Secretary General Sharply Criticizes Islamic World

With 57 Muslim states attending, this year's OIC meeting was the largest gathering of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Abdelwahed Belkeziz, outgoing Secretary General, said Islamic countries must take on responsibility for their failure to introduce democratic reforms. By Dorian Jones

As widely predicted, the meeting (14-16 June 2004) was dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian and Iraqi crises. Numerous speakers roundly condemned Israel and the US handling of Iraq.

In the presence of representatives from the EU and the Russian Federation, Washington's Greater Middle East Initiative launched last week at the G8 summit, also received little support.

Indonesian foreign minister Hasan Wirajobi summed up the feelings of many towards the initiative.

"History and experience have taught us that good efforts or good initiatives don't necessarily guarantee good results", Wirajobi stated. "In this regard whether the Greater Middle East Initiative is acceptable or appropriate is for the Middle East to decide."

Stinging attack on the Muslim world

The conference's final declaration reflected such feelings, calling for any democratic reform to come from within Muslim countries themselves.

But there were some discordant voices: Abdelwahed Belkeziz - outgoing Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference - made the stinging attack at the meeting in Turkey.

The Moroccan blamed the rise of Muslim extremism on the feeling of "powerlessness" felt by members of the Islamic world.

Mr Belkeziz told the foreign ministers from the 57 member states that their countries had a poor record on issues ranging from education and health to economic development.

"The aggregate gross domestic product of all our member states remains lower than that of one single advanced country such as France or Britain," Belkeziz said.

The outgoing secretary general of the conference unequivocally attacked Muslim states for their failure to introduce democratic reform and calling on them to take responsibility for their failure.

"Palestinian problem comes first"

However, it was Turkey's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, who voiced the prevailing view of the conference.

"This is a reality that without solving the Palestinian problem, it is not possible to move forward with reforms and modernization", he said. "Let's solve the Palestinian problem first, and then start thinking about reform", he added. "It is wrong these two issues should be handled together."

Such a stance will probably be a disappointment to the US.

Last week, Washington invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the G8 summit in a bid to promote its Middle East Peace Initiative.

But Turkey is increasingly steering a course closer to its fellow Muslim states. Earlier this week, the Turkish Prime Minister again lambasted Israel and blamed it for the rise in anti-Semitism.

Such tough words undoubtedly helped Turkey secure the political leadership of the organization with Turkish professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, 61, being elected as secretary general.

For the first time – secretary general elected in a secret ballot

Turkey views its position as a bridge between Europe ands the Islamic world as a trump card in its bid to join the European Union. For the organisation and its member states, the choice may indicate a further movement towards reform.

"It is the first time that the OIC has voted in a secret ballot to elect its secretary general," Mr. Gul said, describing it as a "sign of democratisation".

This October, Turkey will host the second meeting of OIC and the EU in Istanbul. Ankara will also be hoping that securing the political leadership of OIC will make it more difficult to for the EU to turn down Turkey's bid.

The OIC also gave greater diplomatic recognition of the Turkish republic Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. But Turkey failed to secure a commitment form any country to break the ongoing economic and diplomatic embargo against the community.

But for now, at least Turkey will probably be happy about being able to enhance its role as the bridge between the Europe and the Muslim world.

Dorian Jones