Reports on developments at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit in Tehran:

Bosnian President calls on Muslim countries to back West's efforts in Bosnia

Text of report by Bosnian TV (Sarajevo) on 11th December

[First presenter] Alija Izetbegovic, chairman of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Presidency, today addressed the OIC summit in Teheran. He said, among other things:

[Second presenter] I shall talk only about one issue: the East, the West and my Bosnia-Hercegovina between them. My latest trip, which has not yet finished, inspired me for this topic.

This week I travelled from Bosnia to Saudi Arabia to attend a conference on education, then to Europe to attend a conference on Bosnia-Hercegovina and now I am here in Teheran attending an Islamic conference. This is the East, the West, the East. I believe that I know both sides of the world quite well. I learned some new facts, both good and bad, during my journey, Izetbegovic said.

And now several sentences about Bosnia-Hercegovina, where I come from. I mentioned the East and the West. Bosnia-Hercegovina is on the crossroads between these two worlds, on a great divide, as some books say.

Every tenth Bosniak [Muslim] died in the last war. This is the high price we paid for our survival and freedom. So, do not allow Bosnia-Hercegovina to suffer fresh injustices. Tell everyone that Bosnia-Hercegovina is a holy land for you, because it is drenched with the blood of innocent people, your religious brethren.

Some Western countries are our friends. You shall recognise them because they are advocating the integrity and survival of Bosnia-Hercegovina. Cooperate with them on this historic task, this extremely important task both for us and yourselves and for the entire civilized world, because Bosnia-Hercegovina is a big experiment, which is of importance for every man and every woman, Izetbegovic said.

The less fortunate section of our nation is outside Bosnia-Hercegovina and is now living as a minority in Serbia, that is, Yugoslavia, that is in the region called Sandzak. I appeal to the OIC to recognise the Bosniak-Muslims of Sandzak as a Muslim minority, Izetbegovic said.

Source: TV Bosnia-Hercegovina via satellite, Sarajevo, in Serbo-Croat 2100 gmt 11 Dec 97

Iraq's Ramadan criticises "certain" Arab states

Text of report by the Iranian news agency IRNA

Tehran, 11th December: Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan here Thursday [11th December] lashed out at certain Arab countries for adopting a passive stance towards the hardships that Iraqi people have been subjected to because of the embargoes, dubbing them as "American lackeys".

Speaking to reporters, Ramadan argued whether it was right for some Arab countries to remain indifferent towards lifting the sanctions and putting an end to the injustice against the Iraqi people.

He said these countries do not care about the condition of the Iraqi people because, he stressed, they not want to lose the USA.

By adopting such a position towards Iraq, they intend to maintain their position, said Ramadan.

The reality is that the USA will finally sacrifice them all for the sake of its own interests, he emphasized.

As for Iraq's efforts to normalise ties with Kuwait, he said the Kuwaiti brethren are still looking for a mirage that the USA had sketched for them. The reality is that security of Kuwait cannot be maintained by the USA, but only by Arab nations.

Pointing to Baghdad's endeavours to put an end to the sanctions through co-operation with the UN, he said the USA will again foil any effort in this regard.

The Iraqi Vice-President thanked certain Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, for their stands on Iraq, expressing the hope that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference will launch initiatives to bring the agony of the Iraqi people to an end.

Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 1531 gmt 11 Dec 97

Saudi Crown Prince meets President Khatami

Excerpts from report by the Saudi news agency SPA

Tehran, 11th December: First Deputy Prime Minister, Crown Prince and Commander of the National Guard HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Abd al-Aziz, who is the head of the Saudi delegation to OIC's eighth summit, received at his highness's office at the conference hall, Tehran, today the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami.

The two exchanged common courtesies, discussed relations between the two countries and how to develop them. They also discussed the recommendations and resolutions of the eighth Islamic summit in Tehran. The two reviewed Islamic and international issues...

Source: SPA news agency, Riyad, in Arabic 1341 gmt 11 Dec 97

Group of eight developing Islamic countries hold informal session in Tehran

Text of report by the Iranian news agency IRNA

Tehran, 11th December: President Mohammad Khatami here on Wednesday night [10th December] voiced Iran's readiness to promote relations with the group of eight developing Islamic countries (D-8). The president made the remark in the informal session of the D-8, grouping Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria and Indonesia, which was held on the sidelines of the eighth summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Iranian President Khatami

Khatami stressed that D-8 provides its members with the opportunity to play an active role in the international economic and political arena through adopting common stances. Based on the group's founding principles, D-8 member countries must take into consideration sustainable development as their first and foremost important objective and make their planning on this basis, he said.

Khatami stressed implementation of joint economic projects to consolidate economies of the member states and termed as essential attention to poor members. At present, many countries' development plans are taken from the present models, which leads to imbalanced development and spread of poverty, said the Iranian president.

He said that a long-term plan is needed for sustainable development based on successful cases and assistance of international and regional organisations such as OIC. President Khatami lauded former Turkish prime minister Necmettin Erbakan for initiating D-8.

