The OIC settles in Brussels. A symbol …

(BRUSSELS2) The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is inaugurating its representative office in Brussels today. An important step for the ICO, but also for the European Union. The 27 COPS ambassadors will also have lunch with the organisation's secretary general, the Turk Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

A permanent representation of 30 people

This inauguration is, in fact, not insignificant. Because the OIC — one of the most important international regional organizations — is not going to occupy an obscure office. The OIC has acquired an entire building - rue du Trône - a stone's throw from the European Parliament. And about thirty people should come to work there under the direction of an Azeri ambassador.

For the European Union, this presence is important. The OIC includes in its ranks most Muslim countries, from the Middle East as well as from Asia, Africa and Europe, Shiites as well as Sunnis. Not insignificant point as the divide between the two main branches of Islam grows every day. Its activity extends beyond political cooperation to economic, banking, humanitarian and even crisis management activities (an area where the OIC is not yet very active). Among the projects, which could be developed jointly, is the establishment of a crisis management room in Jeddah (at the headquarters of the OIC) as the European Union had done for the Arab League .

The Northern Cyprus Question

A spine in cooperation, the OIC is also one of the only organizations of which Northern Cyprus is a member (as an observer) (under the name of "Turkish Cypriot State", which is not recognized by any other State in the world than Turkey, which could cause some diplomatic difficulties... It should be noted that two European states participate in the organization — Albania (member) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (as an observer) — as does Russia (observer) .