Historically, the OIC has had little bite on political issues but at a time of sweeping change within its member states, the hope is that the forum will grow more teeth. This is what is needed in part for Syria which took center stage during the two-day summit of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The biggest step on Syria is to be taken by host Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran to broker negotiations to stop the fighting with the help of a political initiative by Syrian opposition figure Moaz Al-Khatib to initiate dialogue between the Syrian opposition and the regime, in search of a political deal to end almost two years of bloodshed in the country. It is unclear how much influence Al-Khatib and his Syrian National Coalition have on the rebels fighting inside Syria, as evidenced by the rejection of the offer by some members of the SNC who were surprised and angered by his gesture. Still, Al-Khatib's initiative could be a good beginning since it has the initial support of Russia and the West, who are on opposite sides in Syria, and now has the backing of key regional capitals who above all agree that the more a political solution remains elusive, the higher the possibility of increased Israeli attacks on Syria. Underlining the crisis, the final OIC communiqué was issued on the same day that fighting was among the most intense to date in the nearly two years of upheaval in which at least 60,000 people have died. The OIC conference also gave Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a chance to build ties between his nation and Egypt. Ahmadinejad is the first Iranian leader to visit Egypt since the two countries broke relations in 1980 over Iran's revolution and Egypt's recognition of Israel in 1979. But while Ahmadinejad stressed the importance of an Egyptian-Iranian alliance, sectarian differences were on display. The stiff rebuke Ahmadinejad received from Ahmed Al-Tayeb, head of Al-Azhar, urging Iran to refrain from interfering in Gulf Arab states, to recognize Bahrain as a "sisterly Arab nation" and to stop the extension of Shi'ite influence in Sunni countries underscored the theological differences that could affect political relations. The visit would have been unthinkable during the rule of Hosni Mubarak who deepened ties between Cairo and the West while alienating Tehran. But while the trip was meant to underline a thaw in relations since Egyptians elected an Islamist head of state, the historic changes that brought Mohamed Morsi to power will probably not result in a full restoration of diplomatic ties between the two states. Iran is in political turmoil with the US which Morsi wants to preserve ties with because Washington is the source of $1.3 billion in aid each year to the Egyptian military. Morsi, too, must at least hold the peace with Israel — which is in an ongoing dispute with Iran over its nuclear capabilities — if Egypt wants continued American support And Cairo must also reassure its Gulf Arab friends, who share political and ideological differences with Iran and who are helping prop up Egypt's shaky economy, that it will not jeopardize their security.
