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P.R. No.305/2006

Date: 21/09/2006

MEETING OF THE OIC CONTACT GROUP ON JAMMU AND KASHMIR, AT UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK 20 SEPTEMBER 2006

                        The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session on 20th September 2006. The meeting was chaired by the OIC Secretary General, Mr. Ekmeledin Ihsanoglu, and attended by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Turkey, and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Niger and Azerbaijan. Chairman APHC, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, and Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan also participated.

                        In his statement, the OIC Secretary General said that resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained the core issue for full normalization of relations between the two neighbours and reduction of tension in the region. He said that alleviating the sufferings of the Kashmiris would remain a matter of priority for the OIC.

                        The Foreign Minister, in his address, while thanking the OIC countries for their strong and consistent support to the legitimate cause of the Kashmiri people, said that Pakistan was fully committed to the peace process and Composite Dialogue between Pakistan and India. President Musharraf had emphasized the need for “out of box thinking”, sincerity, flexibility and courage to address this dispute. He stated that a solution of this dispute must be acceptable to Pakistan, India and most importantly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir.  He expressed the hope that after the Havana meeting between the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India, a forward movement towards the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir dispute will be seen.

                        The Turkish Foreign Minister stated that the Kashmir issue concerned not only the OIC but the entire international community. He said that the OIC had always supported the legitimate struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The establishment of the OIC Contact Group reflected the collective will of the OIC member countries to have the issue resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia reiterated his government’s support for the Kashmir people’s right to self-determination. The Representative of Azerbaijan, while expressing solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stated that Azerbaijan would continue to support the just struggle of the Kashmiri people.

                        The OIC meeting was also addressed by Chairman APHC and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Islamabad,

21 September 2006