JEDDAH — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Monday started efforts to arrange a visit to Myanmar. The OIC delegation, consisting of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the organization's Secretary General, and a number of foreign ministers from OIC member states would discuss with the Myanmar government the issue of minority Rohingya Muslims. The OIC will also intensify its efforts in international fora to address the restoration of Muslims' nationality and citizenship rights and the return of refugees. The latest OIC initiatives are in implementation of resolution adopted at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Djibouti last week. The resolution requested the OIC general secretariat to coordinate with the authorities in Myanmar for the visit of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Contact Group on Rohingya, which was formed at the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers in New York last September, to visit Myanmar. The ministers are expected to assess the needs of humanitarian assistance for those affected by the violence in Rakhine state and coordinate with the authorities in Myanmar to develop a plan for the urgent provision of this assistance. — SG
