Opening Remarks by the Director-General of UNOG to United Nations – Organization of the Islamic Conference General Meeting

"It is a distinct honour to open, on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, this regular General Meeting of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference secretariats and specialized agencies. I am particularly pleased to welcome this morning to the Palais des Nations the delegation of the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, led by Assistant Secretary General Ali Akbar Salehi.

Today more than ever, regional and subregional organizations play a crucial role in promoting peace and stability within their respective areas. Geographic proximity and close historic and cultural ties among their members give regional organizations the advantage of better understanding the root causes of regional conflicts and being often able to devise peaceful solutions to these problems.

Collaboration between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference is particularly important. With 57 member states spread over four continents, the Organization of the Islamic Conference is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. It reflects the collective voice of the Islamic world as its contribution to peace and harmony among the various peoples of the world. The overall objectives of our organizations reinforce each other in order to contribute effectively to the consolidation of peace and security in the world.

There is also overwhelming agreement between us on the importance of collaboration in reducing poverty, supporting economic, social and cultural development, building peace, ensuring security and fighting terrorism, to mention just a few areas. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in many of these fields is regularly reinforced through direct contacts between the secretariats of the two organizations and between their specialized agencies and bodies.

The Secretaries-General of the two organizations also meet during United Nations General Assembly sessions and on other frequent occasions. These in-depth discussions allow them to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and interest. During their most recent meeting last month in Jeddah, for instance, they discussed a broad spectrum of issues including the world food crisis; the energy issue and the surging oil prices; the situation in Somalia; the need to promote a culture of tolerance and respect; and the holding of a forum on interfaith dialogue in Mekkah al-Mukarrama at the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah.

Allow me to cite also a concrete example of our cooperation for the common good: the International Conference on ‘Terrorism: Dimensions, Threats and Countermeasures', organized jointly with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and hosted by the Government of Tunisia in November 2007. The Conference stressed the need to formulate a comprehensive, collective and inter-governmental approach to combating terrorism and highlighted the urgent need for collaborative efforts aimed at addressing conditions conducive to terrorism. It contributed significantly to furthering the aims of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly in September 2006.

The Alliance of Civilizations offers another channel for concerned actors to cooperate in bridging divides in the international community and promoting mutual respect and understanding among peoples and nations. Led by the former President of Portugal, His Excellency Mr. Jorge Sampaio, the Alliance has established several priority areas for action and is developing a strategy to promote better understanding between the world of politics and religion.

I have just returned from a meeting in Strasbourg with two important regional organizations, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which focused on the issue of inter-cultural dialogue. The meeting highlighted the necessity to rebuild bridges and engage in a constructive dialogue that underscores shared values and aspirations, while underlining that human rights provide the essential basis for intercultural dialogue. It also stressed the urgency of turning political commitments into concrete mechanisms for cooperation across borders and cultures. I am very pleased, therefore, that the dialogue among cultures and civilizations is also on the agenda of our meeting.

This is the eleventh general United Nations-Organization of the Islamic Conference meeting on cooperation. It will focus on reviewing the status of cooperation and appraising concrete progress achieved in the following priority areas: trade; refugees; investment; environment; education; human resources; food security; science and technology; industry, technical cooperation among Islamic countries; the development of arts and crafts and the promotion of cultural heritage. A wide range of issues in the political sphere will also be addressed. The breadth of this agenda itself demonstrates the importance which cooperation between our organizations has acquired over the years.

The United Nations needs regional partners such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other international organizations, whose experience and knowledge complement the reach of the United Nations system. Your support is crucial to our long-term success. It is in that spirit of partnership that I present to all of you my best wishes for a successful meeting."