Jeddah, Rabi'II 23, 1436, Feb 12, 2015, SPA -- Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani received at his office at the General Secretariat here today Prof. Nassirou Bako Arifari, the visiting Foreign Minister of the Republic of Benin. During the meeting, they discussed wide ranging areas of cooperation between Benin and the OIC and explored ways and means to further enhance them and how to promote joint Islamic actions. The two sides also reviewed extensively the latest developments in West Africa and the Lake Chad region with particular reference to the escalating violent activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group and the threat that it poses to regional peace and stability. The Minister briefed the Secretary General of a plan by Benin to convene an international interfaith forum later this year in Cotonou and emphasized the importance of partnership with the OIC in the project. --SPA 18:48 LOCAL TIME 15:48 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w