A new phase in OIC-EU relations Ihsanoglu inaugurates the OIC Mission to the European Union in Brussels OIC Chief meets EU Commission President Barroso Date: 25/06/2013 - View in: Arabic | French - Print | Share Link The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu inaugurated the OIC Mission for the European Union on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 with the attendance of officials from the EU Commission, Parliament and Council, representatives of the Belgium Foreign Ministry, and Ambassadors of OIC Member States and other countries in Brussels. The Secretary General considered the opening of OIC Mission to the EU as a new phase in OIC-EU relations. In his welcoming statement at the opening ceremony, Ihsanoglu invited the Ambassadors, the EU and the Belgium Foreign Ministry to work with the Mission to have a better relationship between the Muslim world and Europe. Speaking on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton, Hugh Mingarelli, the Managing Director of Middle East and Southern Neighborhood at the EU, said that there are two issues in particular that the EU and OIC can focus on and that is promoting common values of respect and tolerance and the need to strengthen cooperation to be more effective. The Head of Belgium Foreign Minister’s Cabinet, Francois de Kerkhove, expressed satisfaction in the OIC’s opening an office at Brussels and assured complete cooperation. During his meeting with the EU Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, the OIC Secretary General said that he hoped OIC-EU relationship would now be more institutionalized and that they can work together substantively. Ihsanoglu met with Barroso at the latter’s office at the EU Commission earlier on Tuesday and their discussion focused mainly on developments in Syria. They both expressed their concern and called for a political solution and stopping the bloodshed while supporting the convening of Geneva 2 as the best chance to reach an agreement. Regarding the situation in Africa, particularly Mali, the Secretary General warned of the potential increase in radicalism, violence and conflict there and the need to take action. Ihsanoglu also brought up the issue of the Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar and urged EU to take affirmative steps in support of their rights. The Secretary General also had a working lunch with the EU Political Security Committee 27 permanent representatives during which they exchanged views about OIC’s activities in terms of conflict prevention and resolution and potential areas of cooperation with the EU. Meanwhile, the Secretary General had met on Monday, 24 June with the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva. The deteriorating situation in Syria was high on their agenda, both urging on the need for immediate humanitarian assistance as the number of refugees continues to increase. They also discussed the situation in the Sahel Region, Somalia, Yemen and Myanmar where Ihsanoglu stressed on the need for pressuring the Government there to allow access of international humanitarian agencies to the Rohingyas.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 05:26:02 +0000
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