Speech by Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan at the OIC Summit (Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

SPEECH
by Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. Hamrohon Zarifi
at the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(14-15, August, 2012)

In the Name of God, the Giver of Life

Dear Chairman of the meeting,

Distinguished Heads of State and Government

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Assalamu alaikum va rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Praise to the Allah Gracious and Merciful, that we, responsible representatives of the Muslim countries, gathered at this forum responsibly and comprehensively to consider and assess present situation in the Islamic World in the light of difficult and inconsistent tendencies of the modern world.

With full sincerity on behalf of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, the Government of Tajikistan and its people I express gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, his Majesty Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud for a timely initiative and high level of the organization of this Summit.

The leaders and people of Tajikistan sincerely wish that this historic meeting will open a new stage of comprehensive cooperation of Muslim countries and Muslim communities for the development and happiness of every Muslim family, every Islamic country, and all of the great Muslim Ummah.


Dear brothers,

Changes in the Islamic World after the Third Emergency Meeting of the Organization and the adoption of the Declaration of Mecca took place in complicated international situation. About seven years ago, on this sacred land we discussed, within the Organization, the cooperation prospects according to requirements and priorities of the Islamic World, and the Ten Years Action Program was accepted. At the meeting of Heads of States in Dakar, the new Provisions of the Organization were established on the basis of the meeting’s recommendations. The meetings of ministers of OIC in Dushanbe (2010) and in Astana (2011) once again defined ways of strengthening of interrelations and steady cooperation. However, tendencies and phenomena which are taking place in recent years in the social life of mankind, including the world economic crisis, severe competition and opposition of the main international power centers, increasing fight for possession of strategically important sources for life, information and propaganda expansion, and other worst phenomena, despite undertaken measures for creation of a modern order of international relations, have been posing serious negative influence on the destiny of all countries and peoples.

In recent years, accelerated development and intense situations in the Organization’s area; revolutions and sociopolitical crises, in particular, in North Africa and the Middle East; neglecting of disagreements, contradictions, and disputes; manifestations of mutual non-recognition and unpreparedness to dialogue, mutual understanding; and moreover, aggression and non-reconciliation approach of opposing parties intrude upon stability of some Muslim countries and lead societies to catastrophic consequences.

As we see, such situations became the reason of bloody collisions, and the Islamic Organization of Cooperation, unfortunately, not only could not use its power and effective role, means and possibilities of its powerful states to stop the civilian conflicts, but also kept silence and inability in provision of assistance and advise to brothers in religion, was late in holding meetings to render brotherly help and timely measures in the conditions of accumulated social difficulties brought incidents from the Arab and Islamic World onto international arena, allowing foreign interventions in these suffered countries, and destruction of the basis of material and spiritual achievements which have been saved up during the centuries.

It is possible to foretell that continuation of such relations against each other, dangers of human tragedy and loss of economic power would jeopardize each member state individually.

It is necessary to recognize that still within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation we could not achieve success in creation of the mechanism of action and operative discussion at the level of Heads of States and the ministries and centers for crisis management and prevention.

Despite all negative factors, during these years we were witnesses of relative development of cooperation of the Muslim countries in all spheres and areas, including economy and fundamental areas and in strengthening of Islamic unity.

However, we must frankly admit that our achievements are very modest. We still have not achieved our lofty goals. In addition, we must recognize that the Islamic world is faced with difficulties, problems and, partially, destruction.

Complex and real consideration of vital and strategic interests of the Muslim countries and Islamic World as a whole – in connection with long-term and current trends in the modern world – dictates the vital importance and urgency of the development and implementation of a strategy for the development of the Islamic World.

It is true that the Organization carries out a number of programs, projects, structures, and mechanisms of economic development, fundamental and technical and technological trends that play an important role.

However, present specific stage asks for views and actions of qualitatively new level and new cooperation. The proposed strategy, in our view, should be developed in a joint intellectual effort by carefully analyzing the fate of Muslims in the modern world and meet the vital needs of each Muslim country and the Islamic World.

Due to the fact that for some Muslim countries, because of the level of development, there are increasing difficulties and challenges, the core of the strategy should be developed together with the stability of the economic, social, spiritual and cultural purposes.

There should be, first of all, wise, responsibly and effectively use of life's precious and strategic resources – health, economical, intellectual, cultural, and spiritual – envisaged.

For example, processing of much more of energy resources, including oil and gas in countries that possess these resources, creates an opportunity for them to achieve a stable economy, and to sale excess amounts of products to countries - importers. As a result, economic ties of Muslim countries would significantly develop and become the basis for the formation of the market, covering the states.

