Islamic Worldˈs Capacities Not Used Properly: President

Tehran, Feb 18, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that capacities of Muslims states have not been used fully and properly despite their rich natural, geographical and human resources. The President made the remarks in his address to the opening session of the 9th meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States (PUIC). The two-day meeting began in the Iranian capital this morning with participation of some 28 parliament speakers from the OIC member states. Due to the great economic and geopolitical resources they have, Muslims should find their proper status among other nations and faiths, President Rouhani stressed. He added Muslims are currently facing major challenges including security and economic crises, lack of social order and the 60-year-old problem of Palestine and the new political crisis in Syria. He said according to the Islamic teachings, peopleˈs interest should be the first priority of each nation. He stressed that all world Muslims should enjoy identical status and pay due attention to sciences and knowledge. ˈThrough our behaviors, we can invite all nations to Islam. We should strive to reach brotherhood, mutual understanding, coexistence and tolerance and find urgent solutions to the existing problems,ˈ the President added. He stressed that ˈas the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I consider in my decisions political and security interests of all Islamic countries, the neighboring states in particular.ˈ President Rouhani noted that the Islamic world is in dire need of a developing theory to make changes. Earlier in his address the President referred to the meeting of the Islamic states parliamentary union as ˈa chance to move towards a more moderate world.ˈ/end