ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul introduced on Monday Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Turkey's candidate for the office of OIC Secretary General, to ambassadors of OIC member countries to Turkey in a reception held at the Foreign Ministry Residence.
Ihsanoglu is the Director General of OIC Research Center For Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA).
Speaking at the reception, Gul said that Turkey was one of the model countries in Islam world.
Noting that Turkey had not undertaken OIC Secretariat General so far, Gul considered it a deficiency.
Gul pointed out that OIC Secretary General had not been elected from west Asian countries including Turkey so far.
Turkey's candidacy was important for representation of Muslim in Europe, Gul said.
Gul said, ''we want Turkey to undertake OIC Secretariat General to serve the aim of making OIC an efficient international organization, protecting interests of Islam world by adjusting with the daily conditions.''
Ihsanoglu, who knew institutional structure and needs of OIC well, owned all features that could make OIC a modern organization, Gul added.
(BRC) 10.05.2004