“Welcome Recognition” of 185mn Muslims in India: MEA on OIC invite

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“Welcome Recognition” of 185mn Muslims in India: MEA on OIC invite

This is for the first time India has been invited for the OIC summit

Saturday February 23, 2019 6:16 PM, ummid.com News Network

[India has confirmed that Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the inaugural session of the two-day conference. (File photo)]

New Delhi: India on Saturday hailed an invitation to attend the 46th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi the coming Friday as a "welcome recognition" of the presence of 185 million Muslims in the country.

The agenda of the OIC Abu Dhabi session's agenda, which is held under the theme '50 years of Islamic cooperation: Road map for prosperity and development', include the follow-up of aspects of economic coordination that will push the level of cooperation and raise it towards new horizons.

This is for the first time India has been invited for the OIC summit. It comes a time when tension between India and Pakistan, a full member of OIC, is at its peak following the terror attack in Pulwama district of Kashmir.

"The friendly country of India has been named as the guest of honour in view of its great global political stature as well as its time-hounoured and deeply rooted cultural and historical legacy, and its important Islamic component", news agency WAM reported.

Responding to the invitation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called it a “welcome recognition” of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos, and of India’s contribution to the Islamic world, reports PTI.

India has also confirmed that Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the inaugural session of the two-day conference, which coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the OIC, the foreign ministers will discuss a range of issues regarding peace and stability in the Muslim world, as well as the integration and cooperation among the OIC members.

The ministers will also discuss ways to enhance development opportunities and inter-cooperation by looking for opportunities to accelerate the pace of economic-cooperative development.

The Council of Foreign Ministers is considering supporting initiatives to promote peace and security, counter extremism, combat the exploitation of religion and hate speech by inculcating the values of moderation and tolerance.

The Council will also discuss decisions related to economic, humanitarian, science, technology, informatics, legal, regulatory, media, administrative and financial matters, as well as the OIC-2025: Programme of Action.

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