ANKARA – REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
17 – 18 OCTOBER, 2016
We, the Speakers of the parliaments and assemblies that are members of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States (PUIC), having met at 36th Session of the PUIC Executive Committee, held in Ankara, Turkey, on 17 - 18 October, 2016,
Commending the Republic of Turkey, the Grand National Assembly and the people of Turkey for the organization of the 36th Session of the Executive Committee of the PUIC, especially His Excellency Mr. ?smail Kahraman, Honorable Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, for graciously hosting the meeting in Ankara, in preparation of the 12th PUIC Conference to be held in Bamako, Mali in 2017,
Congratulating the Republic of Turkey for successfully hosting the 13th Islamic Summit in Istanbul on 14-15 April 2016 and for assuming the Summit Chairmanship of the OIC for two years,
Reiterating our respect for the objectives and principles provided for in the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, including the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Member States and peaceful settlement of disputes,
Guided by the Statute of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States,
Also guided by the Final Communiqué of the 13th Islamic Summit which reiterated the Summit’s principled position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its motives, justifications, and source;
Affirming that combating terrorism is the responsibility of all Member States and the international community; and underscoring the need to adopt a comprehensive Islamic strategy to combat terrorism and extremism and for the OIC to play an effective role in international efforts to combat terrorism, in the framework of constructive cooperation with States and international and regional organizations and initiatives,
Alarmed by the threat terrorism poses to peace and stability in many OIC Member States, concerned about the power vacuum that eventually offers fertile ground to terrorist organizations like DEASH, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and PKK/PYD/YPG to gain ground, and determined to fight scourge of terrorism by all available means;
Congratulating and saluting the firm stance of the Parliament, Government and people of the Republic of Turkey in defense of democracy and constitution and expressing full support to the counter-terrorism efforts of the Government of Turkey, whose security, stability, unity and prosperity is vital to the whole Ummah,
Recognizing the principled need to exhibit full solidarity with the Parliament, Government and people of Turkey in their fight against Fethullah Terrorist Organization
Deeply concerned by the clandestine, illegal and covert methods, motives, activities and goals of the Fettullahist Terrorist Organization, organized in various legal covers and forms, which poses a risk and threat to the public order, legitimate state institutions, security and stability of Turkey, Islamic countries and beyond,
Having happily observed that the Turkish democracy has come out of this difficult period ever stronger and Turkey is firmly committed to continue its support to the joint action under the OIC in its capacity as the Summit Chair
Reiterating the commitment of the Muslim nations to strive for the central purpose of the OIC, namely the Palestinian Cause and to preserve Al-Haram Al-Sharif as an Islamic site in all aspects and in its entirety;
Aware of the global political, economic, social and cultural challenges that are also posing serious threats for the Muslim nations in the form of armed conflicts and spread of violence, extremism, racism, xenophobia and islamophobia;
Expressing concern at the unbearable sufferings of millions of Muslim refugees, particularly that of the Syrian refugees, who had to flee their homes as a result of armed conflicts, civil wars, oppression and terrorism in their own land;
At the same time, recognizing the urgent need to reconcile the positions of the Member States, particularly to end the war in Syria and other conflicts in the Muslim world.
Conscious of the diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions among our nations and underlining the need to enhance genuine dialogue and culture of peace, both at domestic and international levels, and respect for Holy sites and religious symbols;
Committed to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, rule of law, democracy, accountability in Member States in line with their respective constitutional and legal systems;
Emphasizing our shared commitment to defend human dignity by working towards alleviating poverty, addressing social injustices and creating equal opportunities for Muslim minorities;
Stress our deep concern over the possible negative impacts of the recent adoption of a law by the US Congress, known as Justice against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), on international peace, security, order and economic development as well as on the long-established norms, principles and traditions governing relations between and among nations,
1. Strongly condemn the violent coup attempt, against the Constitution, President, Parliament and Government of Turkey and its people, perpetrated on 15 July 2016, by an armed faction and their civilian collaborators belonging to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO),
2. Strongly deplore the death and injury of hundreds of people, including civilians as a result of violent actions of the FETO coup plotters and express our full solidarity with the President, Parliament, Government and people of Turkey, Turkey in their fight against Fetullah Terrorist Organization to ensure democracy, justice, security and unity,
3. Congratulate the firm stance of the Turkish people in defense of democracy and constitution by risking their lives valiantly,
4. Condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of motive and wherever and by whomever committed, and call for equal determination towards all terrorist organizations;
5. Reject any attempt to affiliate terrorism with any religion or ethnic group and refuse provision of any direct or indirect support to the groups that call for violence, extremism and terrorism,
6. Welcome the progress in efforts by the OIC Member States legal and security experts who convened in Istanbul on 1-2 September 2016, for their first meeting to discuss the draft statute of the OIC Police Cooperation and Coordination Centre to be established in Istanbul.
