SECRETARY GENERAL OF JEDDAH-BASED ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC) PROFESSOR EKMEL-EDDIN IHSAN UGHLO HAS CALLED THE VATICAN TO CLARIFY ITS STAND VIS-A-VIS THE RECENT STATEMENTS OF THE POPE ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. UGHLO SAID DURING HIS MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN AT THE UN THAT THE OIC IS NOT KEEN ON CONFRONTATION, BUT IT IS KEEN ON A NEW CONSTRUCTIVE AND PURPOSEFUL DIALOGUE. A STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE OIC SAID THE MEETING WAS HELD AT THE REQUEST OF THE POPE WHO WANTED TO EXPLAIN THE CONTENTS OF HIS LECTURE, AND TO EXPRESS SORROW BECAUSE HIS STATEMENTS WERE MISUNDERSTOOD. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN TOLD UGHLO THAT THE POPE HAD NEVER AIMED AT HURTING THE FEELINGS OF THE MUSLIMS, BUT WANTED TO SAY THAT RELIGION DOES NOT CONFORM WITH VIOLENCE. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN SAID THE POPE IS KEEN ON OPENING A FRANK DIALOGUE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ISLAM. ON HIS PART, UGHLO WELCOMED THE IDEA OF OPENING A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND THE VATICAN.
