By TwoCircles.net newsdesk
New York: Praising the cooperative relationship between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today anticipated strengthening these ties in the years ahead.
In a message to the OIC Ministerial Conference meeting in Islamabad, Mr. Ban said the gathering comes at a crucial juncture. “Instability in Islamic States – from Afghanistan and Iraq to Sudan and Somalia – carries profound implications for international peace and security,� he said, calling for a sustained and collective response.
“The OIC, as a leading multilateral institution, is well placed to play a leading role in addressing all these challenges,� said Mr. Ban. “I would especially like to commend the excellent cooperation between the Untied Nations and the OIC.�
The Secretary-General said engagement between the two on matters of peace and security “holds tremendous promise,� while joint UN-OIC economic, cultural and social projects are “already yielding significant dividends� in a number of countries.
“I look forward to strengthening these ties even further in the months and years to come,� Mr. Ban said in the statement, which was delivered by his Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues, Ibrahim Gambari.