The 38th session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Islamic countries began at the Kazakhstani capital, Astana, yesterday under the patronage of President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The session would last for three days.

The Sultanate’s delegation to the conference is led by Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs.

President Nazarbayev welcomed ministers and their delegations to the conference. He highlighted the importance of the conference, especially at a time when the Islamic world is facing instability in a number of countries. He pointed out that their impact did not only hit the national economies, but extended to other countries.

The Kazakhstani President said that there is tremendous potential for cooperation among the Islamic countries through open dialogue, in addition to discussing joint means to enhance global peace and security. He called upon finding effective means for economic cooperation, mutual support and enhancing development.

On behalf of the Arab Group, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs delivered a speech in the opening session of the conference.

He expressed the gratitude of the Arab world to the Republic of Kazakhstan, its President and people for hosting this conference.
Bin Alawi said that the Sultanate of Oman in collaboration with the Arab Group is ready for all efforts to enable this Conference to come out with positive decisions.

The conference will include a number of side meetings, the foremost of which is the brainstorming session on the role of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in maintaining the international security and stability.

This meeting will be followed by two economic meetings, one of them will focus on cooperation with the Central Asian countries. The other issue to be discussed will be supporting of development and stability in Somalia, particularly after opening OIC Humanitarian Coordination Office in Mogadishu last March.

Meeting
Earlier, Karim Masimov, prime minister of Kazakhstan received Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah and his accompanying delegation on the sidelines of the Conference.

During the meeting, strong bilateral relations between the two countries, issues of common concern and a number of major topics, as well as the latest developments at the Arab and international arenas were reviewed, in addition to the topics listed on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs also met with Ahmed Naseem, Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the conference’s meetings.

During the meeting, bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and issues of joint interest, as well as the latest regional and international developments were discussed.

The two meetings were attended by Salim bin Mohammed al Riyami, Head of the International Organisations Department, Said bin Ali al Amri, charge d’affaires of the Sultanate’s Embassy in Kazakhstan and members of the delegation accompanying the minister responsible for foreign affairs.

Source : Times of Oman