Islamic summit's final communiqué condemns Israeli attacks, stresses Al-Quds' identity

Communiqué expresses support for Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia and all Islamic nations

Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union reiterates support for UAE claims to its three islands

EU leaders endorse French Mediterranean Union project

The 11th OIC Summit concluded in Dakar, Senegal last night with the adoption of the revised Charter of the Organization and a renewed undertaking for collectively addressing the challenges facing the Ummah. Pakistan, being the current Chairman of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers has been chairing the year long important exercise of the revision of the OIC Charter in accordance with the mandate provided by the 3rd Extraordinary Summit in Makkah Al-Mukarramah. In accordance with the revised Charter, the membership of the OIC will be granted, henceforth, only to Muslim majority countries.

In his address to the Summit, Foreign Minister Inam ul Haque highlighted the problems faced by the Muslim world in political, economic, social and ecological spheres, and called for collective efforts to address these challenges by optimal utilization of the natural and human resources with which the Muslim world has been endowed.

He urged commitment and devotion of the necessary intellectual, human, material and financial resources for the success of the OIC Ten Year Program of Action with a view to steering the Ummah to a prosperous and secure future. He also called for a collective front against, extremism, terrorism and Islamophobia, and the malicious campaign to defame Islam and its sacred personalities. There can be no excuse for defaming a religion and its Prophet on the pretext of freedom of speech, he emphasized.

Referring to the tragedies of Palestine and Kashmir, the Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan's commitment to peaceful resolution of longstanding disputes. He particularly highlighted that a durable peace in South Asia could only be achieved by amicably resolving the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. He conveyed Pakistan's profound gratitude for OIC's continued support to the Kashmiri people in their valiant struggle to achieve their right to self-determination.

Earlier, a high level meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, chaired by OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, was held on sidelines of the Summit. The meeting was attended by the Foreign Minister of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Ali Babacan, the Minister of State of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mr. Nizar Obeid Madani, and the representatives of Niger and Senegal. Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Inam ul Haque.

In their statements, Contact Group members reaffirmed OIC's longstanding principled position and unflinching support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations.

True Representatives of Kashmiri people, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl and Mr. Ghulam Nabi Fai expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Contact Group in promoting a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. They briefed the Contact Group on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and presented a Memorandum in that regard. The Contact Group also approved a Declaration on Jammu and Kashmir. The Declaration was subsequently adopted by the Summit.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also addressed the plenary of the Summit Conference. Emphasizing that Kashmir issue was the key to peace in South Asia, he urged the international community and the OIC to intensify efforts for its early and just resolution.

The Final Communiqué adopted by the Summit also reaffirmed the complete solidarity and support of the Islamic world for the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The Final Communiqué also includes important proposals by Pakistan on a host of issues including disarmament and non-proliferation. On Security Council reform, the Summit reaffirmed its demand for adequate representation of the OIC member states in an expanded Security Council, and called for continuing efforts to reach consensus on this issue.

The Summit adopted several important resolutions, including two resolutions tabled by Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir and reform of the UN Security Council.

In their statements in the general debate, leaders of several countries including Azerbaijan, Somalia and Sierra Leone supported Pakistan's efforts for pursuing the peace process with India and for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan announced a contribution of 100,000 dollars for the Islamic Solidarity Fund.

Somali President Abdullah Yosif Ahmad Ali received in Dakar Prince Saud Alfaisal, the Foreign Minister and head of the Saudi delegation to the meetings of the 11th Islamic Summit currently hosted by Dakar.

During the audience, Prince Saudi conveyed greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, to president.

The meeting also discussed Saudi-Somali relations, items on the summit's agenda and issues of common interest.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and leader of his country's delegation to the 11th Islamic summit in Dakar, described the conference as successful.

In a statement following the conclusion of the conference, he said the meeting has passed the OIC charter which has been cooked over seven years.

The charter was first drafted during the 3rd extraordinary conference in Makkah in Zul-Qaeda 1426H., he added.

He said the charter will become effective after being endorsed by member countries, a step he described as basic for the implementation of the ten-year program.

On the fringes of the 11th Islamic Summit, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora received Prince Saud Al- Faisal, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the audience, they discussed Saudi-Lebanese relations, items on the summit's agenda and issues of common interest.

On other hand Prince Saud met Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki and Omani Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah separately.

During the meetings, they discussed the relations between Saudi Arabia and each of the two countries, items on the summit's agenda and issues of common interest.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between Sudan and Chad, whose relations have suffered over a border feud and rebellion aimed at overthrowing the Chadian government.

The signing of the peace agreement in Dakar, Senegal, was made possible under the auspices of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

Ban said in a statement that he was encouraged by the 'stated determination and commitment (of Sudan and Chad) to normalize their bilateral relations.'

He urged the two neighbors to 'remain steadfast in their resolve to restore peace and stability along their shared border, as this would contribute to wider stability in the region as a whole.'

