HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has called for removing obstacles hindering trade among the member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Addressing the opening session of the economic summit conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation (COMCEC) here yesterday, the Emir expressed the hope that all OIC member-states would work to implement the Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System to remove existing barriers in trade relations. The session was also attended by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, and other ministers who are members of the accompanying official delegation. Addressing the session the Emir asserted Qatar’s faith in the role played by the COMCEC, which provides opportunity to all members to explore ties in economic and commercial sectors. The Emir referred to the challenges facing the Islamic nation, mainly the weak and decreasing trade among member-states, noting that Qatar has ratified the Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System, and also signed the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme system of trade preferences. Referring to the current economic and financial situation the Emir cautioned that amid such circumstances, all OIC members should act to encourage trade and create a conducive atmosphere. The Emir made clear, in this respect, that Qatar has doubled its efforts to invest more in several OIC member-countries . Stressing the need to combat poverty in the least developed countries, the Emir called on the summiteers to give special priority to the issue and not to use the current economic crisis to side-step the main target - fighting poverty. “With such a problem growing in some countries, financial aid alone could not change the status of the poor and much attention should be accorded to developing the poor areas through stamping out poverty and the other related problems such as ignorance, disease, crime and family disintegration or partition,” the Emir said. Later the Emir attended a luncheon banquet hosted by Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul at the Four Seasons Hotel in honour of heads of states and delegations taking part in the COMCEC summit. The Emir received at the Four Seasons Hotel a number of heads of delegations participating in the COMCEC summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference. The Emir met the member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of UAE’s Umm Al Quwain Sheikh Saud bin Rashid al-Mu’ala, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Rashid Mohamed Rashid. Talks during the meetings dealt with bilateral ties and several topics tabled on the summit’s agenda. The meetings were attended by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and the members of the accompanying official delegation. Later yesterday the Emir visited the Research Centre for Islamic History and Culture of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Istanbul. The Emir was greeted by Board Chairman of the Centre Dr Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Subai, OIC Chief Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, and Director General of the Centre Dr Khalid Arren. The Emir was briefed about the library’s sections, its contents, activities and development. The Emir was also briefed on the stages of printing the Holy Qur’an by Qatar. The Emir was accompanied by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, and a number of members of the official accompanying delegation. The Emir left Istanbul yesterday evening, after taking part in the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation. The Emir and his accompanying delegation were seen off on departure at the Ataturk International Airport by Deputy Wali (Governor) of Istanbul Saad al-Din Kaljan, Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey Abdul Razzaq Abdul Jalil al-Abdul Ghani, Qatar’s Consul in Istanbul Mohamed Ali al-Ma’adeed and Turkish Ambassador to Qatar Mithat Rende. - QNA

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