OIC Chief addresses Foreign Ministers of Muslim and Western Countries

New York, October 19, SPA --Secretary General of the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu who led the
OIC delegation to the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Muslim
and Western Countries “Common World: Progress through Diversity”
addressed on 17th October 2008 the opening of the Conference in which
he shared his belief that it is only through acknowledging and
celebrating diversity that both the Muslim and the Western worlds can
promote reciprocal knowledge of culture, religious and ethnic
diversity.

This process will help them build a framework for commonly shared
values, intercultural competencies and foster dialogue aiming at
attaining sustainable understanding, peace and harmony; he was quoted
as saying in a press release issued by the OIC.

Ihsanoglu emphasized that with the reforms that OIC has witnessed
since the adoption of its new charter, democracy and good governance
have gained prominence. In this context, he stated, that the document
“…asserts the rule of law, upholds and safeguards fundamental
freedoms, including freedom of expression and accountability.

--SPA