Islamabad: Foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states began their 52nd session in Baghdad on Saturday, focusing on Palestine, regional conflicts and stronger cooperation, as Iraq proposed linking energy, transport and digital networks to deepen economic integration among Muslim countries.
The meeting is scheduled to continue on Sunday. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ambassador Fawad Sher, is representing Islamabad at the two-day meeting.
Its first time since 1982 that Baghdad is hosting an OIC CFM meeting, and it is now the chair of the CFM, which it got from Turkey last year.
Iraqi Prime Minister
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi opened the meeting, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Welcoming the delegates, al-Zaidi said the Muslim world faced growing challenges that tested its ability to coexist and adapt to economic, cultural and media transformations.
“What we are witnessing in terms of crises at the regional and international levels calls for greater joint action to protect the interests of our peoples, serve the causes of our nation and ensure the future of our generations,” he said.
A delegation from the OIC General Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, is participating in the meeting, which is expected to focus on strengthening Islamic solidarity, addressing emerging challenges and advancing the collective interests of the Muslim world.
Palestine At The Centre
On Palestine, al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s position that the Palestinian issue remained at the heart of the region’s conflict.
He said achieving justice for the Palestinian people and guaranteeing their rights were essential to regional security and stability.
The meeting is expected to provide a platform for member states to discuss regional developments, strengthen Islamic solidarity and coordinate diplomatic efforts to address shared challenges.
Trade And Connectivity
Al-Zaidi also called for freedom of trade, the protection of trade routes and the smooth movement of transport through international corridors.
The two-day session is being held under the theme “Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Essential Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development”.
Iraq is hosting the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting for the first time since 1982, having assumed the council’s chairmanship from Türkiye last year.
Muslim world
In a statement ahead of the session, the OIC Secretary-General underscored the heightened responsibility of member states amid escalating regional and international tensions, calling for concerted efforts to reinforce stability and strengthen unity among Islamic countries.
He stressed the need for the session to adopt resolutions commensurate with the scale of the challenges confronting the Muslim world, while continuing to improve the organisation’s operational mechanisms and ensuring that it has the resources required to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
The Baghdad meeting comes at a critical juncture for the OIC, highlighting the importance of dialogue, consultation and coordinated diplomatic engagement in addressing shared challenges and promoting peace and sustainable development across the Islamic world.
