Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Aziz Alekberli, President of the Western Azerbaijan Community, and several senior leaders of the Community on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting focused on strengthening joint cooperation in the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly in areas affected by crises.

At the outset of the meeting, held at the Community’s headquarters, Dr. Alekberli welcomed the Director-General of ICESCO and his accompanying delegation, commending the Organization’s efforts in safeguarding cultural heritage across the Islamic world. Dr. Alekberli emphasized the importance of protecting Islamic heritage in Azerbaijan and underscored the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation between ICESCO and the Western Azerbaijan Community to preserve endangered heritage.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, for his part, emphasized the efforts led by ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center and called for the inscription of diverse heritage elements on the Organization’s official list as a critical measure for their protection. Dr. AlMalik pointed out that only 16% of Islamic heritage has been inscribed to date, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cooperation and sustained commitment by Member States to bridge this considerable gap.

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to hold an international conference in Rabat in the near future to examine mechanisms for protecting Islamic heritage and to enhance coordination between ICESCO and the Western Azerbaijan Community in this strategic domain.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of Media and Communication Sector, and Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.