The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) extraordinary ministerial meeting in Putrajaya tomorrow is expected to present a declaration on Palestine, which will urge Israel to respect international law.

"We are now drafting the declaration through consensus among member countries. It is not a rhetorical document," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

Apart from this, the meeting on West Asia will also produce a statement on Iraq calling on the United Nations to play an important role in bringing about peace and stability in the region.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia felt that the Quartet's original road map must be put back on track and Israel should not introduce its unilateral plan.

The Quartet comprising UN, European Union, the United States and Russia had produced the road map on a two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

On the other hand, Israel came up with a plan which encroached on Palestinian land.

"Political assassinations and a new road map will not contribute in solving the Middle East issue," said the minister.

Important role

Asked on the effectiveness of the meeting and the declaration, Syed Hamid said the 57-member OIC, chaired by Malaysia, could not just sit down and forego its struggle.

"Effectiveness is a question of relative. Whether it changes things or not is a secondary question," he added.

He said US and the UN must play an important role in solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He added that US must not support and stop Israel's aggression while the UN should not consider the death of Palestinians as a 'normal thing'.

Tomorrow's meeting is expected to be attended by 20 countries representing the Palestine Committee and Al-Quds Committee.

Syed Hamid said as of this morning, foreign ministers from 10 countries including Palestine had confirmed their attendance.

The OIC Summit troika members Qatar, Malaysia and Senegal, and OIC foreign ministers troika members Iran, Sudan and Turkey, have also been invited to attend the emergency meeting.

The one-day meeting at the Putrajaya Convention Centre would discuss the Palestinian issue in the morning and the Iraqi issue in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister also warned that Israel's move would trigger terrorism in the region.

He said it was important that the OIC and the rest of the world voice their opinion so that the US could influence Israel.

Official visit

In an unrelated development, Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai arrived in Kuala Lumpur today to begin a three-day official visit to Malaysia.

Phan will hold talks with Prime Minister Abdudllah Ahmad Badawi.A delegation-level meeting will also be held.

The Vietnamese leader will address the Malaysia-Vietnam Business Forum and visit the Economic Planning Unit and also tour the Petronas Twin Towers and meet officials of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC).

He will also be granted an audience by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail at Istana Negara.