President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday 30/1/2008 called on Islamic countries to work hand in hand to defend their identity, interests and issues.
The fifth Islamic parliamentary union conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) opened on Wednesday 30/1/2008.
Turkish parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, the chairman of the conference's 4th session handed over the 5th session chairmanship to Egypt's People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour who asked Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to take the floor and deliver President Hosni Mubarak's address.
President Mubarak urged the Islamic nations to unify their ranks and speak with one voice in defending their entity, interests and causes.
Unifying ranks is the only way to confront challenges, he said, referring to campaigns that aim at tarnishing the image of Islam.
President Mubarak said reaching a just settlement in the Middle East is being sought in order to restore the rights of the Palestinian people to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
President Mubarak called for promoting cooperation among the Islamic nations for a better future for the peoples.
Sorour: attempts to insult Islam main challenge
“Attempts to insult Islam are one of the main challenges facing Islamic countries,” said Speaker of the People's Assembly Dr Ahmed Fathi Sorour on Wednesday.
Addressing the fifth Islamic parliamentary union conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Sorour supported a UN initiative for alliance among civilizations in order to correct misconceptions about Islam.
Sorour underscored the necessity to promote the culture of consultation and understanding among the Muslim peoples on their crucial issues including Al-Quds, the Palestinian cause, Iraq and terrorism.
The situation in the Palestinian territories is critical and the goals of the roadmap peace plan have not been realized, Sorour said.
The Annapolis peace conference failed and Israel's arrogance is continuing, Sorour told the Islamic parliamentary union conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Sorour criticized the US support for Israel. The parliament Speaker also referred to the political crisis in Lebanon, calling on the Lebanese factions to close ranks to resolve this crisis.
Sorour underlined the necessity to promote economic cooperation among the Islamic countries, urging establishment of common free trade zones and markets.
Sorour encouraged the parliaments of the Islamic countries to take strong stances towards issues of democracy, peace, anti-Islam campaigns, racial discrimination and human rights.
Abul-Gheit: Islamic States should enhance cooperation to confront world changes
“The entire World, especially the Middle East, is going through changes that require more cooperation among the Islamic states,” Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said in addressing the 5th parliamentary unions conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) which opened here Wednesday30/1/2008.
"Islamic nations should find ways to promote trade exchange and economic cooperation among them otherwise they will not be able to compete with the major economic blocs," he further said.
He urged the Islamic states to "employ their potentials and giant natural resources to push forward progress in the Islamic societies and realise sustainable development."
Poverty, ignorance and disease are challenges that face several Islamic countries, said Abul-Gheit at the opening session of the OIC parliamentary union.
Islamic countries also encounter a relentless campaign aiming to defame its identity and put at stake its future and sanctities, Abul-Gheit added.
The conference coincides with mounting claims in the West on human rights' violations in some of the Islamic countries, he said, noting such allegations reflected double standards.
Sherif: European Parliament resolution on Egypt violation of joint relations
“The recent European Parliament resolution on alleged human rights violations in Egypt is a flagrant interference in Egypt's internal affairs,” Speaker of the Shura Council Safwat el-Sherif on Wednesday3o/1 /2008 said in his speech at a conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference parliamentary councils union.
Sherif made it clear that both houses of the parliament rejected such meddling on the part of the European parliament which was based on falsities and lies that had nothing to do with the facts on the ground.
“Despite the fact that few members of the European Parliament (EP) backed the resolution on human rights in Egypt, it was a violation of ties between Egypt and the European Union based on already-signed regulatory agreements.
This move by the EP could lead to reconsidering cooperation ties between the Egyptian parliament and their European counterparts, he warned.
Calm and objective dialogue is the best means to discuss such remarks of the EP, said Sherif, cautioning that dictations would only lead to more sour relations.
He called on the EP and the international community to be careful in collecting data on Egypt, warning against resorting to dubious sources.
"We know, as the international community does, that we need to exert more effort on establishing human rights," he said, noting that no country in the world could claim it reached perfection in this domain.
Azhar Imam urges Islamic Cooperation in 'Dawa' field
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi on Wednesday30/1/2008 urged Islamic institutions operating in the field of Dawa (Islamic call) to promote cooperation in the service of Islam and Muslims' interests.
Tantawi said Al-Azhar and the other Egyptian Islamic institutions were keen on cooperating with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in this field.
The Grand Imam was addressing the 15th session of the OIC committee on Islamic action in Dawa domains.
The fifth Islamic parliamentary union conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) agreed on Wednesday on an Egyptian proposal to form a committee to develop the system and statute of the union.
The proposal forwarded by Speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly (lower house of the parliament) Ahmed Fathi Sorour.
The committee is aimed at pushing forward the work in the union.
The committee will comprise the current, the former and the next chairman of the conference along with the secretary general of the union and the secretary general of the OIC.
On Thursday, the first meeting of the committee will be held to draw up recommendations.
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