Turkish FM Davutoğlu gathers with OIC counterparts in New York

NEW YORK – Anadolu Agency

Turkey's Foreign Minister Davutoglu speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York, Sept. 26. REUTERS photo

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu gathered with his counterparts of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly annual sessions in New York on Sept. 27 for a meeting dominated by Syria and Palestine.
 
During the meeting, Davutoğlu emphasized that the U.N. Security Council should maintain a very clear attitude on the implementation of the resolution on the eradication of Syria’s chemical weapons. He also reiterated that the chemical weapons were only one dimension of the crisis, adding that the Security Council should also take steps to stop the fighting in the war-torn country.
 
The foreign minister also criticized the attempts to divide the Muslim control at Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque and the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City with arrangements allowing Jews to pray in both compounds. Davutoğlu said such actions threatened the freedom of worship of Muslims and could also endanger the upcoming peace negotiations. All OIC members also called for a solution that is based on pre-1967 frontiers.  
 
In his speech, Davutoğlu also said his Burmese counterpart had given “positive messages” regarding the Muslim Rohingya community, which has continued to suffer discrimination and face repression, particularly since last year. 
 
Davutoğlu said he expected that the OIC’s visit to Burma would have beneficial results.
 
Burmese opposition figure and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has recently called for amendments in the Constitution in order to solve the Rohingya issue. 
 
The Dalai Lama, the Buddhist spiritual leader, has also made a call urging Buddhist monks to refrain from attacks against the Rohingya minority, describing the latter as “victims.”