Britain applies to join OIC as observer

Britain and several other countries have submitted applications to join the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) as observer member, the OIC said in statement.

Britain and eight other countries are planning to win an observatory status with the OIC, informed sources at the Islamic body have told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.

The countries, which have forwarded their applications to the OIC secretariat, include Britain, Belarus, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Serbia and Nepal. Russia won an observer status on 2005 while the United States and China are considering joining the Islamic organization as observer.

A team of OIC experts discussed the required laws and conditions on Wednesday for non-Muslim states to join the organization as observer, said the report. The applications received preliminary approval afterwards.

The applications were accepted after OIC Secretary General answered some questions raised by the applying states about the terms and conditions and elaborated on the agreed proposal which was clinched at the experts’ meeting.

The proposal amended the 7th article of OIC membership law based on which those countries who are willing to join the organization should try their best to resolve any dispute with the member states.

The observer states enjoy the right to take part at all the meetings of the organization, but they are not allowed to vote.

Meanwhile, the observer states should render especial support to Muslim minorities and provide for them an appropriate living condition in the respective countries.

The OIC is an international organization with 57 member states whose mandate is to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and development of Muslim nations around the world.