STATEMENT BY H.E. SHEIKH HAMAD BIN JASSEM BIN JABOR Al THANI, FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE STATE OF QATAR AT THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF DONORS TO THE TRUST FUND FOR THE URGENT RETURNOF THE REFUGEES AND THE DISPLACED TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA DOHA - STATE OF QATAR 21 SAFAR 1422H (15 MAY 2001)

I have great pleasure to extend to you a very warm welcome, in your second homeland Qatar, which is honored to play host to the First Conference of Donors to the Trust Fund for the Urgent Return of the Refugees and the Displaced to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We all come to this meeting with great hopes that it will constitute a quanturn leap in addressing the, issue of the refugees and the displaced of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina so as to secure their urgent return to their homes and so that stability and peace may be reinstated and the process of rehabilitation) reconstruction,, and global development may be strengthened in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference has taken a stance that supports the Dayton Peace Accord ever since its conclusion and demonstrated its effective participation in implementing the Accord in letter and spirit, including many of the resolutions it adopted on Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Islamic Conferences held since 1996 at both the Summit and Foreign Ministerial levels, Some of the Member States have indeed taken part in implementing the various aspects of the Accord in their desire to achieve peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and lay the foundations of a democratic, multietnic, multicultural, and multireligious state in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
On more than one occasion the State of Qatar has reaffirmed its firm commitment along with sister OIC Member States to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina through contributions to the Fund established by the Peacelruplementation Conference.
Proceeding from this vision, the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference held in Doha in November 2000, decided to institute the Trust Fund for the 'Urgent Return of the Refugees and the Displaced to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
OIC support for Bosnia and Herzegovina which was initiated as early as the first few days of the crisis during the 1992 Dakar Mini-Simimit Conference as well as the Istanbul, Jeddah, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, and Sarajevo Conferences, has not only set the tone for the Islamic
solidarity that the OIC is seeking to instill and strengthen among the Member States but has also demonstrated the role our Islamic world is assuming on the international level in response'to peoples' plight and suffering.
Today's meeting in Doha is being held to announce the true and effective birth of the Trust Fund. The State of Qatar, tinder the leadership of His Highness Sheikh. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar and Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, rejoices at the convening of this Conference and sees it only befitting, proceeding from the call of humanitarian principles and the commitment of the OIC Member States to Islamic solidarity which is one of the key and fundamental tenets of the Organization's Charter, that we should all lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly the refugees and the displaced among them. We also look forward to a new era of constructive cooperation between the Member States of our Organization and the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would encompass all walks of life with the participation of the states and their public sectors as well as private sector enterprises so that maximum benefit and economic viability can, be -realized for all parties taking part in the future activities and projects in the various economic,cornmercial, developmental, cultural, and technical fields.
The presence of ministers and senior officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina among us today as well as their exposition of future projects and prospects for cooperation which can be implemented with the participation of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference are all positive signs which portend a brighter future and call for more optimism. All of this makes us feel fully confident that our Conference will be successful, with the grace of Allah, in achieving its objectives so that we will, insha Allah, live to see the impetus for development gather new momentum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting with the early return of the refuges and the displaced.
On this occasion, it gives me great pleasure to announce a donation, by the State of Qatar of 10 million Qatari Riyals in favour of The Trust Fund For The Urgent Return of the Refugees and the Displaced to Bosnia and Herzegovina
May Allah crown your proceedings with success!

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh.