TURKEY BIDS TO HOST OIC SUMMIT

DUSHANBE (A.A) - 18.05.2010 - Turkey announced Tuesday its bid to host the summit meeting of leaders of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries in 2014.
Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz, who is in Tajik capital Dushanbe to attend an OIC meeting, said that OIC was the second largest organization after the United Nations.
Yilmaz said Turkey's recent active foreign policy has been closely monitored by Muslim countries, adding that speakers of the morning session referred to Turkey's efforts during their speeches.
"Progress in Iran's nuclear program thanks to efforts by Turkey and Brazil has found serious echo in the world. This very prestigious for our country," he said.
On a question on Islamophobia, Yilmaz said it was unfair to mention Islam and terrorism together.
"Today's meeting underscored it. This is a racist expression. We have to condemn Islamophobia just as we condemn anti-semitism," he said.