IHSANOGLU CALLS FOR CREATION OF OIC PEACE & SECURITY COUNCIL

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has called for the
establishment of a department for peace and security within the Organisation of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) General Secretariat, an OIC Peace and Security
Council, and the activation of the Islamic Court of Justice to resolve conflicts
among Islamic countries.

The OIC secretary-general also favoured the setting up of a collective
mechanism to protect and maintain member states' collective peace.

He said this during a recent meeting in Jeddah on the future role of the
OIC in the maintenance of security, peace-keeping and conflict resolution among
member states.

In remarks made available here, Ihsanoglu expressed regret that the Muslim
world was the one, most besieged by conflict and instability.

"Despite such a situation, there still is no collective outfit dedicated to
the resolution of conflicts or the preservation of security and stability in
the Muslim world," he said.

This, he added, had allowed outsiders to fill that gap, according to their
self-interests.

Ihsanoglu also said the United Nations Department of Political Affairs and
the OIC General Secretariat had agreed to explore ways and means to help build
up the capacity of the mediation units in both institutions in the area of
preventive diplomacy and mediation.
-- BERNAMA


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