Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ms. Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). The two officials discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and ICCROM in the fields of heritage preservation.

During the meeting, held on Monday ( 18 November 2024) at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dr. Al-Malik stressed that ICESCO’s new vision places the preservation and promotion of the Islamic world’s heritage at the top of its priorities, hence the Organization established the Islamic World Heritage Center and the Islamic World Heritage Committee, which has so far inscribed over 724 heritage sites and elements on ICESCO’s lists of tangible and intangible heritage.
He pointed out that ICESCO has a training program for heritage professionals in Member States through workshops on heritage conservation, preparation of inscription files on world lists, among others, adding that the Organization has signed a number of agreements to shift a set of historical sites to use clean energy and launched a strategy to counter the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

For her part, ICCROM Director General commended ICESCO’s efforts in the field of heritage protection, stressing the Centre’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the Organization.
The meeting also discussed a number of future cooperation proposals between ICESCO and ICCROM.