JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — South America’s largest nation and home to a large Arab Diaspora, Brazil is seeking observer membership in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Sergio Luiz Canaes, the Ambassador of Brazil to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen, made an official request on behalf of the Foreign Minister of Brazil indicating Brazil’s interest in getting observer status in the OIC on an official visit recently to the OIC Secretariat in Saudi Arabia.
The 57-member grouping of mainly African, Asian and Arab nations is predominantly Islamic but many countries like Guyana and Suriname with Muslim minorities are members. The Russian Federation is an observer member of the OIC as well.
Brazil wants to build closer ties with the organization and especially wants to consolidate stronger political, cultural and economic ties with Arab states. The OIC is eager to have Brazil on board and once the OIC finalizes the criteria for granting observer status Brazil will have no issue joining the bloc.
According to Brazilian Foreign Minister Itamaraty, the main objective of Brazil is to establish closer ties with the Muslim world. Brazil also wants to be a partner of Islamic countries in the fight against intolerance. Brazil strongly influenced South America’s recognition of a Palestinian State and has emerged as a global economic and political power. Recently, Brazil has stepped in the Middle East quagmire to broker a resolution between Iran, the United States and the European Union.
Brasilia also is seeking to increase trade and investment from the Arab/Islamic world and has attended several meetings of the World Islamic Economic Forum. Brazilian trade with Arab nations has increased about 400 percent since 2000. Brazilian exports to Arab countries are at an all-time high, due mainly to food exports. Middle Eastern countries bought $4.1 billion worth of goods in the first four months of 2011 alone, a 45 percent increase. This is despite the political and social unrest in many Arab countries according to the publication, Investvine.
The OIC Secretariat, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, also confirmed that other nations are seeking membership. The states that have requested OIC observer status are: Great Britain (since 2011), South Africa (since 2002), Sri Lanka (since 2008), the Philippines (since 2008), Serbia (since 2008) Nepal (2008), Democratic Republic of Congo (since 2008), Liberia. States seeking full membership are: The Republic of Mauritius (since 2002) and the Republic of Central Africa (since 2002).
SOURCE: Caribbeannewsnow
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) as a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
