With the support of the Afghan government, High Peace Council and Ulema Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has started preparation to hold the International Muslim Ulema Conference in the next coming months to support peace, security, stability and national reconciliation of Afghanistan. Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, secretary general of the OIC, noted that the planned conference will address the issue of radical and erroneous interpretations of the teachings of religion in order to promote moderate and tolerant peaceful coexistence between adherents of different religious schools of thoughts in Afghanistan. Al-Othaimeen's speech at the meeting of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan (ICG) hosted by OIC in Jeddah and attended by delegates from more than 50 countries and international organizations, was delivered by Amb. Tarig Bakheit, director general of political affairs at the OIC. "Today's meeting attests to the importance the OIC has always attached and continues to accord to the situation in Afghanistan as well as its readiness to maintain its role in helping the country restore peace, security and development," he added. Hekmat Khalil Karzai, deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan and co-chair of the session, stressed that Afghan national unity government remains highly committed to taking every measure to protect civilians, women and children against the brutality of enemies who deliberately target them. He stressed that the national unity government is undertaking key reforms that will advance the cause of peace in the country. The ICG has regularly met in different countries to discuss issues related to Afghanistan and its peace, security, stability and development. The OIC had hosted a previous meeting of the ICG in March 2011.
