Istanbul, April 12, IRNA � Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived here on Monday night.


Zarif, heading a high ranking delegation, was welcomed by Turkish officials and his deputy Seyyed Abbas Araqchi.

The Iranian foreign minister is slated to attend the summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul

The OIC Summit is scheduled to take place in the city on Thursday and Friday.

Iran�s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi arrived in Istanbul Sunday morning to participate in the event's expert meeting.

The meeting is taking place amid tight security in light of the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey.

The representatives of Islamic countries are expected to focus on ways to promote the OIC role in resolving regional and international disputes.

The meeting which is to enhance the notion of solidarity and unity for justice and security is also discussing the situation in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Jammu and Kashmir as well as the recent armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization founded in 1969 and it consists of 57 member-states.

The organization states that it is 'the collective voice of the Muslim world' and works to 'safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony'.

The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.

By IRNA