İhsanoğlu cited the commonsensical intellectual reaction of the Danish public following cartoons published in the country that were critical of Islam as one of the important successes of the project. "We presented a report on Islamophobia at the first summit we held with the CEOs and civil society organizations we are in touch with. It has sparked very positive reactions and spread across Europe in a short time. Publications have praised the initiative. We have seen both support of and opposition to the initiative, but [all in all] it has created very positive reactions," he said.
İhsanoğlu visited the Zaman Media Group on Thursday and briefed editors and columnists on OIC projects. Stating that the foremost target was to eradicate prejudice and fear of Islam, İhsanoğlu noted that there were groups in favor of the projects and also those disturbed by them. An OIC report on Islamophobia has seriously disconcerted Americans and Europeans, he said, adding: "The report has started to pay off. Let me give you an example: The cartoons published in Denmark and a short film, named 'Fitna' and released last month, if you look at the attitudes of the Danish prime minister, the media and civil society organizations, they are all very different from one another. So far, in these three-and-a-half years we have managed to get the UN General Assembly and Geneva make very important decisions. In the meantime the European group was left alone. We have gathered significant support from our own group in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A special rapporteur has been assigned [to track] the denigration and hatred campaigns against religions, and this person will write up reports on the issue."

He stressed that the OIC has not yet reached the place it set out for, but that it has covered a remarkable distance in comparison to previous years and that there were very positive changes between the scene in 2005 and today. "This is only the beginning. We still have a long way to go. But there is a foreign ministers' meeting in Kampala ahead of us. Things will be better then," he said.

Pointing out that there were some negative developments in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks with the influence of some lobbies, İhsanoğlu remarked that US officials were also endeavoring to eliminate these negativities.

Commenting on the visit, the secretary-general said: "The US is sending us a message at this point. 'We want to be on good terms with the OIC,' they implicitly say." İhsanoğlu also said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken with him to say that President Bush wanted to assign a special envoy to oversee US relations with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). A very accomplished US citizen of Pakistani origin has already been chosen for this role. "This person achieved a great many things during Bush's term as governor of Texas. Before the summit, he spoke with me. This shows that the entire world and the EU are closely interested in our organization. We have advanced since I took office," he said.

Common market talk hurts image

Statements about establishing a common market between Muslim countries are very badly timed, İhsanoğlu noted, emphasizing that they did more harm than good. "These are statements which hurt Islamic solidarity in the worst manner because they create an enemy group overnight and everyone starts looking for intrigues behind established ties. While there are too many opportunities in our hands for economic, commercial and industrial partnerships, we should leave this [speculation] aside. When I was first elected, I found a report. It said that in coastal African countries -- from Senegal to Burkina Faso and Chad -- there is a great deal of cotton production. But the governments cannot subsidize the production. And these people then cannot sell their products, while also failing to diversify the items they do cultivate. I made a suggestion: You produce this raw material and if we process this material, you can sell at $10 what you are able to currently sell at $1. This will be of far greater benefit."

İhsanoğlu also placed an emphasis on Turkey's great experience in the textile sector:

"We are an organization that has both the required technology and adequate financial resources. We have launched the necessary projects. In the first phase we will increase cotton fibers to certain standards. In addition, we will provide similar support in the field of fruit and vegetable cultivation. Fruits and vegetables cultivated in Africa are left to rot; in order to prevent this continent's products from decaying, places where they can package fruits and vegetables can be established. Now, food crises such as the ones related to rice and cereal shortages are making the entire world nervous. A long-term crisis is brewing. But the Islamic world has great potential. Sudan has cultivable lands and also has water as well as the farmers to cultivate these lands but insufficient monetary resources. We have the money here and those who have the money eat imported foods. We will all benefit [from these partnerships]."

OIC second most influential organization after UN

The secretary general also said that the OIC's influence in the international arena was growing by the day.

"We have set a 10-year target. One of the most important issues among these targets is the amendment of our constitution. Such a move was taboo before me and even the most reform-minded figures would not bring the topic up. When I was elected, I made this a part of the decisions made at the Mecca summit in 2005 and had them implemented in two years," he said, particularly noting that risks of sectarian conflict were averted by having the eight sects of Islam recognized as equals.

"This is a very important decision. If sectarian violence in the Islamic world is eliminated, the OIC will certainly have played a great role in that."


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