Kazakhstan’s OIC Chairmanship Defined

            Astana, April: Kazakhstan’s upcoming chairmanship (from June) of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is set to strengthen mechanisms of conflict forecasting and prevention, said Kazakhstan’s ambassador-at-large Dulat Bakishev at a conference at the Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) in Almaty.

            The conference titled ‘Kazakhstan’s OIC Chairmanship in 2011-12’ brought together a wide range of participants to discuss prospects of political, trade and economic cooperation between the Organisation’s 57 member states. It also sought to consider intensifying interstate interaction to ensure regional security and define other priorities for Kazakhstan during its CFM OIC chairmanship.

            At the conference, Dulat Bakishev noted that Kazakhstan supported the resolution of the UN Security Council on Libya: “It should also be noted that the OIC has been supporting initiatives set forward by Kazakhstan such as the establishment of the Conference on Interaction & Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and the Congress of Leaders of World &Traditional Religions. I believe these initiatives were successfully realized due to the support of Islamic countries” said Bakishev - adding that four states joined CICA over the last nine months (including Bahrain and Iraq).

            Another initiative Kazakhstan may put forward for the Chairmanship of the Organisation is the establishment of a special fund for socio-economic rehabilitation of countries and territories thathave suffered interethnic and interreligious conflicts, said Zaur Dzhalilov, an expert from the Institute of Oriental Studies. In Mr Dzhalilov’s view, the emerging armed interethnic and interfaith conflicts that are taking place in OIC member states have become a major concern. “These conflicts are the true threat to stability of the global community and Central Asia in particular. That is why Kazakhstan is interested in their elimination….” Dzhalilov also said that a conceptual framework of interethnic and interfaith conflict, as well as some specific criteria of its qualification must be worked out.

            The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an international organisation founded in 1969 with a permanent delegation to the United Nations, with 57 member states.

            The organisation attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world (Ummah) and attempts to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims. The official languages of the organisation are Arabic, English, and French. According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity amongst member states; increase cooperation in social, economic, cultural, scientific, and political areas; uphold international peace and security; and advance education, particularly in the fields of science and technology.

            Kazakhstan joined the Organization in 1995 and since then through the General Secretariat and its specialised and affiliated organs, has been contributing to the efforts of the Muslim community to develop new confidence building measures, enhance economic cooperation, and promote cultural diversity, mutual respect and understanding.