Dr. AlMalik Holds Talks with the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Six Ministers

During the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, held on 12–13 February in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), led a series of meetings with ministers of culture and senior cultural officials on the conference’s opening day.

First, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. He praised Mr. Moratinos for his active participation in the conference and his insightful opening address. The two explored collaborative projects—such as jointly organizing conferences and events—and stressed the importance of reinforcing efforts toward peace, mutual respect, and the promotion of coexistence, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Next, Dr. AlMalik engaged with Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. They focused on celebrating contemporary Islamic art and representing Islam through a modern cultural framework. Both leaders agreed on the need for joint initiatives, especially those aimed at youth, aligning with ICESCO’s new vision.

Following that, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, Egypt’s Minister of Culture, to advance efforts to inscribe Egypt’s diverse historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List. Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating on future projects and activities.

Dr. AlMalik also discussed the establishment of a committee with Mr. Nazarbekov Ozodbek Akhmedovich, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The committee will oversee arrangements for celebrating Samarkand as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2025, as part of ICESCO’s Program for Capitals of Culture. They explored practical avenues for collaboration to ensure the success of this initiative, which aims to showcase Samarkand’s rich cultural heritage.

Then, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, where both stressed their shared commitment to expanding cooperation and executing cultural programs that advance sustainable development.

Additionally, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Henry Ori, Minister of Education, Science, and Culture of the Republic of Suriname, to explore ways to strengthen the capacities of professionals in culture and heritage preservation through specialized training programs. He also invited Dr. Ori to send a delegation to ICESCO’s headquarters to gain deeper insights into the organization’s operations, thereby fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Later, in his meeting with Mr. Khalid Ali Aleisir, Sudanese Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. AlMalik commended the strong cooperation between ICESCO and Sudan. They discussed strategies to mitigate the war’s impact on Sudan’s cultural sector—focusing on restituting cultural property and preserving national identity—while emphasizing the importance of exchanging expertise to support these initiatives.

Finally, Dr. AlMalik concluded the day by meeting with Mr. Ahmed Karim Aleyawi, Director-General of the House of Iraqi Manuscripts. They explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in heritage preservation and valorization, and discussed the potential nomination of Baghdad as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World. Dr. AlMalik reiterated ICESCO’s support, highlighting the rich and diverse heritage of Iraqi civilization.