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OIC grants observer status to Russia

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Thursday unanimously granted observer status to Russia.

The decision was made at the OIC foreign ministers’ conference in Yemen, according to a Foreign Office statement. It said the conference discussed broad-based issues pertaining to challenges faced by Muslims. The Kashmir and Palestine disputes and the security situation in Iraq were also discussed at the conference.

In its declaration, the conference recognised the importance of a distinction between terrorism and legitimate resistance to occupying forces. It also endorsed recommendations by the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri presented a six-point response to the challenges faced by Muslims. In his address at the OIC Contact Group of Kashmir, Kasuri stressed involving Kashmiris in the peace process. The foreign minister held meetings with around 40 heads of state and foreign ministers.

The OIC declaration stated the UN Security Council’s expansion must lead to fair representation of all states and also ensure that Muslim states were also represented in the council.

Kasuri and the Pakistani delegation played an active role in the conference.

A brainstorming ministerial session of the conference and the concluding session continued for nearly three hours to discuss all outstanding issues including the question of granting observer status to Russia.

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