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OIC Member Countries with 57 Nations’ Members.
Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Djibouti, Chad, Indonesia, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Palestine, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Iraq, Iran, Cameroon, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Comoros, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Maldives, Malaysia, Mali, Egypt, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somali, Sudan, Surinam, Syria*, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Oman, Jordan, Yemen.
Observer Countries: The Organization has 5 Observer Countries. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (by the name of Turkish Cypriot State), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Russia, Thailand.
GUYANA is an OIC Member since 1998
The Republic of GUYANA, is a Member since 1998, but continues to be WITHOUT OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION BY AN AMBASSADOR. Invitations for participation were regularly received and do know that during my tenure in Kuwait 2016-2020, repeated requests in my detailed 40 to 50 pages monthly reports, to the Minister and Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for an Official Representation at OIC, did not receive the courtesy of a response.
Motto: “To safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of Muslims”
How many Muslims in the world?
Approximately 1.9 billion followers Adherents of Islam constitute the world’s second largest religious group. A projection by the PEW suggests that Muslims numbered approximately 1.9 billion followers in 2020.
Which religion is No 1 in world?
Globally, Christianity has the largest following of these categories. Around 31% of the world’s population are Christians, closely followed by Muslims at 25%. Jews have the smallest population of major religions, with only 0.2% of the world identifying as Jewish.
PHOTO: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Headquarters, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with GUYANA FLAG ( 3rd from Left) .
June 5, 2018, the above Picture from my Visit to OIC Headquarters. His Excellency Dr Yousef A. AL-Othaimeen, Secretary General, repeatedly inquired, each time, we met, on Guyana’s Official Accreditation Representation and participation at OIC activities.
Photo: June 5, 2018, Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally with Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan (ASG OIC ). Assistant Secretary General, Science & Technology Affairs, reviewing the “ Show, Tell, & Know” Guyana, Flier. Ambassador Dr. Khan, also again inquired on Guyana’s Official Ambassador’s Accreditation Representation.
13 OIC Projects/Activities during my 2016-2020 Tenure in Kuwait
- OIC/ IsDB Sept 2018 > Reverse Linkage Project between Guyana and Malaysia on Rice Production TOTAL Cost USD $877,700: Providers USD $297,700: Recipient/GUYANA USD $300,000: and IsDB USD$280,000:
- OIC, 14th. ISLAMIC SUMMIT, Makkha, KSA May 31, 2019: COMCEC: Standing Committee for ECONOMIC and COMMERCIAL COOPERATION:GUYANA> Poverty Alleviation > Increasing the Capacity of Vocational Education Centers for the Disabled in Selected OIC Countries, GUYANA, SURINAME, and TURKEY
- OIC, First Summit on Science & Technology, ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 6th to 13, 2017: HEAD of Delegation.
- OIC & Kuwait EXPO 2018, February 6 -10, 2018, with 27 Countries. HEAD of Delegation, Kuwait.
- OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Ambassador Dr. Shamir’s COURTESY Visit on June 5th. 2018
- OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Visit: September 24th. 2018, with Guyana FAMILIARIZATION VISIT, Ambassador Dr. Shamir, with Senior Minister of Finance Hon. Winston Jordan and Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson
- OIC, 46th. Council of FOREIGN MINISTERS, (CFM) Abu Dhabi, UAE, HEAD of Delegation : March 1st to 2nd, 2019, Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally
- OIC, Council of FOREIGN MINISTERS (CFM), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: May 29, 2019. HEAD of DELEGATION. 1 person attended Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally.
- OIC, 14th Islamic SUMMIT and 50th. Anniversary of OIC, MAKKHA. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for HEADS of NATIONS or Representatives, on May 31, 2019. HEAD of DELEGATION. 1 person attended Ambassador Dr Shamir Ally.
- OIC/IsDB Reverse Linkage in HALAL ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, 7 to 11 th. October 2019, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.
- OIC, Third OIC Conference on MEDIATION, Istanbul, TURKEY on 1st. November 2019 with HEAD of Delegation, 1 person attended, Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally.
- OIC Investment Conference, Istanbul, TURKEY, on December 8, 2019, with Senior Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan, and Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally
- OIC Kuwait, on December 21, 2020, for Halal Meats Production
PHOTO: OIC, Investment Conference, Istanbul, TURKEY, on December 8, 2019, with Senior Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan, Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally, and Conference Host.
