Foreign Ministers discuss Syria ahead of OIC summit

Foreign ministers who convened in Jeddah ahead of the 4th Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) discussed the Syria issue, and agreed in principle to suspend Syrian membership in the 57-member OIC. Furthermore, a final declaration mainly consisting of such topics as Syria, Myanmar, Mali, Palestine and Jerusalem, was prepared by OIC officials to be presented to leaders in the extraordinary meeting of OIC in Mecca, where Turkey will be represented by President Abdullah Gul. The formal decision regarding Syria to be made by the OIC leaders requires a two-thirds majority. The draft resolution about Syria confirmed that Syria’s unity, sovereignty, independency and territorial integrity must be preserved and condemned the bloodshed there. It also highlighted that Syrian government was responsible for violence and bloodshed and called for an end of violence and killings in the country. Another draft resolution about Myanmar urged the government of Myanmar to pursue a policy of reconciliation and rehabilitation covering all ethnical and religious components.