OIC Holds "Islamic Civilization in Mediterranean" Conference in Nicosia, Cyprus

02 December 2010

Islamic Civilization in the Mediterranean: an International Conference is being held from 1-4 December, 2010 at the Near East University, Nicosia, Northern Cyprus.

The conference is organized jointly by OIC's Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture and Near East University.

Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu spoke yesterday at the opening ceremony and urged members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to keep their promises on cooperation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Eroglu informed participants about the current situation in Cyprus reunification talks and said Turkish Cypriot side would go in good faith to Geneva for a tripartite meeting planned for January.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will bring together Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias in Geneva in a move to find a solution to decades-long Cyprus problem.

Eroglu told Islamic countries that Turkish Cypriots need their support more than ever for a fair and long-lasting solution in this critical turning point.

"Our message is clear; it is peace. Your cooperation would be helpful for a compromise," Eroglu said. "Your cooperation would push Greek Cypriots to take a more reconciliatory stance at the negotiation table."

In his message, Eroglu said that Turkish Cypriot people had been trying to preserve Islamic culture in the island for centuries and thanked OIC for issuing resolutions on Cyprus issue.

However, Eroglu said, "we call on Islamic countries and organizations to keep their words by starting political, economic and cultural cooperation with Turkish Cypriots."

The themes of the conference are:

[1] History of expansion of Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean: political administration, inter-state and inter-regional relations

[2] The role of Islam in civilisational process: theological and philosophical aspects, relations with other religions in the Mediterranean

[3] Science and technology in Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean

[4] Architecture and urbanism in Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean

[5] The development of Islamic arts in the Mediterranean and relations with the arts of other cultures

[6] "Islamic civilisation in the Mediterranean" as an area of research and teaching: promoting the studies and sources

Sources:

"OIC meeting on Islamic civilization in Mediterranean opens in Cyprus" World Bulletin December 2, 2010

Jared Eisenstat, "Islamic Civilization in the Mediterranean (International Conference)" Digital Calendar