For his part, Prof. Ihsanoglu commended the closer cooperation between the OIC and the UN, and asked the UN Secretary General to use his good offices to fight religious hatred against Muslims around the world. He suggested that the UN can reinforce its efforts to fight religious defamation and build more powerful bridges of understanding between the different religions. He lauded the role of the UN Human Rights Council in combating religious hatred. Later in the day, Prof. Ihsanoglu met with Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, and discussed with him the upcoming OIC meeting of foreign ministers, due to be held on the sideline of the UNGA Sessions on September 26, 2008 in New York. The OIC Secretary General also delivered a day before a lecture at Columbia University entitled 'Conflict Resolution: The New Vision of the OIC.' --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/591930