The third meeting of the Joint Preparatory Commission between the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs concluded yesterday in Tunis. The meeting was held at the Ministry’s headquarters on 23-24 September to discuss arrangements for organizing the closing ceremony of the 2019 celebration of Tunis as the Arab Region’s Capital of Islamic Culture and the Eleventh Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers.

The minutes of the meeting were signed by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia, and Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, ISESCO Director of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, the General Conference and Specialized Ministerial Conferences.

The minutes include organizational arrangements, commitments and procedures for the closing ceremony of the 2019 celebration of the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture and the eleventh Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers.

It was agreed to organize the closing ceremony of the Tunis celebration on 18 December 2019, under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Republic of Tunisia, in the presence of ISESCO Director General, Ministers of Culture of the Member States, heads of international and regional organizations, and members of the Islamic Diplomatic Corps accredited to Tunisia. Attendees will also include a host of political and intellectual figures and heads of organizations and constitutional bodies in the Republic of Tunisia. The programme of the ceremony includes cultural events, artistic performances and exhibitions, and visits to cultural and religious sites, including the Zaytuna Mosque, Bardo Museum and City of Culture.

Additionally, it was confirmed that the eleventh Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers will take place on 17-19 December 2019, in Tunis, under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Republic of Tunisia. The commission also confirmed the agreement on the obligations of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and ISESCO, in accordance with the organizational arrangements and tasks set out in the agreement signed between the ISESCO Director General and the Minister of Cultural Affairs on 29 November 2018 in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. The Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs proposed holding the fourth meeting of the preparatory commission for the conference in Tunis on 1-2 December, to agree on the latest organizational preparations and the opening ceremony of the conference, visit the participants’ accomodation and the venue of the conference sessions, discuss the organizational arrangements and prepare the program of the closing ceremony of the Tunis celebration on 18 December 2019.

Held at the invitation of the Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia, the meeting was attended by ISESCO’s Director of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, the General Conference and Specialized Ministerial Conferences, Mr. Mohamed Ghemari; Cultural Advisor of ISESCO Director General, Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa; Ms. Ghizlane Bentaouit of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, the General Conference and Specialized Ministerial Conferences; along with officials and staff from the relevant directorates of the Ministry, representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, Education, Health, Tourism and Handicrafts in the Tunisian Government, the Governor and the Mayor of Tunis.