organs ofthe OIC.
SIPDIS
(b) General Secretariat's report on Memer States'
contributions and
arrears (for information and consideration).
105. A study on the financial implications for the
possibility of opening an OIC Office in Somalia.
(J) SESSION FOR ANNOUNCING VOLUNTARY
CONTRIBUTIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY FUND.
(K) ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
(L) CLOSING SESSION:
(M) Date and venue of the 34th Session of the ICFM
(N) Adoption of Final Reports, Resolutions, and the Final
Communique.
End Text.
HYLAND