NEW YORK — Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu emphasized that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has a great responsibility to protect the unarmed civilians in Syria and work to find out a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Taking part in a political debate on “protection of civilians in violent-torn regions across the world” at the UN Tuesday evening, Ihsanoglu said that the Syria conflict really puts to test the capability of the Security Council and the international community in protecting civilians in conflict-stricken regions. “Neither the Security Council nor the global community did succeed in this test till date,” he said while voicing deep concern over the Syria regime's use of excessive force against its people, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, the OIC chief met the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters. During the meeting, Prof. Ihsanoglu briefed the UN chief on the outcome of the 12th Islamic Summit, held recently in Cairo and the latest developments relating to issues in the region, particularly decisions about the Palestinian issue and the Israeli settlements, and the call for holding a donors' conference for Jerusalem. The talks also dealt with the situation in Syria, and the latest political developments there, as well as the course of events in Mali, and the efforts of the two international bodies to support the stability and territorial integrity of Mali. — SG
