“We are keen to preserve Syria's safety, security and stability, reject the internationalization of the Syrian crisis and we work to resolve the crisis within the broader Islamic family as represented by the OIC,” Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said.
Addressing an emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah, Ihsanoglu expressed frustration at the lack of a breakthrough to end the violence in Syria, which since March has claimed lives of more than 3,500 people, mostly civilians.
“We have exhausted all our mechanisms and powers in our attempt to bridge the gap and end bloodshed" in Syria, said the OIC chief, urging ministers to "reach practical recommendations that would help achieve a compromising solution."
He described the meeting as “the last chance to end the Syria crisis” and called on the government of President Bashar Assad to cooperate with the Arab League. OIC sources said up to 32 ministers from 57 countries attended the Jeddah meeting.
Under the terms of an Arab League deal aimed at ending the violence, Syria agreed earlier this month to withdraw the army from urban areas, release political prisoners, launch a dialogue with the opposition and admit foreign observers.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said he was still hoping Syria would admit observers and avoid sanctions due to be unveiled by Saturday.
The Arab League approved on Sunday sweeping sanctions against Assad's government over the crackdown — the first time the bloc has enforced punitive measures of such magnitude on one of its own members.
The measures include an immediate ban on transactions with Damascus and its central bank and a freeze on Syrian government assets in Arab countries. They also bar Syrian officials from visiting Arab countries and a possible call for suspension of all flights from Arab states to be implemented on a date to be set next week.
The meeting was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, a former ally of Damascus before relations soured over the protest crackdown by Assad’s regime.
Muallem gave a government version of the situation in Syria, saying his country was the victim of terrorist operations. He also pointed out that the Assad government was working on a modern constitution as part of new political reforms. Salehi supported Syria, telling the OIC to back the regime’s efforts to quell terrorism.
OIC sources told Arab News that the ministers took over five hours to agree on a final communiqué during a closed-door meeting. The communiqué voiced deep concern over the worsening situation in Syria as a result of the military crackdown on protesters.
The ministers urged the Syrian government to stop the excessive use of force against citizens, respect human rights and fulfill its commitment toward the OIC Charter. They also urged Damascus to carry out political reforms in line with the hopes and aspirations and legitimate demands of the Syrian people.
The meeting called upon all parties to relinquish violence and resort to peaceful means such as dialogue and negotiations to end the crisis. It also supported the Arab League’s efforts to find a peaceful solution for the Syrian issue. The Syrian and Iranian delegations expressed reservations on some points of the communiqué.
