PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, 12 October 2003 — Turkey found itself isolated at a meeting of the world’s Islamic countries here that called for the “eviction of all foreign forces from Iraq.”
The participants also voiced support for Syria after an Israeli air raid last weekend stoked fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East as Damascus warned it had the right of self-defense.
Abdelouahed Belkeziz, secretary-general of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, said occupying forces should quickly withdraw from Iraq to give the United Nations a chance to reconstruct the country. “Foremost of these is the eviction of foreign forces from Iraq, allowing the United Nations to administer Iraqi affairs,” Belkeziz said in his opening address.
The OIC summit, being held in Malaysia’s new administrative capital of Putrajaya, began with meetings of senior officials. Foreign ministers will meet tomorrow and the summit of the leaders takes place October 16-17.
Up to 35 heads of state are expected to attend the summit in what will be the largest gathering of Muslim leaders since the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is also scheduled to attend, along with non-members — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, both of whom rule over large Muslim minorities.
Belkeziz said the summit should address concerns arising from terrorism, globalization and “campaigns against Islam, Muslims and human rights.”
He also condemned Israel for failing to live up to peace process commitments and said the OIC supported the Palestinian and Iraqi peoples and Iranian and Syrian governments against “aggression.”
The opposition to the US-led occupation of Iraq left Turkey isolated. The lead delegate from Turkey’s team of senior officials said although Ankara would have liked a UN mandate to help restore order in Iraq, it was more important to act.
“We decided to do something. Of course, it is easy for us to stay away, to criticize, to say that the occupation should end,” Tahsin Burcuoglu told reporters.
Ankara is currently negotiating terms for troop deployment with Washington, but the US-backed Iraqi Governing Council is against troops from neighboring countries being allowed in.
The OIC was split until recently over whether the Governing Council should assume the seat held by Saddam Hussein’s ousted government. Delegates said that a resolution would be adopted welcoming the Governing Council.
Veteran Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, hosting the summit before his retirement on Oct. 31, said the OIC would have little influence as long as US politicians supported Israel.
Mahathir said he suspected the Israeli raid on a Syrian target was a ploy to encourage Washington to harden its already tough line against Damascus.
“Israel has been urging America to invade Syria and America seems to be reluctant,” Mahathir said. “So in order to force the hand of the Americans, Israel invades Syria and the Americans will have to support it. Otherwise the candidates for presidency in the US will lose the Jewish vote,” Mahathir added.
