RI Urges OIC to Work towards Peace in Middle East

Jakarta, Jan 21 (Antara) - Attending a ministerial conference held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, encouraged all OIC member countries to contribute to the peace building process in the Middle East. "OIC member countries should be able to give positive energy towards the current situation in the Middle East," Minister Marsudi stated in a written statement received by Antara on Thursday. Minister Marsudi arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last Wednesday for a bilateral meeting with the Secretary General and some representatives from OIC member states. A day after, she attended the OIC's ministerial conference, which was aimed at discussing developments in the region. During the meeting, Minister Marsudi expressed hope that the OIC would make a positive contribution to creating a more conducive situation in the Middle East, especially related to the worsening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. As the representative of the Indonesian government, the minister underlined the importance of the OIC in taking several steps, which might help build trust among the Middle East countries. During her stay in Jeddah, Minister Marsudi also conducted some bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkey, Palestine, and Bangladesh. Besides discussing some focus issues in the Middle East, the meeting also touched on topics, such as increasing bilateral cooperation, improving cooperation in spreading the good of "Rahmatan lil Alamin" Islam, and efforts to fight against radicalism and terrorism. ***2*** Reporting by Yuni Arisandy