​Proposal for Second Makkah Reconciliation Conference on Iraq

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Saturday 17 Jan 2015 - 16:29 Makkah mean time-26-3-1436 Baghdad (IINA) – Top Iraqi leaders, including President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Vice President of Osama Nojaifi have welcomed the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help reconcile various factions in the country based on the Makkah reconciliation document signed in 2006. During the talks with OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani, they also hailed a proposal to have another meeting in Makkah of various factions to iron out differences and ensure lasting peace in the war-torn country. Madani met the Iraqi leaders at Salam Palace in Baghdad in the last day of his three-day visit to Iraq on Thursday. Masum said Madani’s visit comes at a time when Iraq is facing attacks by extremists groups. He urged the OIC to seek the help of member countries to tackle the situation, and create an atmosphere of consensus among scholars of different sects. Masum said the OIC can also play an important role in reviewing Iraq’s education system, to ensure that it promotes tolerance and moderation among the country’s youth. Madani promised the OIC would support Iraq. “This visit is aimed at getting the views of the Iraqi leadership on possible solutions to the challenges faced by the Islamic world, including extremism, fundamentalism, sectarian conflicts, and the phenomenon of Islamophobia,” Madani said. During his visit, Madani met with Iraqi leaders, deputies, religious leaders and prominent provincial leaders. They included Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, President of Kurdistan Region Masoud Barazani, Parliament Speaker Saleem Al-Jabouri, and top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani. During his meeting with Sistani in Najaf, Madani emphasized that the Muslim world is facing major challenges in the form of inter-sectarian fighting, enthronement of sectarian identities, extremist and fanatical narratives and Islamophobia. These challenges, he said, required a united stand by all Muslims. Sistani underscored the importance of mutual understanding, coexistence and unity among all sections of Iraqi people. He stressed that efforts must be made in this direction and that the OIC had a role to play in bringing about convergence of views among the various constituents of Iraq. HA/IINA