Or even more striking example: the construction of the cascade hydropower plants in Tajikistan will not only eliminates the seasonal lack of energy in our country, but also provides basis for development through enabling downstream countries to waterlogged over 400 thousand hectares of new land and 1.5 million hectares of land in Afghanistan, which is a vital factor in view of accelerating population growth in Central Asia. In addition, it seriously improves regional environmental conditions and social situation of the people of our region. Moreover, all those in need in Afghanistan and the region will be provided with a relatively cheap and clean energy, as well as it eliminates the problem of the energy lack in Pakistan.

As a result, on the one hand, it will become modern phenomenon of progress, development and solution of strategic issues in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the other hand, will give our country's contribution to the development of the "Green Economy".

In this regard, it would be beneficiary to this end, if we actively involve necessary financial support and investments of the public development funds of the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council, capacities of International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi, and Islamic Network for the Development and Management and water sources in Amman, to which Tajikistan became a party, in implementation of world important projects.

In addition, Tajikistan believes that implementation of projects of regional importance in different areas of the Islamic world, including in our region, such as construction of roads and railways that connect the countries of Central and South Asia with Afghanistan, construction of high voltage transmission lines, pipelines for water and natural gas between the countries will be a real way to ensure the sharing of opportunities wealth of each other, and an important factor in increasing the production and development of mutual trade, development, and prosperity of nations.

It should be noted that the vast majority of Muslim countries have strategic position and construction of different infrastructural facilities, especially railroads, international and regional highways, high voltage power lines, oil, gas and water networks would not only contributes to the increased development of almost all countries, cooperation between them, but also will strengthen the overall economy and enhance the role of geo-economics, geopolitics, the Islamic World.

Of course, it is necessary to realize fast development strategies in the Islamic world, and especially at the level of Muslim states, particularly in the less developed countries with political and economic crises that require large investments and benefits, grants and assistance to friendly, serious financial strengthening and investment from the Islamic Development Bank and other financial agencies and donors, Islamic Solidarity Fund and combined in a particular investment and promote the economy of the countries with valuable financial resources.

At the same time for this purpose, Republic of Tajikistan considers it necessary to make an offer for the consideration of this extraordinary forum to establish a Strategic center, and (or) a Permanent group of experts and scholars as a part of the Secretariat of the Organization for studying economic and investment opportunities of the Member States, priorities, promising areas and directions of the national economies of each Muslim country, the execution of important national and regional projects, the creation of market funding and their implementation.

We believe that this proposal and other constructive suggestions will be thoroughly discussed during meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and will be presented at the next 12th Meeting of Heads of State in the next year in Sharm al-Sheikh, for approval and adoption.

It should be noted, we in Tajikistan warmly welcome the initiative of Saudi Arabia on readiness of the Arab League regarding the establishment of partnerships and economic integration with Central Asian countries, whose aim is mutual benefit from the untapped potential of the region, opening new markets for investment and long-term trade relations.


Dear friends,

The vital necessity of Muslim countries is the development of the latest achievements of science and technology and access to modern scientific and intellectual potentials. Despite the efforts of agencies and the states - members of the Organization's achievements in this area is very modest.

We know that without modern scientific, intellectual and technical potential of our combined lofty goals - providing a new level of development and worthy life of each Muslim family - is impossible. It should be noted that today, every Muslim country is in dire need of tens of thousands of today's professionals, first of all, in technical, medical, agricultural, and other spheres.

Our most important and urgent task is to develop and strengthen the Islamic culture and civilization. The Islamic civilization has historically been a creative and made a tremendous contribution to society, culture, and human morality.

Its highest value at the present stage of rapid and profound changes in all spheres of society and a serious moral and ethical crisis, are of vital importance not only for Muslims but all human society.

Principal and consistent implementation of the economic and social development strategies is an effective factor in substantial reduction of the social basis of the most destructive factors for the Islamic World and world community, among them terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and could lead to social and political stability, social development, high level of social life of Muslims, cultural, moral and educational excellence of society. This will help ensure that the Islamic world will gradually become an active, creative and influential part of the international community.


Dear brothers,
Dear Friends,

The history in this very important and momentous period of the Islamic Ummah has assigned to us, responsible persons of the Muslim countries, a great mission. We sincerely wish that all the Muslim countries and peoples of these countries put consistent effort and creative steps, with right knowledge, necessary awareness, targeted strong spirit of cooperation, and genuine Islamic solidarity to achieve our common goals – fulfill its historic mission to the proper level.

At this time, when the month of Ramadan and the month of the Quran, this Night of Destiny we ask the Great Allah to lead us on the right track and make our steps steady on implementation of this great responsibility which we take to achieve the objectives of the Muslim Ummah!