OIC Secretary General Office Hopefuls Wind Up Diplomatic Talks

ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Turkey, Malaysia and Bangladesh have been carrying out intense diplomatic talks in the Foreign Minister Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) to persuade Muslim nations to support their candidates to the office of Secretary General.
However, the extension of the current secretary`s term, Secretary General Abdülvahid Belkeziz, is possible in case of disagreement. The office term of acting Secretary General Belkeziz is due to expire at the end of 2004.
Turkey is carrying out a multi-faceted diplomatic offensive to attract the support of Muslim nations for Turkish candidate Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. Turkey is cool to extending the Belkeziz.
Syria and Lebanon have given full support to Ihsanoglu while Iran has yet to commit. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait support the Bangladeshi candidate.