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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.)