ANKARA - Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) 31st Conference of Foreign Ministers will take place in Istanbul, Turkey between June 14 and 16.
Around 2,300 people, including delegates and journalists, are expected to participate in the conference.
There are 110 items on agenda of the conference, including issues like Palestine, Iraq and Kashmir problems, Cyprus, election of the new OIC Secretary General, international terrorism, Broader Middle East and North Africa project.
Sixth of meeting of countries neighbor to Iraq will also be held during the three-day OIC Conference.
United Nations (UN) Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to Iraq will also attend the sixth meeting of countries neighbor to Iraq on behalf of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Annan was invited to Istanbul for the meeting but he could not attend the meeting due to his schedule.
Iraq will be represented by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in this meeting.
OIC Conference of Foreign Ministers will officially start with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's speech on June 14.
Besides foreign ministers of 57 member countries, representatives of observer countries, guests invited by Turkey and representatives of some international organizations will participate in the conference.
According to the draft program, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, as the Term President of OIC, and OIC Secretary General Abdelouahed Belkeziz will address the participants.
After Kharrazi's speech, secretariat of the conference will be chosen and Turkey will take over the term presidency.
Thus, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will deliver a speech as the new term president.
Participants will attend dinner hosted by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the evening.
Gul will host a boat tour on Istanbul Strait in honor of participants in the evening of the second day of the conference.
Turkey has two expectations about election of OIC secretary general and Cyprus from the conference which it is hosting.
Malaysia and Bangladesh are other countries who have nominated persons for the position. Turkey has nominated Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for the office of OIC secretary general.
Turkey expects the OIC to take steps to end policies of isolation towards Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Turkey expects the OIC to decide to admit participation of TRNC, which joined former OIC meetings as ''Turkish Cypriot society'' and as observer, in following OIC meetings as ''Turkish Cypriot State.''
(BRC) 12.06.2004