The Rumi Forum hosted H.E. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at an invitation only breakfast meeting.
Event Summary :
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the 9th secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation discussed at the Rumi Forum the importance of Barack Obama’s speeches in Cairo and Ankara. Ihsanoglu began by arguing that Obama’s speech in Egypt, specifying that the war on terror is not a war on Islam, is a very significant step to reach out to the Muslim world. In fact, according to him, the speech “has opened a new horizon” to the relations between Muslims and the United States. Obama’s reconciliatory gesture has promoted the ability to create new partnerships between the two sides. These, the American president emphasized, and which Ihsanoglu agreed with, will be based on two principles: mutual respect and mutual interest. The Muslim leader further explained that it is the “first time a president of the USA expresses these ideas in a very genuine manner”, suggesting that Obama’s approach to the Muslim world will be radically different from his predecessors. Ihsanoglu also praised Obama’s mention of the large number of Muslims in the USA (8 million), explaining that this gave him credibility among his audience. Finally, the American President’s assurance that his administration is against the negative stereotyping and that Islam is a religion of peace contributed to the positive reaction of the Muslim world to his speech.
Ihsanoglu however argued that although rhetorical support is a positive step, “the major question is how these good intentions will be implemented”. The Secretary General explained that the United States and the OIC previously had a very effective working relation, cooperating on multiple fronts such as the fight against polio and the development of women’s rights. However, he emphasized that an increased cooperation will benefit both sides and ultimately contribute to global peace.
Moreover, Ihsanoglu, despite his praises for Obama’s apparent change of foreign policy, warns against exaggerated optimism. He highlighted that the “core issue in the tension between the Muslim World and the United States is the Palestinian issue”. Ihsanoglu argued that grievances and tensions will continue to tarnish the political landscape of the region if the United States’ unconditional support for Israel is not reconsidered. He claimed that the U.S.A. must play a leading role in enforcing the international consensus on the conflict, notably past agreements and roadmaps.
To conclude his presentation, Ihsanoglu expressed his optimistic vision of the Muslim word. He reminded that 3 OIC members are already part of the G20, and assured that there will be more in the coming decades.
During the Q & A section of the event, Ihsanoglu discussed the situation in Sudan, explaining that the issue was at first a relatively simple one: the displacement of populations within Sudan due to climate changes. However, the problem has grown in complexity due to the violence which arose as a result. Ihsanoglu even warns of the potential negative repercussions of the conflict on African and global security. He encouraged all involved parties, whether national or international to seek a peaceful resolution to this issue.
Biography:
Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is a Turkish science historian and currently the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the second largest public international organisation after the United Nations. İhsanoğlu was born in Cairo, Egypt, where he later studied science at the Ain Shams University, receiving his BSc in 1966. He obtained his MSc in 1970 from the same university and his PhD from the Faculty of Science at the Ankara University in 1974. He was founder and chairman of the Department of History of Science at the Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University from 1984 to 2000. His special interest focuses on culture and scholarship in the Islamic world. He was lecturer and visiting professor at various universities like University of Exeter, United Kingdom (1975-1977), Ankara University, Faculty of Science (1970-1980), Inönü University, Malatya (1978-1980), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Germany (2003). He is one of the signatories of A Common Word, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.