April 8, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
President Ernest Bai Koroma will attend the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference which will be held at the level of Heads of the States from the 14-15 April, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, on the overall theme: “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace”.
Organised by the Organisation of Islamic Corporation (OIC), the summit will look at a plethora of issues, including the question of Palestine and Arab-Israeli conflict, conflict situation in the Muslim world, combating terrorism and violent extremism, Islamophopia, humanitarian situation in the Muslim world, and the OIC-2025 Programme of Action.
The summit convenes every three years with the aim of jointly reviewing the international political, economic and social dynamics and analysing their impact on the Muslim community.
Addressing a presser at State House yesterday, President Koroma said the summit would also discuss current security challenges in Libya, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso, among others.
He stated that the OIC was established to promote solidarity, as well as economic and social development among member states and noted that the world was becoming a bit turbulent with bombings everywhere, and terrorists creating an environment of insecurity.
“We will address some of the issues affecting some African countries and proffer solutions on how they could be solved. The goal I must state is to ensure that peace and quietness is restored in the world, without which there will be no development,” he said.
President Koroma also informed newsmen that he would be making a stopover in Lebanon to discuss the possibility of opening a Consular Office in Beirut and hold discussion with Lebanese political officials on how the two countries could further strengthen existing diplomatic ties between them.
“I will be having meetings with the Lebanon Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and the business community, to tell them that Sierra Leone is ready and open for business,” President Koroma disclosed.
The president spoke about the need for traders to move away from the normal buying and selling in business to adding value in goods produced so as to ensure sustainable economic development.