Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Ghiet who headed the Egyptian delegation to the Islamic summit in Dakar on behalf of President Hosni Mubarak emphasized on 15/3/2008 that the Egyptian participation in the OIC summit comes in accordance with Egypt's realization of the importance of the Islamic circle in its foreign policy.

the minister said that Egypt presented a request to the OIC summit to host the coming summit due to be held in 2011 noting that Egypt's request was approved by all Islamic countries.

He added that Egypt will preside over the OIC summit during the period form 2011 to 2014 and will also head the Non-Aligned Movement during the period form 2009 to 2014.
“The Islamic summit in Dakar shed light on a number of challenges facing Muslims peoples in the 21st century and passed recommendations aimed at enabling the Islamic countries to boost cooperation among them to defend Islamic causes and achieve sustainable development,” said the minister.

Abul-Gheit said Egypt's participation in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)'s summit which wrapped up activities on Friday 14/3/2008 came as part of Egypt's keenness on highlighting the crucial role of Islamic values in its foreign policy. With such vital role in mind, Egypt offered to host the coming Islamic summit in 2011, he added.

Egypt, through the Islamic summit, sought to shed light on a number of challenges facing the Islamic countries and Muslims, at the forefront of which the fierce campaign against Islamic symbols and sanctities, the Egyptian top diplomat said.

He added that Egypt was the sole country that submitted a report to the Islamic summit on the Islamophobia phenomenon.

The OIC summit assigned Egypt the task of organizing and presiding over the second OIC conference on women due in 2008, Abul-Gheit went on to say.

The conference will tackle women's status in Islam and the high position she enjoys, he said, adding that organizing such conference in Egypt is recognition of achievements Egypt made in the last years in this regard.

Islamic Ministers Approve Egypt's Hosting of Coming OIC summit

A Ministerial preparatory meeting for the Islamic summit in Dakar approved by consensus Egypt's chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Conference from 2011 to 2014 and its hosting of the coming OIC summit.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said Thursday 13/3/2008 the decision reflects the Islamic countries' appreciation of the key role played by Egypt in the Islamic world, particularly the OIC. The Islamic foreign ministers also honoured Egypt with organizing and hosting the second OIC women conference, to be held this year, due to the great progress it realized in protecting women's rights and freedoms that enabled women to play a larger role in society, he said.

The Ministers also endorsed an Egyptian draft resolution condemning disdain of religions and discrimination against Muslims and calling for enacting an international law incriminating contempt of religions. The draft resolution was referred to the summit for ratification, he said.