Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The 14th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (PUIC)`s general committee on Saturday endorsed Maldives` bid for PUIC permanent membership.

The meeting led by chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Marzuki Alie in his capacity as PUIC president also approved applications from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Bellarus and Russian parliaments, and the Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (ESRTCIC), a subsidiary body of the OIC, as observers.

Marzuki said all the applications for both PUIC permanent membership and observer status would be endorsed at the end of the 7th conference of PUIC being held in Palembang from January 24 to 31.

PUIC Secretary General Prof. Mahmud Erol KILIC said Maldives` bid for the union`s permanent membership had earlier been discussed at a meeting of the PUIC executive committee.

"With the admission of Maldives, the number of PUIC members will increase to 52," he said.

Mahmud Erol said the 26th session of the PUIC executive committee held in Ankara, Turkey, also approved applications from the MNLF, Bellarus and Russian parliaments and ESRTICIC as observers.

The 7th conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference was participated in by 37 countries.

They are Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco.

In addition, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.
(Uu.S012/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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