PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia , October 17 (IslamOnline.net) - Leaders and representatives of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) wrapped up their tenth summit Friday, October 17, with a resolution condemning the American sanctions on Syria, but no reference to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.

Reading out the 12-point Putrajaya Declaration, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the leaders agreed to undertake a review of the OIC position on international issues and draw up appropriate strategies to strengthen the unity, cohesion and solidarity among member states.

They also saw eye to eye on engaging in dialogue with other cultures and civilizations, especially in the West, as well as international and regional organizations.

This is to bring about enlightened moderation, mutual understanding and increased appreciation of Islam as a religion that promotes peace and harmony among mankind.

They called for enhancing dialogue among Muslims, particularly scholars, jurists, intellectuals, and policy makers as well as making use of existing Islamic institutions such as the Islamic Fiqh Academy.

Islamic nations lambasted U.S. moves to sanction Syria, saying this would encourage Israel "to persist in its aggression."

In a special declaration, the OIC leaders "denounced the American Congress' Accountability Act to impose unilateral sanctions on Syria."

The 57 members of the OIC "reconfirmed their solidarity with Syria and their rejection of the Congress Accountability Act that would encourage Israel to persist in its aggression.

"They also urge the U.S. to adopt a policy of constructive dialogue and mutual respect as a basis for understanding among nations and people."

The declaration pointed out that the U.S. decision "coincided with the Israeli aggression" against Syria, a reference to an air raid on October 5 that hit what Israel claimed was a training camp used by Palestinian fighters. Damascus said it was civilian site.

Musharraf said Pakistan will not send troops to Iraq as long as the Iraqi people do not show the desire to have Pakistani or Muslim troops in their country (AFP)

A resolution on Iraq was not put to vote after the Iraqi delegation asked the OIC to drop a draft  they had prepared, because it was amended by OIC members to urge a larger U.N role in the occupied country.

However, the situation in the war-torn country took center stage during press conferences given by head of states during the OIC summit.

Pakistan President Parvez Musharaf said his country will not give any financial support to the reconstruction of Iraq and that Pakistan will not send troops as long as the Iraqi people do not show the desire to have Pakistani or any other Muslim troops in their country.

"Pakistan is itself in need of funds, and we need to use all the funds for our own reconstruction," he said.

The Pakistani leader added that it will be doing injustice to his people if he would decide to fund Iraq’s reconstruction.

On sending Pakistani troops to Iraq, Musharaf said the Iraqi people must show their desire to have Pakistani and Muslim troops in the country and that Muslim countries must show the desire to send troops there.

He said the public opinion in his country was against dispatching troops to the occupied oil-rich Arab country.

Musharaf said if the Iraqis asked for troops from Pakistan, this may change the public opinion altogether and that he will never do anything that goes against public opinion in Pakistan.

The Pakistani leader called for justice to be done to the Palestinian people saying it will be difficult to contain public anger in the Islamic world or to defeat extremism otherwise.

Musharaf pressed for the implementation of the roadmap and the principle of land for peace that is set out in Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah’s plan.

Palestinian No Terrorists

"Unfortunately, the concept of terror has changed and (the U.S.) will do anything on the false pretext of fighting against terrorism," Khatami said (AFP)

Although this is the first time that the OIC had not presented a resolution on Palestine, the Palestinians’ struggle against the Israeli occupation gained absolute support from the OIC as an organization and also from its member countries.

Iranian President Mohammad took a strong stance against Israel accusing it of being a terrorist country and reiterated support to the "legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people."

He asserted that Palestinians were not terrorists and that they will succeed in their struggle.

"I know the U.S. are supporting Israel and are ready to attack any country for that. Israel is a terrorist country and if they (the U.S.) are going to fight terrorism, they must be condemned," Khatami said.

"Unfortunately, the concept of terror has changed and they (the U.S.) will do anything on the false pretext of fighting against terrorism," he charged.

Khatami also said the situation in Iraq was damaging to the U.S. and that the daily killing of U.S. troops showed that Washington was having trouble in controlling the Muslim country despite its swift military victory.

In his address, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri said the Israeli regime should opt for peace by complying with the roadmap which had been agreed to through negotiations.

"The peace will end the Zionist regime's occupation in the Arab land like Palestine, Syria and Lebanon under the "Madrid Resolution", he said.

Hariri asserted that peace would not prevail if the issue of weapons of mass destruction owned by Israel was not tackled.

"So far, Israel has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty," he said.

"Lebanon supported calls from Arab countries to make (Middle East) free from weapons of mass destruction especially the suggestion mooted by Syria at the United Nations Security Council," stressed the Lebanese premier.

He said sufferings of the Palestinians, Iraqis and Afghans stemmed from policies decided outside international laws.