8
Agenda Item 1: Opening Session
4.
Following the recitation from the Holy Qur'an, H.E. Lütfi ELVAN,
Minister of Development of the Republic of Turkey, inaugurated the Meeting.
5.
H.E. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, President of the Republic of Turkey and
Chairman of the COMCEC, sent a message to the Meeting. His message was
read out by H.E. Ambassador Sadık ARSLAN, Chief Foreign Policy Advisor
to the President. In his message, H.E. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN underlined
that the Islamic world is witnessing developments that will shape and in a way
determine the fate of its next century and stressed that we cannot sacrifice our
1,400 year civilization to the interests of some contemptuous and hubristic
groups. H.E. President further expressed that there is one truth of which we all
need to be aware: It is the strength of our fraternity that defines us as Muslims;
in fact, all Muslims have to “be brethren and stand together, linked like bricks
in a wall,” as ordered by our Prophet (PBUH).
6.
President ERDOĞAN also drew the attention of the Committee to the
successful organization of the 13
th
Islamic Summit in İstanbul on 14-15 April
2016. President ERDOĞAN also underlined the adoption of the OIC-2025:
Programme of Action for the next decade, as an important outcome of the
Summit.
7.
President ERDOĞAN then touched upon the importance of benefiting
from the instruments of the COMCEC Strategy, namely working group
meetings and project funding mechanism, which provide an important platform
for the member countries to share their experiences and provide solutions to the
common challenges and an important financial instrument for enhancing
human capital and institutional capacity.
8.
In his message, H.E. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN emphasized the
importance of effective transportation system and infrastructure in enhancing
commercial competitiveness and strengthening trade relations among the OIC
Member Countries. In this respect, H.E. ERDOĞAN expressed his appreciation
for designation of the theme of exchange of views session of the next
COMCEC Session as “Improving Transnational Transport Corridors among the
OIC Member Countries”.
9.
President ERDOĞAN concluded his message by wishing success to the
participants of the 33
rd
Follow-up Committee Meeting of the COMCEC.
(A copy of the text of the Message of H.E. President Recep Tayyip
ERDOĞAN is attached as Annex II.)