OIC calls halt to global terrorism

In his concluding speech, Khatami reflected his moderate policies noting there was a need to “bring closer the position of the Islamic world to the international community.”

The OIC in a declaration described the “Tehran Summit Vision”, slammed Israel for its “expansionist policies” and left out the United States initiatives on peace in West Asia indicated the frustration of the Muslim world over the slow progress in the peace process.

Qatar was given the responsibility of hosting the next OIC summit. The 8th OIC meeting also underscored patching up of ruffled ties between Iran and its neighbours.

Terrorism was a highpoint in the agenda as the OIC meeting preceded by terrorist attacks on tourists in Egypt and massacres in Algeria.

To what extent it applied to terrorism in Kashmir is left to interpretation as there the declaration set apart “terrorism from the struggle of people against colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation” but without naming any groups.

The declaration rejected the d’amato law, passed by the US Congress in 1996, imposing sanctions against Iran and Libya as it did unilaterally and extra-territorial application of domestic law, and took swipe at the US.

It backed the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and called for “interaction, dialogue and understanding among cultures and religions.”

The document also urged Turkey to review two military agreements it signed with Israel in 1996, and slammed Afghanistan’s Taliban militia, without naming either of them. It rejected a Pakistani demand to include a call for an embargo on weapons for Afghanistan.