Iran's envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) says Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is to attend the OIC ministerial meeting in the African country of Guinea.The 40th OIC foreign ministerial meeting will be held in December 2013 in Guineas capital, Conakry, said Hamid Reza Dehqani on Wednesday.
The outgoing and incoming OIC secretary generals, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Iyad bin Amin Madani respectively, will participate in the event, he added.
The Iranian official described as positive a recent meeting between Ihsanoglu and Irans President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Following the meeting, Ihsanoglu praised views expressed by Rouhani during his trip to New York and welcomed Irans increasing role in the OIC, Dehqani said.
Ihsanoglu called for the expansion of cooperation between the OIC and the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of Irans obligations in the organization, the Iranian official added.
During the meeting, Rouhani described Islamophobia as an obstacle to expansion of ties between the Muslim and non-Muslim states, calling for strategies to counter the scourge.
The Iranian president underlined the significant role of the OIC in bringing Muslim countries closer together and defending Islamic thoughts in todays world.
The OIC, which was established in 1969, is the second-largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations and has 57 member states spread over four continents. The body also has a permanent delegation to the UN.
The Islamic association says it is the collective voice of the Muslim world and works to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.
By Press TV
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