Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

About OIC

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969 following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general.
Among the OIC’s key bodies: the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers(CFM), the General Secretariat, in addition to the Al-Quds Committee and three permanent committees concerned with science and technology, economy and trade,and information and culture. There are also specialized organs under the banner of the OIC including the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization, as well as subsidiary and affiliate organs that play a vital role in boosting cooperation in various fields among the OIC member states.

Significance of meet for India

India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj addressed the inaugural session of the 46th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers on March 1, 2019, in Abu Dhabi as a “guest of honor” invited by this year’s OIC host country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
India overcame a five-decade-old hurdle to get itself invited to Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meet through deft diplomatic moves, back-channel negotiations and widening engagement not only with just with the UAE but also across the Islamic World. The present invite is a welcome recognition of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos =. Especially, it comes at the time of heightened tensions with Pakistan following the Pulwama terrorist attack. Hence, it is seen as a significant diplomatic victory for New Delhi.

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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