'The UN remains supportive of the ongoing regional peace efforts, and looks forward to working closely with all parties concerned to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the Dakar agreement,' Ban said.

Chad had accused Sudan of harboring rebels that crossed the border and attacked its capital N'Djamena last month in attempt to overthrow the government.

On the other hand, The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) has reiterated the right of the United Arab Emirates for sovereignty over its three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, occupied by Iran.

In the final communiqué issued at the end of its 13th meeting in Erbil on March 13, the AIPU also expressed support to the approach adopted by UAE to regain sovereignty over its three islands.

The UAE delegation, headed by Speaker of the Federal National Council Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ghurarir, expressed dismay over the reservations voiced by Iraqi delegation about the issue of UAE's islands, occupied by Iran.

"We object to that reservation. The last meeting of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers, held on March 6, had stressed UAE's sovereignty over its occupied islands. The Iraqi Foreign Minister was present during the meeting and condoned UAE's demand about the islands," Al Ghurair said.

AIPU's Secretary General Nouruddin Bushukooj said the final communiqué called on Iran to translate its desire to strengthen ties with Arab countries into tangible steps by responding to UAE's call for resolving the issue via peaceful means either through direct negotiations or by referring the dispute to the International Court of Justice.

The communiqué also condemned Iranian government's move to build houses for its citizens in the islands in an attempt to change their demographic structure.

It also deplored Iranian military exercises in the UAE islands' territorial waters, airspace, continental shelf and exclusive economic zones.

President Jalal Talabani of Iraq addressed the meeting's concluding session and reiterated the right of the United Arab Emirates for sovereignty over its three islands occupied by Iran. He also expressed Iraq's support to UAE's right in its islands.

"The UAE has always stood by Iraq during crises and difficult times. The Iraqi delegation should have supported UAE's right in its islands," Al Ghurair commented.

In the meantime, a Tunisian daily newspaper has commended the approach adopted by the UAE in dealing with the issue of its three islands - Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb & Abu Musa - under Iranian occupation.

Abu Bakr Al Sagheer, a renowned Tunisian journalist, said in his column at "Al Sareeh" newspaper that the UAE had followed the voice of ration and opted to let brotherly feelings prevail to resolve the issue.

Al Sagheer said that historians proved that the three islands are Arab islands which formed part of the Arab Hurmuz Kingdom.

"The Arab world is considered an important strategic depth for Iran and it is not for Tehran's interest to project itself as a regional power at the expense of the Arabs' interest and existence," he said.

European Union leaders were set to give formal blessing to a French proposal for a Mediterranean Union to boost ties with the bloc's southern neighbors, a draft final statement showed.

But the plan presented by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to a 27-nation EU summit is a pale shadow of the grand design initially proposed by Paris.

"The European Council approved the principle of a Union for the Mediterranean which will include the member states of the EU and the non-EU Mediterranean coastal states and be an upgrade of the Barcelona process," the draft seen by Reuters said.

They will invite the executive European Commission to propose detailed arrangements for launching the new Union at a summit in Paris on July 13, after months of fierce resistance by Berlin forced Paris to drop the most controversial features.

The concept has shrunk from an international forum grouping only states with a Mediterranean coastline and involving nine new agencies and a bank, to a mere regular summit of EU and Mediterranean countries with a joint presidency -- which may yet be dropped -- and a small secretariat.

Merkel said the original plan would have split the EU and siphoned off common funds for the benefit of a few members and their former colonies.

But Sarkozy told a midnight news briefing: "I never had the idea of excluding any EU states...I never regarded it as a rival to the EU."

European Union leaders were set to give formal blessing on Friday to a French proposal for a Mediterranean Union to boost ties with the bloc's southern neighbors, a draft final statement showed.

But the plan presented by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to a 27-nation EU summit is a pale shadow of the grand design initially proposed by Paris.

"The European Council approved the principle of a Union for the Mediterranean which will include the member states of the EU and the non-EU Mediterranean coastal states and be an upgrade of the Barcelona process," the draft seen by Reuters said.

They will invite the executive European Commission to propose detailed arrangements for launching the new Union at a summit in Paris on July 13, after months of fierce resistance by Berlin forced Paris to drop the most controversial features.

The concept has shrunk from an international forum grouping only states with a Mediterranean coastline and involving nine new agencies and a bank, to a mere regular summit of EU and Mediterranean countries with a joint presidency -- which may yet be dropped -- and a small secretariat.

Merkel said the original plan would have split the EU and siphoned off common funds for the benefit of a few members and their former colonies.

But Sarkozy told a midnight news briefing: "I never had the idea of excluding any EU states...I never regarded it as a rival to the EU."

At Germany's insistence, there will be no new EU money beyond the funds allocated for the Barcelona process. France hopes to tap private sector funding in addition. Sarkozy said he expected resources of up to 14 billion euros ($21.83 billion).

French diplomats say they hope the Paris summit will launch a handful of new projects such as a clean-up of the polluted Mediterranean Sea and joint efforts to combat climate change and fight forest fires.