Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Michele Capasso, President of the Fondazione Mediterraneo, and together they explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation in promoting the culture of peace and anchoring the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

During the meeting, held Monday, December 9, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to promoting openness and developing cooperation relations with all, noting that the Foundation’s goals intersect with the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, as they both firmly believe in the importance of peace and the need to anchor its principles through education, culture and science.

He also stated that ICESCO implements a number of peacebuilding initiatives and programs, notably ICESCO’s Leadership Training for Peace and Security Program (LTIPS) and the Peace 360° Initiative.

For his part, Dr. Capasso commended ICESCO’s roles and efforts within its areas of competence, reiterating his appreciation of Dr. AlMalik’s leadership style which has given impetus to the Organization’s work and achievements over the past five years. He stated that Dr. AlMalik’s endeavors prompted the Foundation to present him with its Mediterranean Award Medal of Honour for 2024, in a large ceremony held at the Foundation’s headquarters in Naples, Italy. He further explained that the Mediterranean Award Medal of Honour is an annual award presented to kings, heads of states, governments, intellectuals and academics who had significant contributions to anchoring the values of coexistence and peace across the globe.

At the close of the meeting, the Organization agreed to examine a number of initiatives and programs proposed by the Foundation to assess the prospects of co-organization.