Ahmadinejad Urges Islamic Unity Ahead of Mecca Summit

Local Editor

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Monday to the Saudi Arabia to participate in Mecca Islamic summit this week i.e. expected to focus on the crisis in Syria.

Ahmadinejad, speaking to reporters before he departed for Mecca to meet with leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states, said "the emergency meeting would be a chance for Iran to express its opinions."

Riyadh's King Abdullah invited Ahmadinejad to attend the summit, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, along with leaders of the other OIC member states.

"This meeting is a chance for our country's viewpoint to be explained transparently and for efforts to be made towards the convergence and protection of the interests of Muslim nations," Ahmadinejad stressed.

He further warned that "differences among the Islamic countries serve the goals of the enemies of the Muslim nations."

"A significant portion of the energy of Muslim governments and groups is spent in internal conflicts and damaging each other," Ahmadinejad said, ISNA reported.

"Perhaps it would be good for Muslim countries to consult with each other on this issue."

Ahmadinejad did not mention Syria specifically in the published comments, though he appeared to refer to the crisis."Extensive developments are taking place, and different groups and currents are involved in these developments," he said.

The Iranian President said he would hold bilateral meetings with various country heads during the OIC summit.

"I am hopeful that God will sway the participants in this meeting towards correct decisions," he said. "...This is an historic test for us to see how to protect the dignity and essential rights of Muslim countries."

Last week, Iran held its own 29-nation conference on Syria attended. At the end of this month, Iran is to host another international gathering: a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which groups 120 countries considering themselves independent of any of the world's major power blocs.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org