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(30 Jun 2000) Arabic/Eng
XFA
Foreign ministers from Muslim countries have wound up their four-day meeting of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur with calls for a peaceful end to the conflicts in Chechnya, Afghanistan and the southern Philippines.

The conference also condemned Israel for jeopardizing the Middle East peace process and reaffirmed the O-I-C's position that Jerusalem is an integral part of Palestinian territory.

Foreign ministers from around the Islamic world gathered for prayers at the end of their four-day conference.

There was much to pray for.

Conflicts and in-fighting still continue to plague Muslims countries from the Middle East to Asia.

The issue that most united the delegates was the right of the Palestinians to establish their own state with our without the blessing of Israel.

The Palestinian representative warned of the dire conseqences of Israel's refusal to meet Palestinian demands.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Peace is in danger. This is a stalemate. Don't ask the Palestinians to m,ake compromise or concessions. Why should we? Our territory is occupied."
SUPER CAPTION: Farouk Khadhoumi, P-L-O Secretary for Foreign Affairs

The O-I-C's Morrocan-born Secretary-General expressed his disappointment at the current impasse, saying the ball was now firmly in Israel's court.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"We regret that after we have accepted the peace process, it seems that Israel is fudging and trying to obtain not peace but surrender or abdication. That is something we cannot accept."
SUPER CAPTION: Addezine Lakari, Secretary-General, Organization of Islamic Conference

Wrapping up, the conference passed a resolution condemning Israel's continuing intransigence over the peace process.

Speakers warned sponsors of the peace process to be wary of Israeli promises.

Khadhoumi himself cast some doubt over the United States' ability to mediate the conflict now the Clinton administration has entered its lame-duck phase.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The United States is a friend to Israel and Mr Clinton is coming close to the end of his term. I don think that he will be willing to pressurize the Israelis.
SUPER CAPTION: Farouk Khadhoumi, PLO Secretary for Foreign Affairs

The conference also passed an urgent resolution calling for a settlement to the conflict between India and Pakistan over the Muslim-majority state of Kashmir.

The Kashmir issue is raised every year at O-I-C meetings, but it has taken on a special urgency since India and Pakistan began flexing their nuclear muscles.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"That is becoming a chronical problem. We are appealing for peaceful discussion between both Kashmir and Indians and Pakistanis and Indians."
SUPER CAPTION: Addezine Lakari, Secretary General, Organization of Islamic
Conference

Pakistan's Foreign Minister underlined the danger the issue poses to the sub-continent, warning his country would not hesitate to use force if provoked.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are willing to proceed on any of the non-peaceful lines. We do not believe that negotiation is the only way for the settlement of disputes. It may be the preferred way but it succeeds only when the negotiations proceed on universally-recognized principles of law and justice."
SUPER CAPTION: Abdul Sattar, Pakistani Foreign Minister

The conference did not address the specific issue of nuclear proliferation in South Asia.

But Sattar sought to allay fears of further escalation, saying they were not seeking nuclear parity with India and would not embark on further tests unless India did so first.





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