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1. In response to the kind invitation by the Government of the Republic of Mali, the
Twenty-eighth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session of Peace and
Development – Intifada Al-Aqsa), was convened in Bamako, capital of Mali, on 04 – 06 Rabiul
Thani 1422H (25-27 June 2001).
2. His Excellency, Mr. Mande Sidibe, Prime Minister and Head of Government of the
Republic of Mali, opened the 28th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and
delivered the speech of His Excellency Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the Republic of Mali,
before the 28th Session of the ICFM. In his speech, President Konare thanked the participants
who travelled to Mali and welcomed all delegations.
President Konare commended the unity of the Islamic Ummah for which our
Organization is an excellent tool for influencing world events.
The President noted with concern the situation of the Palestinian people and called for
greater support to the “Al-Aqsa Intifada” in order to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the
Palestinian people with the objectives of establishing their own State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif
as its capital. He further deplored the conflicts and economic crises that continue to hinder
the participation of our Ummah in the current process of globalization.
To this effect, he called for the setting up of a crisis resolution mechanism within the
OIC . He also appealed for greater economic solidarity within the Ummah and urged for
a political settlement of the external debt.
As part of this inter-Islamic solidarity, His Excellency further called for the
establishment of a mechanism between oil producing and consuming countries following the
example of the “Pact of San Jose” concluded between certain South American States.
The Prime Minister of Mali, after delivering the President’s speech, declared open the
28th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
3. The participants recited the Fatiha in memory of the martyrs of the Al-Aqsa
Intifada.
4. The Conference decided to adopt the statement of H.E. the President of the
Republic of Mali as an official document guiding the deliberations of the Conference.
5. Representatives of the three regional groups of the OIC took the floor: H.E. Mr.
Youssouf Ouedraogo, State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, for the
African Group, Mr. Shaiher Bek, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan, for the Arab Group and H.E. Mr. Abdul Sattar, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, for the Asian Group, made statements to express their
gratitude to the government of the Republic of Mali for hosting the Conference and their
appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the Conference and
for the excellent arrangements made to ensure the success of the proceedings. They praised
the wisdom, courage, sense of initiative and foresight with which H.E. President Alpha Omar
Konare has been leading Mali, making this Islamic country a model of democracy and a source
of pride for other Islamic States.
