Chairman's Message

The recent Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit held in Tehran adopted over a hundred resolutions covering a wide range of issues including the Arab Israeli conflict, regional disputes, Islamic Extremism and the image of Islam in the world today. Normally, the passing of such resolutions at Islamic or regional conferences are in reality just ink on paper. But this time there is reason to hope that something more constructive will happen.

After the rejection of the US sponsored Doha Middle East Economic conference by most Arab states, the OIC summit in Tehran has rightly decided that it has to deal with a world that is changing rapidly and profoundly both economically and politically. It is particularly significant that this OIC gathering has gone one step further: not only reiterating the importance of Muslim Solidarity but also addressing the need to promote a more positive image of Islam internationally. This image has been tarnished by the rise of Islamic extremists and the Western media portrayal of Islam as a threat to Western civilisation. Some of the resolutions adopted at the summit now seek to change those perceptions, promoting a non-threatening image of Islam throughout the world.

One of the best ways forward for Islamic Countries to demonstrate their solidarity, is to press the case for equitable representation on, and an increase in, the membership of the Security Council for Arab States. Allowing membership of the Security Council to representatives of a unified Islamic body such as the OIC or the Arab League who would be involved in the decision making process of the Security Council would truly demonstrate that the West has the ability to see further than Israeli interests and policy objectives.

With the twenty-one Arab States who are members of the United Nations making up approximately twelve per cent of the member states of the UN – representing an estimated two and fifty million people throughout the region – it seems only logical that when security decisions are made that affect the peace and security of Middle Eastern countries, membership of the Security Council should reflect fairly Arab opinion by giving Islamic states a role in policy making, so that decisions taken reflect the majority and not a minority.

Acceptance by the US and its Western allies of places on the council for Islamic countries would go a long way to countering the current Arab opinion that double standards apply when the UN or the Security Council deal with Israel and the Arab Nations. We as Arabs believe along with all other nations that the maintenance of international peace and security is a collective responsibility that calls for the active and tireless participation of all. It is therefore only just and fair that membership of the Security Council should be based on equitable geographical distribution.

Khalaf Al Habtoor