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Minister: We reserve the right to join OIC

JIANG ALIPO
Daily News; Thursday,October 23, 2008 @20:19

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Tanzania has said it is still examining the possibility of joining the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and its relations with Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in his office yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe said that the decision on whether to join the OIC or not would be made by Tanzanians.

“Tanzanians do to have anything to fear…We have not yet joined the OIC and ultimately that will be the decision of all Tanzanians,” said the Minister.Mr Membe said that after the analysis there would three options, “We can remain with our status (non member), we can enter by just being observers or we can become full members.

“Being members does not make or force us to become Muslims, our neighbour Uganda has been member since 1974, and it has not turned to an Islamic country to date” he stressed.
On the relationship with Iran, Mr Membe, who recently visited the country, said that there was much to gain from the country, adding that the two countries had been in good relations for many years.

“The aim of the visit was to talk with Iran to write off our 277 million US Dollars (over 280bn/-) debt or at least reduce it to the original debt which was only 77million US Dollars (over 80bn/-),” said Mr Membe.According to him, discussions on writing off debts are at advanced stage, with the remaining parts to be discussed by Presidents of the two countries.

The Minister said that the debt, which is 15 years old and was on procurement of oil, grew over the years due to inability of the country to service it.Mr Membe also said that the two countries signed an agreement on cooperation on agriculture sector as Iran had technologically significantly advanced in agriculture.

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