AlMalik: ICESCO will support Azerbaijan in rebuilding and restoring the affected historic sites in the Province

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and the accompanying delegation of Heads of ICESCO Sectors, visited several historic and cultural sites in the Districts of Fuzuli and Aghdam bordering the Nagorno-Karabakh Province. The visit is part of the DG’s current official visit to Azerbaijan.

Several Azerbaijani officials accompanied on Tuesday, January 12, ICESCO’s delegation during the visit. Key Azerbaijani officials who joined the DG in the visit included the Minister of Culture, Mr. Anar Karimov; the Mayors of the two Districts; and the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Morocco, Mr. Oktay Sudef Gurbanov. The list of participants also included the Secretary-General of the Azerbaijani National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, Mr. Vasif Eyvazzade, and a host of officials from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture.

The visit included field tours to several historic sites on the two districts, during which the ICESCO delegation took stock of the magnitude of damage that affected mosques, schools, centers, and cultural and archeological buildings. The visit also highlighted the dire need to reverse damage and safeguard the civilizational heritage.  

Following the visit, the DG stated that ICESCO will work closely with Azerbaijan to restore and rebuild the sites, which are part of human heritage at large. He announced that the work is part of ICESCO’s new vision and strategy, which both accord great importance to safeguarding and inscribing heritage.

Dr. AlMalik also commended the commitment of the Azerbaijani officials he met with, to rebuild, restore, and preserve the historic sites and cultural landmarks in the Nagorno-Karabakh Province, including churches given their significance in Azerbaijan’s memory and identity.