Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry at the 48th session of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of the foreign ministry)
Under the theme ‘Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice and Development,’ the two-day session will cover many economic, cultural, social, humanitarian, and scientific issues, including Islamophobia.
It is expected that the periodic report of the Islamophobia Observatory will be submitted to the meeting for consideration.
On the ministerial levels, participants will also tackle the latest developments regarding the Palestinian cause, in addition to developments in Yemen, Libya, the Republic of Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and other regions.
Furthermore, participants will highlight African issues, especially those of the African Sahel region, and will stress the importance of providing the necessary support to the Sahel countries to maintain stability and security and combat terrorist groups, according to the official website of the OIC.
The session will also oversee cooperation issues with international partners, including the United Nations, the Russian Federation, and the European Union. At the top of the CFM’s agenda is international terrorism and conflict resolution, in addition to the affairs of Muslim groups and communities in non-member states.
The 48th session coincides with the 57th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said in his keynote address at the inaugural session.
The OIC, which was established in 1969 following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
On the sidelines of the session, the OIC will convene a meeting on the Open-ended Contact Group on Muslims in Europe.
The Cairo-based Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue (FDHRD) issued a report last week documenting discrimination against Arabs and Africans during the exodus from Ukraine on the heels of the Russian invasion, which started on 24 February.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown that xenophobia against non-Europeans is still prevalent in Eastern Europe, the report said, where Arabs and Africans are subject to “racial discrimination.”
Sideline meetings
Ahead of the 48th session, Shoukry met separately on Tuesday with his Chinese, Tunisian, Kazakhstani, Thai and Kyrgyzstani counterparts to discuss ongoing political issues in the Arab world, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said on his Twitter account on Tuesday that Shoukry discussed with his counterparts boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields, in addition to a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
This concludes Shoukry’s Asian tour, where Pakistan is his fourth and final stop after visiting Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Earlier, Shoukry met with officials including Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad, where Shoukry expressed hopes that this visit will be an opportunity to push forward bilateral relations between Egypt and Pakistan.
Pakistan is the fourth and last stop for Shoukry in his Asian tour that started on Sunday 13 March, where he visited Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
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