President expresses hopes to establish close relations within Islamic community

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has expressed hopes to establish close relations within the Islamic community at the fourth extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, on the invitation of King Abdulla Bin Abdul Azeez.

Meeting the local media at the Official Jetty prior to his departure to Saudi Arabia yesterday, President Waheed said that the most important on the agenda at the summit would be the ongoing situation in Syria and establishing close relations within the Islamic community.

The President also said that efforts will be taken to secure investment in Saudi Arabia, for the fund opened to aid Mosques in the Maldives, by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

During this trip, the President will be accompanied by First Lady Madam Ilham Hussain. Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Foreign Minister AbduSamad Abdullah will also accompany the President during this trip.

Saudi King Abdullah has invited the leaders of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to attend the conference in Mecca Aug 14-15, Xinhua reported.

The situation in Syria and Myanmar will figure high on the agenda, OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said.

Saudi media has reported that the “extraordinary Islamic solidarity meeting” is aimed at ensuring unity as the Muslim world “faces dangers of fragmentation and sedition”.