Praise be to God    May peace and blessings be upon 
the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
 
 
Your Majesties,
Your Excellencies,
Your Highnesses,
Mr. Chairman, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to express my consideration, first of all, for His Excellency President Abdullah Gul, President of our sister nation, the Republic of Turkey, and COMCEC Chairman, and also for the Turkish Government for their untiring efforts to help the Committee discharge its mission and implement its economic, trade and development programs as fully as possible, and thus strengthen inter-Islamic cooperation.
The convening of this economic Summit coincides with the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which took place during the Rabat Summit Conference in 1969. This is an opportunity to assess joint Islamic action and pursue coordination and consultation on the most effective ways and means to help us strengthen the bonds of Islamic solidarity. Considering the current financial and economic crisis and its repercussions on the economies of Islamic countries, this task has, indeed, become urgent.
 In this regard, I wish to commend the results achieved by the Extraordinary Summit held in Makkah Al Mukarrama in 2005, at the invitation of my revered brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, which laid the groundwork for dealing efficiently with the Ummah’s development and economic issues listed in the Ten-Year Program of Action.
Similarly, the 2008 Dakar Summit, held under the chairmanship of my dear brother, His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, confirmed our common desire to reform and upgrade the Organization’s structures in order to fulfill our ambitions with respect to progress and comprehensive development, in a world in which unity, complementarity and integration are now essential.
Mr. Chairman,
Over the past forty years, the Organization of the Islamic Conference has gained significant experience in the economic field, thanks to the work of its specialized organs, which have been very efficient.
 I particularly commend the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Centre for the Development of Trade, which play an active role in the implementation of various programs and decisions regarding the promotion of economic cooperation. As a result, inter-Islamic trade relations have increased steadily, especially in recent years.
However, the magnitude of the challenges faced requires greater cooperation in the areas of capacity building and support for investment, as well as in all economic and social development sectors. Today, in our joint Islamic action, special emphasis needs to be laid on economic and commercial cooperation.
I hope this important economic summit will help achieve the main objective of the Ten-Year Program of Action, namely promote intra-OIC trade and complete the mechanisms of the Islamic Trade Preferential System with a view to setting up an Islamic free trade area. Our ultimate objective is to establish a fruitful economic partnership between Islamic countries and achieve economic integration.
 I also hope this Summit will come up with a clear vision and make a common commitment to support the most vulnerable OIC Member States, and help them promote sustainable development and good governance.
In accordance with its commitment to the duty of Islamic solidarity, the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its active support for all measures aimed at alleviating the debt burden weighing on African countries that are the most affected by financial and economic crises and by natural and environmental disasters, in order to enable them to overcome the structural difficulties which hamper their overall development and threaten their security and stability.
Mr. Chairman,
As we meet in this important Summit, we cannot but draw attention to the tough social and economic conditions facing the Palestinian people, as a result of the unjust blockade imposed by Israel on the Palestinian territories.
 Since the Israeli occupation authorities act in brazen defiance of the international community and of the resolutions of international legitimacy, and in view of its uncooperative attitude toward peace initiatives, we are called upon, more than ever, to provide further support and assistance to our Palestinian brothers, and to back the steadfast, legitimate struggle they are waging to regain all their rights, especially through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with Al-Quds al-sharif as its capital.
 I firmly believe only genuine, efficient Islamic solidarity, which is based on a clear, common vision, can safeguard and uphold legitimate Palestinian rights within influential regional and international forums.
 In my capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and as I am particularly keen to continue supporting the Muslim Ummah’s foremost cause, I shall pursue regular diplomatic contacts with the leaders of influential countries and all the parties concerned with the Palestinian issue, and urge them to take immediate action in order to put an end to systematic Israeli provocations aimed at wiping out cultural and spiritual landmarks in the city of Al-Quds.
I strongly condemn these criminal practices and should like to reaffirm that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories, and that it is covered by the provisions of international law and of the Fourth Geneva Convention. I therefore reiterate my call to the international community to take immediate, resolute action to stop all the illegal and immoral Israeli practices perpetrated in the cradle of the heavenly religions.
Mr. Chairman,
To consolidate Islamic solidarity, we must institute a vibrant economic partnership based on the reinvigoration of intra-Islamic trade and the creation of favourable conditions for the establishment of a free trade area. The complementary nature of our abundant human, financial and natural resources provides the best guarantee for achieving sustainable development and implementing crucial social projects.
This, I believe, is the right way to promote joint Islamic action, so that we may fulfil the ambitions and aspirations of our peoples and rise to the challenges facing them.
 To achieve complementarity and economic integration, we must bring about an environment conducive to constructive dialogue, trust and mutual respect, as this should help us promote healthier inter-Islamic relations and overcome artificial disputes by respecting Member States’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and immutable national values. We should be devoting our energies to building a common future based on solidarity, synergy and mutual assistance, so that our peoples may enjoy progress, development and prosperity. There can be no better way to show our commitment to the principles and objectives stipulated in the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Before concluding, I should like to reiterate the Kingdom of Morocco’s firm commitment to the spirit of Islamic solidarity which, needless to say, will enhance our Ummah’s standing in the world. With that in mind, I keenly look forward to the promising recommendations and resolutions that will be adopted by this important summit.
May Almighty God grant success to all Muslim leaders and peoples so that we may achieve the advancement of our Ummah and strengthen its position and role in the world, making it an influential player in international forums and in dealing with all political and economic issues of common interest. We will thus live up to the Words of the Almighty: "Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood". True is the Word of God.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Mohammed VI
King of Morocco