Baroness Warsi delivers speech at OIC Conference
Baroness Warsi, Minister without Portfolio, has听addressed the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Kazakhstan.
Baroness Warsi, Minister without Portfolio, has听addressed the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Kazakhstan.
This is the first time a UK Minister has been invited to address the Organisation for Islamic Conference.
Baroness Warsi鈥檚 speech focused on building Britain鈥檚 relations with the Muslim world, strengthening partnerships in trade, development and global security to help solve some of the greatest challenges.
Read the speech
[Check against delivery]
It is a great honour to be invited to speak at the OIC Foreign Ministers鈥� Conference - the first time that a British government minister has ever had this privilege.
I am equally delighted to be here in Kazakhstan for the first time鈥�
鈥 country as Chairman you told me when we met on Monday is home to the samosa and pilau rice.
A fortnight ago I had the privilege to host His Excellency, Secretary-General Ihsanoglu and his team, on their first official visit to the UK.
We held a number of meetings which included the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary William Hague鈥�
鈥nd the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, amongst others in a wide ranging programme.
We in Britain recognise the importance of building on our relationships with the Muslim world.
And that is why we have appointed a new Special Representative to the OIC to be based in Jeddah.
Our participation at this conference demonstrates that commitment. So thank you once again for giving us this opportunity.
Challenges
Today we share many global challenges: economic uncertainty; global security; climate change and the continuing need to help the poorest in the world.
In today鈥檚 ever changing world, we can either face these challenges together, work together in unity with greater effectiveness, or as people we will grow apart.
And sadly there are extremists who would prefer just that.
There are those that claim that the West is at war with Islam.
Or that Islam has no place in the West. They claim Islam and democracy do not mix, and will never mix.
As a British cabinet minister, as a British Muslim鈥�
鈥s the daughter of an immigrant, whose father came to the UK from Pakistan, who taught his children the value of education, who built a successful businesss鈥�
鈥s someone who crosses those so-called insurmountable divides鈥�
I am proud to say that nothing could be further from the truth.
And when we look at our actions overseas鈥�
It is the largely Muslim civilians in Benghazi鈥�
鈥ho are demonstrating such a strong desire to live free of oppression and brutality鈥�
鈥hat spurred the international community into acting in their support and defence.
It is the largely Muslim people of Kabul and Helmand鈥�
鈥ho have suffered generations of war and destruction, who aspire simply for a better future, rather than conflict and bloodshed鈥�
鈥hat drives the international community鈥檚 commitment for a stable Afghanistan.听
And it is the young Muslim women in the Punjab, and their dreams for an opportunity to learn鈥�
鈥hich drives the international communities鈥� investment in the Pakistani education system.
Your excellencies, my story, the story of my country, the story of our actions overseas鈥�
鈥� categorically sends a resounding 鈥渘o鈥� to those who talk about a 鈥渃lash of civilisations鈥�
We face global challenges which we can meet鈥�
鈥� if we work together in partnership.
A partnership based on trust, mutual respect and honesty.
Arab spring
This year will be remembered for the start of the Arab Spring.
For an awakening across the region.
For an answer to those who say the Middle East has no appetite for reform.
The seeds of democracy have been sown鈥�
鈥� and I recognise that of course it will take time before they flower.听
Change is never easy. And real change will take time.
But one thing is certain. The type of change will differ in each country.
In each country it will take its own route;
it will find its own way; and it will be driven by the people in those countries.听
No two democracies look the same.
In these uncertain times, the UK government and the international community stands ready to work with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa in partnership鈥�
鈥o build a more stable and prosperous future for the region.
Through our Arab Partnership, we will provide 拢110m to support political and economic reforms across the region.
Afghanistan
Your excellencies, the security challenge we face in Afghanistan will require a long-term enduring partnership.
This partnership will require the contribution of ordinary Afghans, the contribution of regional allies and the contribution of the international community.
My guarantee to you is this. We will stay the course in Afghanistan.
And although by 2015 UK forces will no longer be in a combat role or in the numbers they are now in Afghanistan鈥�
鈥he UK remains committed to a strong, long term partnership with Afghanistan based on diplomacy, trade and development.
We will continue to stand by the Afghan people in their difficult journey to reconciliation.
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Most importantly we must recognise this is a long-term commitment.
There are no short term fixes.
We, alongside our allies, will build a Long Term Partnership with Afghanistan, giving our lasting support long after 2015.听
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Pakistan
This brings me to a country I know well.
A country I鈥檝e visited 4 times in the last 12 months - most recently with the UK Prime Minister David Cameron in April.
Pakistan which is an important ally to the UK.
I recognise ordinary Pakistanis simply want an education, jobs and security.
They want to live their free from terror and bloodshed.
The UK鈥檚 unbreakable bond with Pakistan means we will stand with the nation during its difficult times.
That is why we have upgraded our relationship to an 鈥渆nhanced partnership鈥�.
That is why we have made Pakistan our largest development partner. That is why we pledge to increase bilateral trade to 2.5bn per year.
That is why we have such strong co-operation against terrorism.
Special time in history
Your Excellencies, this is a special time in history.
In the past we have been accused of only pursuing 鈥渢ransactional relationships鈥�. But, today let recognise we believe in 鈥渓asting friendships鈥�.
Let鈥檚 become strategic partners. Partners in trade. Partners in development. Partners in global security.
Let鈥檚 affirm our commitment to one another.
Your excellencies our destinies are intertwined. Our futures interlinked.
Travel, trade and new media have brought us closer together.
And I know when we work together, act together, we are on course to help solve some of the greatest challenges we face.
Let鈥檚 build a future for today and tomorrow. And build a world, better than the one we found.
So if there is a message I鈥檇 like you to take away today it is simply this.
In 2011, the UK didn鈥檛 come to this conference and simply say Assalamualaikum, she also said Nureedo An Natha aa Wana Ma aan.