PHOTO: Third OIC Conference on MEDIATION, Istanbul, TURKEY on 1st. November 2019 with HEAD of Delegation, Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally
PHOTO: OIC/IsDB Reverse Linkage in HALAL ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, 7 to 11 th. October 2019, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
PHOTO: Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally, with President of Venezuela H. E. Nicolás Maduro Moros At OIC SUMMIT, Astana, Kazakhstan, 11 September 2017.
President Maduro was attending as the HEAD OF DELEGATION, for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and WE TALKED about LESS CONFLICTS, Science, Technology, Finance, Education, Countries with Successful Borders Economic Zones, and Guyana Border Dispute. Guyana was referred to as with “Napoleonic Complex.” NAM in 2019 had 120 members and twenty-five observer countries and was started in Belgrade in 1961.
President Maduro, mentioned that he saw me (Dr. Shamir) being warmly greeted with hugs and 3 kisses, by the High OIC/Gulf Heads of Delegations and asked, why was this ? Dr. Shamir said, “EACH DAY, the practice of Relationships Building, Patience and Respect, and to UNLEARN from the Western Styles and RELEARN to the GULF Styles.”
President Maduro, said, “ Ambassador Dr. Shamir, You are invited to Caracas, as our Guest, and to work on the Border Issue, with the same unlearn and relearn styles. Dr. Shamir, graciously, thanked President Maduro, for his most gracious invitation, and said “ My Accreditation is to Kuwait and the Islamic Development Bank, and other very skilled and experienced Guyanese Diplomats are very capable to talk with him and teams on the Border Issue.”
WITNESSED MYSELF at EVERY OIC meeting, Dr. Shamir, attended, that Venezuela is continually regularly active at the OIC (57 Nations) meetings and is with their HIGH-LEVEL STATE and OFFICIAL VISITS to countries; especially to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a regional intergovernmental Political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates .
His Excellency President Maduro, told Dr. Shamir, that “ Himself, Vice President and their 120 Ambassadors, are DAILY actively working on relationships building & maintenance, and DISTRIBUTING their DOCUMENTATIONS on the Guyana/Venezuela Border DISPUTE, to the African Union (AU) 55 Nations, GCC ( 6 Nations), NAM (120 Nations), CARICOM, UNASUR/MERCOSUR (33 Nations in Latin America), Europe and the United Nations, for fortifying partnerships and opening new avenues for collaboration between Venezuela and especially OIC, Gulf and Global Countries.”
Guyana in comparison is with 20 Embassies and Consulates, MANY ARE WITHOUT AMBASSADORS at this time. Many letters in the media are suggesting that there must be MORE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIPS, especially with the ICJ Border Case and Venezuelans entering Guyana. With Respect, The PPP Government appears to be playing Mickey Mouse games and Venezuela is playing a full contact game.
During the 1960’s Shamir learnt on the Venezuela Border issue from Sir Donald Jackson (Chief Justice) and Rahman Bacchus Gajraj, CBE ( Georgetown Lord Mayor, Parliament Speaker, and Diplomat) and during 2016 from Ambassador Dr. Odeen Ishmael on HIS, JOINT Economic Development efforts, etc.
Currently, MANY, Past Experienced Ambassadors in GUYANA, and the DIASPORA, are with the SKILLS & PERSONAL relationships’ CONTACTS with HIGH BACK CHANNELS, are AVAILABLE, BUT are being SIDELINED for the PPP’s preference for their PARTY members/supporters. It is known that many experienced staff are resigning from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I know of five people including 1 from New York, who said, that “ there is NO RESPECT for experience at MoFA.” An incredibly sad state for Guyana’s Diplomacy under the PPP Administration, with their 1 seat majority in Parliament.
It should be remembered that OVER ONE MILLION GUYANESE are in the DIASPORA, with Talent, Skills, Education, Resources and High Reaches. Our Political Parties are in the habit of giving importance to the DIASPORA, when Financial Support is needed, then the Diaspora, is mostly forgotten.
The ICJ is with 15 Judges, President USA, Vice President Russia, Slovakia, France, Morocco, Somalia, China, Uganda, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Japan, Germany, Australia, and Brazil.
https://www.icj-cij.org/current-members
With our OIL RICHES BLESSINGS, do recommend at least 3 NEW EMBASSIES in Riyadh, Kingdom of SAUDI ARABIA; African Union (AU) Addis Ababa, ETHOPIA; and SINGAPORE, to assist with WIDER Relationships Building , Relationships Maintenance, and BEST PRACTICES’ Assistances to Guyana.
History of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
The OIC was established by the decision of the First Islamic Summit Conference held in Rabat on 22-25 September 1969, upon the reactions of the Islamic World, provoked by the arson attack against Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holy site in Islam and located in Israeli occupied Jerusalem, by an Australian extremist Jew on 21 August 1969.