During the session members of the group exchanged views on various issues and reviewed future programmes. They further stressed the continuation of economic and trade cooperation. D-8 is evaluating six major projects which aim to promote cooperation among the member countries.

Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 1158 gmt 11 Dec 97

Khatami receives UAE minister, says problems can be resolved

Text of report by Iranian TV on 11th December

President Khatami today received the UAE foreign minister, Mr Abdullah al-Nu'aymi, who submitted a written message from the UAE ruler, Shaykh Zayid Bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan.

In the course of this meeting, the UAE senior official said: The link between the two nations of Iran and the UAE is so strong that no power can undermine it.

President Khatami, for his part, stressed: There are no basic problems in the ties between Iran and the UAE which cannot be resolved; and the many grounds of cooperation, fraternity and friendship have created a bright perspective for the expansion of bilateral relations.

Referring to the sensitive situation of the Persian Gulf, the president said: The region's security is essential to all the countries of the region; and any factor which undermines this security will create instability too.

The chairman of the eighth Organisation of the Islamic Conference [OIC] summit added: There is no problem which cannot be solved through understanding and fraternity; and the OIC is the most suitable base for friendship, fraternity and resolving of the existing indignation and disputes.

The UAE Foreign Minister described unity as the most important requirement of the Islamic world. He added: Solidarity and cohesive unity among the Islamic countries, through resolving disputes and misunderstandings among the countries, will pave the way for reviving Islam's glory.

Source: Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1, Tehran, in Persian 1030 gmt 11 Dec 97

Arafat has meetings with Syrian, Iranian, Saudi leaders in Tehran

Excerpt from report by Palestinian radio on 11th December

President Yasir Arafat met Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad in Tehran last night and reviewed with him the latest political developments in the light of the Israeli government's expansionist policies which have stalemated the peace process, created tensions in the region and blocked international efforts to salvage peace.

Attending the meeting on the Palestinian side were Faruq al-Qaddumi, head of the PLO political department; As'ad Abd al-Rahman, PLO Executive Committee member; and Hani al-Hasan, Fatah Central Committee member, while Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shar'a attended on the Syrian side.

During the meeting, the Palestinian delegation valued the Syrian political role under the leadership of President Hafiz al-Asad, and agreed, at the end of the meeting, to resume consultations and contacts between the two sides.

His excellency also met Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and the two sides discussed developments in the peace process and the effect of the continued Israeli military siege on the Palestinian people. The Iranian President reaffirmed his country's support for the Palestinian people and their just cause towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital.

In addition, President Arafat met Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abd al-Aziz at his place of residence in Tehran. His excellency discussed with the prince the latest political developments and the repercussions of the intransigent Israeli policy on the peace process and our economy. The President thanked the Saudi kingdom for its political and moral support for the Palestinian people and their just cause.

For his part, the Saudi Crown Prince affirmed Saudi Arabia's continued support and backing for our people towards fulfilling their aspirations of establishing their independent state...

Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 0600 gmt 11 Dec 97

Turkish President denies tension at Islamic summit

Excerpts from report by Turkish radio on 11th December

President Suleyman Demirel returned to Turkey last night after attending the Tehran summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference [OIC]...

Demirel replied to reporters questions on why he returned to Turkey a day earlier than planned. Demirel said that he did not return earlier than planned and that he had gone to Tehran earlier and had done all that he was supposed to do during the three days he was there for the summit.

Asked to comment on the tense atmosphere that reigned at the summit, the President replied: All the allegations about tension and so on are just talk. They are nothing else. They are fabricated. There was no reason for tension. I used all the time I had. I left Tehran at 2300 Iranian time. I had meetings until I left. The last meeting I had was with the D-8 [economic grouping of Islamic countries]...

Asked if the final communique will condemn the Turkish Armed Forces operation in northern Iraq, Demirel said that the communique will not specify northern Iraq. Instead, it will say something like crossing into another country's territory.

Demirel stressed that whatever needs to be done is being done regarding all these issues. Asked if [Iranian President Mohammad] Khatami's criticism of Turkey with regard to these issues disappointed him, Demirel replied: No, it did not. This is not the first time the Iranians have criticized Turkey. Their policy towards Israel is known.

Source: TRT radio, Ankara, in Turkish 0530 gmt 11 Dec 97

Israeli Defence Minister returns from "important and useful" Turkey visit

Text of report by Israel radio on 11th December

Defence Minister Yitzhaq Mordekhay returned from Turkey last night and described his visit as important and useful. He commended the Turks for their determination to strengthen cooperation with Israel, particularly at this time, when the Islamic summit is taking place in Tehran.

Mordekhay offered the Turks military technology in land, sea and air systems. He said they showed particular interest in the Arrow missile system. The next meeting of the biannual Turkey-Israeli dialogue will take place in Ankara in January.

Source: Voice of Israel, Jerusalem, in English 0500 gmt 11 Dec 97

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