Turkish, Kazakh statement stresses Islamic cooperation

ISTANBUL

Turkey and Kazakhstan on Wednesday announced a joint declaration on Islamic cooperation within the scope of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit set to start in Istanbul Thursday.

The declaration aims for "strong devotion to Islamic solidarity" and "invites OIC member countries to take a goodwill attitude in resolving issues", said a statement by Turkey’s Presidency, adding that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a bilateral meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The declaration listed eight articles of agreement, including respecting the territorial integrity, independence, and borders of UN and OIC member countries, and invited OIC member countries to consider the bloc a political arena for Muslim countries.

The declaration mentioned that under a 2009 strategic partnership agreement between Turkey and Kazakhstan, the countries reaffirmed the principles of constant political consultations and high-level bilateral visits by statesmen.

Meanwhile, on the eve of the 13th annual OIC summit, OIC Secretary General Iyad Emin Medeni released a strategic action plan for 2025.

The 10-year roadmap includes 107 goals on issues such as peace, security, the struggle against extremism, finance and investment, good governance, and human rights.

The OIC meeting is expected to discuss problems in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq and Azerbaijan.

During the summit, Turkey will be handed the OIC chairmanship for the next two years.

Founded in 1969, the OIC consists of 57 member states and represents the collective voice of the Islamic world.