Palembang, S Sumatra - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on Islamic countries to respond to changes in the international political map amid complicated global problems for their own survival.

Among the positive responses were by not turning a blind eye to the ongoing changes and by learning from past lessons, the president said in his speech before participants of the Seventh Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) here on Monday.

"We have two options or choices: turning a blind eye or anticipating and adapting to the changes. The events that are happening currently, are a warning that the world has changed, and we must have the ability of adaptation," Yudhoyono said.

He, however, reminded that if the responses to the changes were not accompanied by maximum steps, there might be a major shake-up.

"Therefore, if we don`t anticipate changes, the changes are not followed by major reform, there might be turbulence," the president said.

He cited the political changes in North African region and the global economic crisis as examples of major international changes.

The head of state hoped the PUIC conference would yield results that would not only contribute to respective member country, but to the progress of the Islamic world.

Indonesian House Speaker Marzuki Alie concurrently the chairman of the PUIC Conference 2012-2013 in his report said that the meeting was expected to yield recommendations that would benefit for the progress of Islamic countries.

The PUIC meeting is being held here from January 24 to 31, 2012, and participated in by over 300 delegates from 40 countries.

The participating countries included Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.