ID :
191805
Wed, 06/29/2011 - 14:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/191805
The shortlink copeid
Fahour named special envoy to Islam group
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 29 - Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has named businessman Ahmed Fahour as Australia's special envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Mr Rudd said Mr Fahour had agreed to take up this appointment in parallel with his current role as chair of the Council for Arab Australia Relations.
He said Australia had strong bonds with many OIC members.
"Our political, economic and people-to-people partnerships with Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Gulf States, Egypt the Magreb and the Levant, are among Australia's most important," he said in a statement.
"Our goods trade amounts to $39 billion annually with OIC members and tens of thousands of young students from OIC member countries study in Australia with 86,000 enrolments last year alone."
Mr Rudd said Mr Fahour would work to deepen Australia's engagement with OIC countries and the OIC agenda.
"He is a man with a passion for advancing social cohesion and the place of Muslims in Australian society," he said.
Mr Rudd said he wanted to strengthen ties with the Muslim world by formalising a framework for cooperation between Australia and the OIC.
"I would like through this framework to explore how to increase cooperation on interfaith dialogue, on food security and on joint aid projects between Australia and the OIC," he said.
Mr Rudd said Mr Fahour had agreed to take up this appointment in parallel with his current role as chair of the Council for Arab Australia Relations.
He said Australia had strong bonds with many OIC members.
"Our political, economic and people-to-people partnerships with Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Gulf States, Egypt the Magreb and the Levant, are among Australia's most important," he said in a statement.
"Our goods trade amounts to $39 billion annually with OIC members and tens of thousands of young students from OIC member countries study in Australia with 86,000 enrolments last year alone."
Mr Rudd said Mr Fahour would work to deepen Australia's engagement with OIC countries and the OIC agenda.
"He is a man with a passion for advancing social cohesion and the place of Muslims in Australian society," he said.
Mr Rudd said he wanted to strengthen ties with the Muslim world by formalising a framework for cooperation between Australia and the OIC.
"I would like through this framework to explore how to increase cooperation on interfaith dialogue, on food security and on joint aid projects between Australia and the OIC," he said.
