4 February 2013, Male';Preparatory meetings for the 12th Summit of the Organisation for the Islamic Conference is ongoing in Cairo, Egypt.The Senior Officials meeting, ahead of the Foreign Ministers meeting, ended yesterday in which the draft final communiqué of the Summit was negotiated. The meeting also saw the election of Egypt as chair for the Bureau while Palestine, Pakistan and Uganda were as members, and Senegal as Rapporteur. The Maldives delegation to the Senior Officials meeting is headed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed.
The Foreign Ministers meeting is scheduled to begin today and the Maldives delegation is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Samad Abdullah.The Summit is themed "The Muslim World: New Challenges and Expanding Opportunities" and the Maldives will reiterate its long-standing position of the pertinent role of the OIC in addressing the challenges facing the Islamic Ummah today.
As a strong advocate for the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian State, the Maldives will work towards revitalization of the debates and discussions on important contemporary issues including the existing conflicts in the Middle East region.The Maldives will also highlight the issue of growing Islamaphobia and emphasise the need to promote tolerance and mutual respect amongst all and share its experience of democratic transition.
Foreign Minister Samad is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts attending the Summit.
Maldives delegation to the Summit will be headed by H E President Mohamed Waheed.
Ends.