(Read out on his Excellency's behalf by Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit)

Mr. President, dear brother Abdullah Wad, President of Senegal,
Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses, Kings, Heads and Princes of Member-States,
Mr. Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference,

At the outset, I would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President, Abdullah Wad, President of the sisterly Senegal and for the hospital people of Senegal for the hospitality extended to participating delegations, wishing them continuing success.

I would like also to express thanks and appreciation to Malaysia for the sincere effort it has exerted throughout its chairmanship of the Islamic Summit, which was highly instrumental in steering the work of our Organization in the interest and for the elevation of our nation.

Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

Over the past five years since our last periodic session in Potrajaya, the Islamic nation has witnessed several developments and events. The Islamic world still faces enormous challenges, ranging from occupation and military clashes to socio-economic development problems of various dimensions, accusations and prevarications leveled against Muslims labeling them as extremists, and campaigns of tarnishing and contempt against our True Religion.

Above all these conflicts and challenges our Muslim nation faces, there come the suffering of the Palestinian people and their conflict with the Israeli occupier. Lying deep in the heart and ethos of each and every Muslim, this conflict has remained a top priority of our Organization's agenda, since its inception. We still look forward to a day when the Palestinians can liberate their land and establish their independent state with its capital as Al-Quds Al-Shareef.

Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

Apart from these wars, conflicts and disputes, which various countries of our Islamic world suffer from, our Islamic peoples have to face up to the challenges posed by globalization and to catch up with the tremendous ongoing scientific and technological advances in to-day's world. Our competitiveness in global economy and the ability to achieve sustainable development in our countries are now contingent on our own capacity to disseminate learning and knowledge, to attract investments, to open up our markets to our products and to encourage inter-trade among our countries in order to create employment opportunities for our youth. Egypt is convinced that the development of our human resources and the building of individuals make up the mainstay for achieving growth and progress in our societies, both in terms of the value and ethical system that should be adopted and scientific and academic capacity-building for our youth. This can be done through educational programs well-poised to qualify and train them in addressing challenges of the current age of globalization.

This talk leads me to the reform of the Organization of Islamic Conference so as to be able to address variables and developments that the global arena now witnesses. Such reform can  turn it into , a modern international organization that can safeguard the interests of its members and lead the march of joint Islamic action to wider vistas and greater successes. I seize this opportunity to congratulate our Islamic countries and the Secretary-General of the Organization on the achievements made in the Organization' reform process. These have recently culminated in the finalization of the negotiations on the review of The OIC charter; thus bringing us closer to the realization of the vision agreed upon in the 10-year- Action Program to make this Organization an institutional framework to guide and coordinate joint efforts of the Islamic world for addressing challenges of the 21st Century.

In recognition of the inevitability of achieving the goals set in the 10-year- Action Program as methodology of action for our Islamic states over the current decade, Egypt looks forward to be your host in the seat of Al-Azhar Al-Shareef, the beacon of moderation in the Islamic world to attend the twelfth Islamic Summit in 2011. We hope that the chairmanship by Senegal of the works of the Islamic Summit up to that date will be crowned with success. We promise to exert every effort to help Senegal to this end in the interest and welfare of the Islamic nation.

Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses,

Th'is was a quick glimpse and brief outlook of the enormous changes and challenges that we do face in this world that make it incumbent upon us to work shoulder to shoulder towards achieving our common interests and defending the destinies of our Islamic nation.

Egypt is confident that, while we have the true will to address political, economic and social challenges that face us and obstruct our efforts to improve the conditions of our Islamic peoples and realize aspired growth and prosperity, it is our faith in our True Religion and our confidence in our own capacities and our adherence to the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among our citizens and states, along with the availability of experience and capacities with our Islamic peoples to overstep such challenges that can help us, God willing achieve our aspired goals. May Allah guide our steps towards achieving the best for our Islamic nation.

May Allah's Peace , Mercy and Blessing be upon you.