The name of the organization was changed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the 38th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (CFM) held in Astana on 28-30 June 2011.
The Office of Secretariat General was established at the 1st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in March 1970, a Secretary General was appointed, and it was decided that the Secretariat would operate in Jeddah until the liberation of Jerusalem.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general. Amb. Hissein Brahim Taha is the 12th Secretary General who assumed the office in November 2021.
The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. The Charter laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. Over the last 40 years, the membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states. The Charter was amended to keep pace with the developments that have unraveled across the world. The present Charter of the OIC was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 to become the pillar of the OIC future Islamic action in line with the requirements of the 21st century.
The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations.
The Member States of the OIC face many challenges in the 21st century and to address those challenges, the Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit held in Makkah in December 2005, laid down the blueprint called the Ten-Year Program of Action. It successfully concluded with the close of 2015. A successor programme for the next decade (2016-2025) has since then been adopted.
The new programme OIC-2025 is anchored in the provisions of the OIC Charter and focuses on 18 priority areas with 107 goals. The priority areas include issues of Peace and Security, Palestine and Al-Quds, Poverty Alleviation, Counterterrorism, Investment and Finance, Food Security, Science and Technology, Climate Change and Sustainability, Moderation, Culture and Interfaith Harmony, Empowerment of Women, Joint Islamic Humanitarian Action, Human Rights and Good Governance, among others.
Among the OIC’s KEY BODIES are, the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the General Secretariat (GS) , in addition to the Al-Quds Committee and Three Permanent Committees activities with Science and Technology; Economy and Trade; and Information and Culture.
There are also specialized organs under the banner of the OIC including the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as well as subsidiary and affiliate organs that play a vital role in boosting cooperation in various fields among the OIC member states.
OIC Charter:
The new Charter, adopted at the 11th ICO (Islamic Conference Organisation) Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 replacing the ICO Charter adopted in the 3rd CFM Meeting held in Rabat, Morocco in 1972, is the main founding document of the Organisation. The Charter states the Organization’s objectives and principles and determines the rules for membership, observer status, amicable settlement of disputes, budget, finance as well as operational rules.
The new Charter, which was revised and substituted for the previous Charter of 1972, has been a crucial milestone for reforming the Organisation. The New Charter establishes the legal basis and the organs necessary for the cooperation and activities among the Islamic countries in accordance with the contemporary requirements of the pristine environment which have emerged as a result of radical changes in the international fora since 1972.
OIC Organs (11)
- Islamic Summit; 2. Council of Foreign Ministers 3. Standing Committees, 4. Executive Committee; 5. International Islamic Court of Justice(It shall be the Organization’s principal judicial organ following the entry into force of its status); 6. Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission; 7. Committee of Permanent Representatives; 8. General Secretariat; 9. Subsidiary Organs; 10.Specialized Organs; 11. Affiliated Institutions
Islamic Summit:
The Islamic Summit, which is the highest-level decision-making body of the Organisation, consists of the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the Member States. It meets once every three years in one of the Member States, holds consultations to achieve the goals specified in the OIC Charter and adopts resolutions on the policies to be followed to this end.
Member States host the Summit meetings alternately on the basis of the geographical groups (Arab, Asia and Africa). This rule applies to other OIC meetings as well. Fourteen Summits and seven Extraordinary Summit Meetings have been held in various member states since its foundation.
Extraordinary Summit meetings may also hold in order to review the crucial issues for the Islamic world and to determine the policies the Organisation will pursue.
Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM)
The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), which is the secondary decision-making organ following the Summit, is held once a year in one of the Member States. As is the case with the Summit Meetings, Extraordinary Sessions of the CFM may convene, when necessary, for the critical issues concerning the Islamic world.
The CFM makes decisions on issues about fulfilling purposes and implementing general policies of the Organisation, reviews the progress in implementing the decisions taken in the previous Islamic Summits and CFM Meetings, evaluates and approves the budgets of the Secretariat and subsidiary organs and elects the Secretary General.
OIC/OPEC Exhibition Conference in Kuwait
PHOTO: Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally, GUEST PRESENTER, at an OIC/OPEC Exhibition and Conference in Kuwait, as Guyana Ambassador to Kuwait, and First Alteernate Governor at the Islamic Development Bank.
Onward & Upward towards, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.
https://www.oic-oci.org/home/?lan=en
https://www.oic-oci.org/page/?p_id=52&p_ref=26&lan=en