SAUDI ARABIA: The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) says the Syrian crisis should be resolved within the OIC without involving the wider international community

Record ID: 188895

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) says the Syrian crisis should be resolved within the OIC without involving the wider international community
  • Date: 1st December 2011
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 30, 2011) (REUTERS) EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALKING AT OIC (ORGANISATION OF THE ISLAMIC COOPERATION) HEADQUARTERS PHOTOGRAPHER SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MUALLEM WALKING TO OIC MEETING QATAR FOREIGN MINISTER AND PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL THANI WALKING IN SMALL SYRIAN FLAG ON CAR CAR CARRYING TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER PULLING UP TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU WALKING IN LOBBY VARIOUS OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SEATED AT MEETING QATAR FOREIGN MINISTER HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL THANI SEATED IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI AKBAR SALEHI SEATED OIC SECRETARY GENERAL EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU SEATED ON STAGE DELEGATES IN MEETING HALL. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OIC HEAD EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU, SAYING: "Proceeding from the organisation's commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states and respect for the sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity of each member state as mentioned in the third paragraph of the first article of the Charter of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation, as well as what came in the document rules through the executive committee, we are keen to preserve Syria's safety, security and stability, and insist on rejecting the internationalisation of the Syrian crisis and on working towards resolving it within the broader Islamic family as represented by the OIC." STAGE WITH OIC SECRETARY GENERAL. CLOSE OF QATAR FOREIGN MINISTER HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL THANI IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALI AKBAR SALEHI EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED KAMEL AMR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OIC HEAD EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU, SAYING: "We need to reiterate our stand against any internationalisation of the Syrian crisis and adhere to the need to respect the rule of law and the unity of Syria and the need to stop the bloodshed and restore security and stability and go on the path of reform to achieve the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people. It is necessary here to reaffirm our rejection of the internationalisation of the Syrian crisis." DELEGATES SEATED BEHIND THEIR COUNTRIES' FLAGS QATAR FOREIGN MINISTER SHAKING HANDS WITH ONE OF THE DELEGATES TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAOI2ZWM9UTQ5AIHR4ATCBVMFF
  • Story Text: The head of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said on Wednesday (November 30) the world's largest Islamic body will try to resolve the political crisis in Syria internally and oppose moves to
    take the issue to the international community.
    "We are keen to preserve Syria's safety, security and stability, and insist on rejecting the internationalisation of the Syrian crisis and on working towards resolving it within the broader Islamic family as represented by the OIC," Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah.
    "We need to reiterate our stand against any internationalisation of the Syrian crisis," he told an OIC meeting expected to focus on Syria's crackdown that has killed more than 3,500 people and drawn global condemnation and sanctions from the Arab League.
    Syria's biggest trade partner Turkey suspended all financial credit dealings with it on Wednesday and froze its government's assets, joining the Arab League in isolating President Bashar al-Assad over his military crackdown on opponents.
    Under the terms of an Arab League deal aimed at ending the violence, Syria agreed earlier this month to withdraw the army from urban centres, release political prisoners, launch a dialogue with the opposition and admit foreign observers.
    United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said he was still hoping Syria would admit observers and avoid sanctions due to be unveiled by Saturday (December 3).
    European and Arab diplomats say the top United Nations human rights forum will paint a grim picture of events in Syria at a special session on Friday (December 2) which is likely to condemn the Syrian government for crimes against humanity.
    A U.N. report said on Monday (November 28) Syrian forces have committed murder, torture and rape against pro-democracy protesters. The U.N. says more than 3,500 people have been killed since March.
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