JEDDAH, 13 March 2008 — The 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which is the world’s second largest body after the United Nations, is holding its 11th summit in the Senegalese capital Dakar today and tomorrow.

At least 33 heads of state, and nearly 5,500 delegates representing member countries and international organizations will attend the summit. Saudi Arabia, which has the OIC’s headquarters, has highlighted the summit’s significance and hopes it will strengthen Muslim unity.

“The summit is being held at a time when the Islamic world faces challenges and situations that demand joint effort,” said the Saudi Cabinet in a statement after a regular session chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

The conference will discuss ways and means to combat poverty in the Muslim world and a proposal for a special program for the development of Africa. The Arab-Israeli conflict, the worsening security situation in Iraq and the political crisis in Lebanon will also figure high on the agenda.

The United States has decided to send an envoy to the OIC summit for the first time. OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu welcomed Washington’s decision and hoped that it would contribute to improving US relations with the Islamic world. “There are plenty of problems and misunderstandings. But still there is plenty of potential for cooperation,” he said.

The US government said it had appointed Texas entrepreneur Sada Cumber to the OIC “to promote mutual understanding and dialogue between the US and Muslim communities.” Ihsanoglu said the OIC’s position on issues like the Palestine-Israel conflict is often misrepresented in the United States. “We want (Cumber) to listen and learn,” Ihsanoglu said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the appointment of Cumber signals the deep respect for the values and ideals of Islam held by the US government and the American people. “This appointment is one part of a much larger effort that our government has undertaken to increase our engagement with Muslim communities worldwide,” she said.

Sudan and Senegal are expected to sign a peace agreement on the eve of the summit. But President Omar Bashir of Sudan has expressed his doubts whether a fresh reconciliation pact would have any effect on the ground. “We want to confirm that we want peace. We have no claims in Chad,” Bashir has been quoted as saying in Dubai. “Our country is big and we do not need an extra country because any addition will mean additional problems before additional territories or resources,” he added.

Mustafa Othman Ismail, adviser to Bashir, said the president has welcomed the initiative of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to settle the dispute between the two African neighbors. “We hope that peace initiative would be acceptable to both parties,” Ismail said.

The Senegalese hosts hope to see the Chadian and Sudanese presidents agree to implement earlier accords that have promised, but failed to produce, peace.

“It’s not about Darfur; it’s about the relationship between the two countries. That needs to be fixed. And once it is fixed, then we will see very clearly how to deal with the rest,” said Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio.

Ahmed Abdul Rahman, political adviser to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, hoped the summit would adopt a tough resolution against the Israeli aggression and mobilize world support to protect the Palestinians from being massacred by the Israeli occupation forces. He said Abbas would take part in the conference to highlight the suffering of the Palestinians.

Ihsanoglu said the summit leaders would also review the progress of the 10-Year Program of Action approved by the extraordinary Islamic summit in Makkah in December 2005. The program includes reformation of the OIC, revising of the organization’s charter and reactivation of its institutions. A high-level panel has already revised the organization’s charter which will be presented to the summit leaders for approval. Under the program, serious efforts will be made to enhance the scope of political participation, ensure equality, civil liberties and social justice, and promote transparency and accountability, and eliminate corruption in member countries.

Ihsanoglu, who took charge as OIC secretary-general in January 2005, has played a significant role in strengthening the organization, the largest in the Islamic world. The OIC, which was founded in 1969, aims at promoting Islamic unity and serves as a voice for the Muslim world.

The OIC chief said a detailed report on Islamophobia, including the publication of cartoons denigrating Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), would be presented to summit leaders. The report is an attempt to comprehensively record anti-Islamic speech and action around the world. “The Islamophobes remain free to carry on their assault due to absence of necessary legal measures against the misuse or abuse of the right to freedom of expression,” charges the report.

— With input from agencies