التاريخ : 19/03/2011
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 19 (KUNA) -- The Executive Committee of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) wrapped up an emergency
ministerial meeting on the alarming developments in Libya at the OIC General
Secretariat here on Saturday.
The final communique of the meeting welcomed the UN Security Council
Resolution 1973 that established a no-fly zone over Libya in order to help
protect civilians, cease hostilities and facilitate the delivery of
humanitarian assistance in Libya and requested Member States to contribute to
the implementation of this resolution.
In this regard, the OIC supports the provision in the UNSC resolution for
no foreign occupation of Libya in any form, and calls for the adoption of a
new resolution by the Security Council to annul the provisions of Resolution
1973 as soon as the grounds behind its adoption have disappeared, according to
the communique.
The Ministerial Meeting extended condolences to the families of victims of
peaceful demonstrations and sympathies to the wounded, and expressed regret
over the heavy loss of life and the colossal damage to public and private
property in the country.
It also expressed grave concern over the current situation in Libya,
condemned the use of military aircraft, mortars and heavy weaponry against
civilians, and called upon the Libyan authorities to immediately end the
military operations targeting civilians.
It reaffirmed the strong commitment to respect sovereignty, territorial
integrity of Libya and non-interference in its internal affairs as well as
stressing the principled and firm position of the OIC against any form of
military intervention in Libya.
It called upon OIC Member States to establish, as deemed appropriate by
them, contacts with the Interim Transitional National Council of Libya, the
statement went on to say.
Commending the OIC's political and humanitarian efforts vis-a-vis the
critical situation in Libya, it lauded the sincere efforts made by the OIC
Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu towards the harmonization of the
OIC's position and coordination with international and regional organizations,
and requested him to continue his cherished endeavors to this end.
Meanwhile, Ihsanoglu said in press remarks after the meeting, that
excessive use of force by the Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi's regime
against their own people "cast doubts on their legitimacy."
Concerning the upheavals in the Middle East countries, the OIC chief
commended the reform initiatives adopted by Oman, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, deeming them "the ideal way for the
development of the Muslim communities."
Ihsanoglu highlighted the importance of the 10-year action plan, adopted by
the OIC emergency summit in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 2005, notably the
principles of respect for human, good-governance and broad-based political
participation.
Participants in the ministerial meeting observed one-minute silence and
read "Surat Al-Fateha' (the opening verses) of the Holy Quran as a tribute to
the victims of the Libyan uprising. (end)
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