7. Reiterate the call by the 13th Islam?c Summit that this Centre needs to be operationalized as soon as possible to constitute an important step in our fight against terrorism and crime.
8. Congratulate Turkey for identifying empowerment of women and youth as priority themes of its OIC Summit chairmanship and for hosting OIC Ministerial Conferences on Women as well as on Youth and Sports in Turkey in October and November 2016.
9. Express our full solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to free themselves from the Israeli occupation, to achieve national unity and to live a dignified life in their own sovereign and independent country with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,
10. Stress our commitment and adherence to the principle of sovereignty and immunity of states, in accordance with the Charters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, which is a principle firmly established in the laws of international relations. Express our condemnation and rejection of the law which has been recently adopted by the US Congress, known as Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), due to its negative impacts on international peace, security, order and economic development, as well as on well- established conventions, principles and traditions which govern relations among states.
11. Invite all international partners to refrain from double-standards and approaches that could hamper international cooperation against terrorism and instead to take insightful and useful steps with a view to enhancing international cooperation and solidarity in this regard.
12. Refuse sectarianism in all its forms and manifestations; and encourage national efforts aimed at combating sectarian and discriminatory policies and practices as well as at enhancing reconciliation among all Muslims;
13. Express once more that the noble teachings of Islam call for moderation and tolerance based on peace, justice, dialogue, renunciation of violence,
14. Underline the importance of the dissemination of the true teachings of Islam in our societies and throughout the world,
15. Reiterate our commitment to the legal, political and social status as well as fundamental rights and freedoms in all fields of the Muslim communities and minorities living in non-OIC Member States, call on the parliaments of the non-OIC member states, to ensure the protection of the status, rights and freedoms of Muslim in their countries,
16. Confirm that the religious minorities in the Islamic world are an integral part of the societies and States, and emphasize that they must enjoy all their rights and guarantees,
17. Reiterate its continued support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General under his mission of Good Offices towards a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus based on the Joint Declaration of the Leaders of 11 February 2014; call upon the Member States to enhance effective solidarity and close relations with the Turkish Cypriot State with a view to helping it end the inhumane isolation imposed on it and strengthen mutual ties in all areas
18. Reaffirm its principled support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It further reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for bringing peace in South Asia.
Call on India to implement numerous UN resolutions on Kashmir which declare that the final disposition of the State of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. It further reminded the international community of its obligation to ensure implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir and fulfill the promise made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir 68 year ago.
19. Support finding a solution Nagorno Karabakh within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and appreciate the holding of first ever meeting of the newly established OIC Ministerial Contact Group on this conflict in New York on the margins of the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Demand strongly the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from all the occupied Azerbaijani territories, including Nagorno Karabakh Region, and urge Armenia to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and implement the relevant UN resolutions.
20. Reiterate the support of States of Member Parliaments for the Sudan in its efforts to confront its economic and financial difficulties, and called on the international community to write off Sudan’s external debts. It further rejected the unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Sudan, which negatively affected the development and prosperity of the people of the Sudan. In this regard, it called for an immediate lifting of those unjustified sanctions, and appealed to States of Member Parliaments and OIC financial institutions to contribute to providing all forms of support and assistance to the Sudan to enable it overcome the critical economic situation. It also called for removing the Sudan from the US list of terrorism-sponsoring States.
21. Strongly urge the States of the Member Parliaments to help Afghanistan to tackle the evil of terrorism.
22. Invite PUIC member States to show more solidarity with the Republic of Niger which experiences actually terrorist acts from the Boko Haram group.
23. Express concern over immigration crisis due to conflicts in Islamic nation; call upon States of Member Parliaments to accept and embrace refugees from Islamic Countries
24. Affirm the necessity of supporting the African States: Chad, Niger and Nigeria, in their struggle against Boko Haram group whose acts impact the economic situation in these states and the region.
25. Express our gratitude to the Parliament, Government and people of Mali for being designated as the host of the 12th PUIC Conference.