Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

I thank the Prime Minister and the Government of Malaysia for convening this important meeting of the OIC at a time when the international community is facing a grave human tragedy and the Ummah is confronting a major challenge in its history.

Lebanon is burning. It is being once again ravaged by blatant aggression. The massacre of innocent people in Qana last week epitomizes the tragedy and the outrage in Lebanon . We all agree that the slaughter of Lebanese men, women and children is taking place for no fault of theirs. The Israelis have relentlessly targeted the lives of thousands of people and their homes and property worth billions over an issue that could have been resolved through dialogue. Yet the carnage continues, as the world looks on helplessly.

Even UN Peacekeepers have not been spared. These attacks constitute a flagrant breech of the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law.

In these circumstances, international norms and morality and the credibility of international institutions responsible for peace and security are being put to a severe test.

Within the OIC we have an equally great challenge to adopt an effective response to help Lebanon . There is also the responsibility to respond to the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories especially in Gaza , where incursions and air strikes are destroying homes, schools and hospitals and taking a heavy toll in innocent lives including women and children.

As this outrage continues unchecked, those responsible for ensuring peace and upholding international norms, sit in conference rooms debating why this should not happen.

The failure of the international community, especially the United Nations and the major powers to halt this outrage, is adding to popular anger in the region and around the world. The Security Council has failed to enforce a ceasefire despite repeated appeals by the UN Secretary General. This paralysis is dangerous and can have incalculable consequences for long-term peace and security in the sensitive Middle East region and in the world. It will also serve a severe blow to the international campaign against terrorism.

Mr. Chairman,

People in the Muslim world have great expectations from the OIC. We are also bound by a solemn commitment made at the Makkah al Mukkaramah Summit and the OIC Charter to demonstrate solidarity with and support a member state under threat. We need to engage the West and the United Nations at the highest level for bringing the Israeli aggression in Lebanon to an immediate end and to revive endeavors for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue before the spiraling violence engulfs the entire region and kills the hope for a durable and just peace in the Middle East.

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

I propose for consideration the following elements for our response to the grave challenge before us:

The UN Security Council should be pressed to ensure an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon so that more human suffering and further causalities can be spared, and relief assistance can be sent to the affected people. All sides must honour the ceasefire.

The Security Council should also call for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza , and an end to the physical and economic blockade, with a simultaneous end to any armed action on the part of either side.

Simultaneously, all prisoners, Lebanese, Palestinian and Israeli, should be returned. The ICRC can provide a neutral mechanism to achieve this.

There should be no impunity from violations of international humanitarian law.

To ensure that the ceasefire holds in Lebanon , a UN force should be mandated, with the consent of all parties concerned.

OIC countries should consider contributing to a UN force which has the approval of the concerned parties.

The Quartet must re-engage itself in the Middle East process more actively than before, to ensure that a solution is reached for the Middle East problem. The establishment of a Palestinian state, living in peace side by side with Israel , would constitute the only guarantee for durable peace in the region and against a recurrence of crises such as we witness today.

There should be an OIC effort to provide the desperately needed humanitarian and other assistance to Lebanon and Palestine .

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

The continuing tragedy of Palestine and the present crisis in Lebanon raises deeper issues obliging us to reflect once again on the predicament of the Ummah. The crises that afflict the Muslim polity reveal a failure to respond to the challenges of the 21st century that demands unity within our ranks, reform for development, modernization and building our intrinsic strength.

At this critical juncture, it is imperative for us to hold together in condemning aggression against our member states and to provide them humanitarian relief. I am confident that this important meeting of the leaders of the Islamic world will take decisions that would demonstrate strong solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine, mobilize high level action for immediate cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, initiate effective steps that would deter aggression against any other member state in the future and contribute towards a lasting and just peace in the Middle East.

I Thank you.

August 03, 2006