The Iraq issue will highlight the 10th summit meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to be held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Oct. 16-17.
An 11-point draft document on Iraq has been worked out after two days of deliberations among foreign ministers from OIC's 57 member countries and will be submitted for consideration to the summit.
According to the draft document, the OIC welcomed the establishment of the transitional government in Iraq, but wanted the United Nations to play a more central role.
A delegate told reporters that the draft condemned the recent bombings of the Jordanian Embassy and the UN headquarters in Iraq.
However, it is believed that the draft is a compromise among countries that have national or strategic interests in Iraq or are Iraq's close friends as differences still remain on how to deal with the Iraq issue.
During the Foreign Ministers Preparatory Meeting, which closed on Tuesday, Turkey asked the OIC to mobilize a peacekeeping force to stabilize the post-war Iraq.
"Islamic countries should form a contact group on Iraq and start talks with the United States and Iraqi authorities," said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
However, the OIC did not propose to send any peace-keeping troops to Iraq. It urged the US-led occupation forces to leave Iraq and give the United Nations the central role to rebuild Iraq.
In addition to statements on Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, the summit will also issue The Putrajaya Declaration at the end of the meeting which will outline specific plans to strengthen the organization.
OIC Ministerial Preparatory Meeting chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who is also Malaysian foreign minister, said the summit will also work out a plan of action to guarantee the implementation of those ideas and proposals.
Established in May 1971 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the OIC aimed to pool together the resources of Islamic countries in promoting their interests and to consolidate their efforts to speak with a single united voice in advancing the peace and security of the Muslim world.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)
