Third extraordinary OIC Summit begins Dec 7

Convened at the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the December 7-8 summit will adopt a 10-year Programme of Action to restructure and revitalise the organization.

The summit will adopt a new OIC charter and consider the recommendations of the Commission of Eminent Persons (CEP) comprising members from 17 Muslim countries, and Makkah Forum of Scholars and Intellectuals, foreign ministry officials said.

The summit venue is Al-Safa Palace, the Royal Guest House overlooking the Ka'aba in Makkah, the holiest city of the Muslims.

Khaleda Zia will lead a 37-member Bangladesh delegation at the summit where most of the kings, heads of state and government of the Muslim states will attend.

She will hold bilateral meetings with a number of her counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan already left for Makkah to attend today's OIC foreign ministers' meeting in Jeddah, where they will approve the 10-year draft plan to be submitted for approval by the heads of state and government tomorrow.

This summit aims at restoration of the Muslim nations' self-confidence, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal yesterday said, adding that this time scholars prepared a detailed report of all the member states' problems and predicaments that will be presented as the agenda, a report of Arab News said.

The report examines the future challenges and proposes comprehensive solutions that take into consideration political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the Muslim Ummah.

The summit will focus on economic issues and challenges facing the Ummah and give attention to the reduction of poverty and the increase of trade and economic integration between Muslim countries.

A proposal for expanding the OIC budget will be presented in the summit, officials said.

Another major economic challenge for the Muslim countries that are WTO members has resulted from the limitation on economic activities that the World Trade Organisation imposes.

The establishment of crisis funds and funds for the poor by the Islamic Development Bank will also be taken into consideration during the summit.

Around 1,600 journalists from around the world will cover the summit and a well-equipped media centre has been set up for the event.

The Saudi authorities have tightened security in and around Makkah ahead of the conference.