AlMalik: We Seek to Be Part of the Efforts to Restore Syria to its Glory and Civilization

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the head of a high-level delegation from the Organization, met with Mr. Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic, in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Turko, Syrian Minister of Education. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the educational, scientific, and cultural fields.

At the beginning of the meeting, which took place on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Damascus, Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s keenness to support the Syrian State in its fields of competence, in logistical, technical, and financial aspects, and to establish distinguished international partnerships with the aim of implementing Syria’s programs, initiatives, and activities, stating: “We seek to be part of the efforts to restore Syria to its glory and civilization.”

Dr. AlMalik presented the possibility of declaring Damascus the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for the year 2027, within ICESCO’s program for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World. He stressed the Organization’s readiness to send a technical committee to survey the damage sustained by Syrian heritage sites during past years, in order to issue a detailed technical report that would constitute an admitted document contributing to Syrian efforts related to heritage restoration. In this regard, he called for the inscription of more heritage and archaeological sites on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.

Dr. AlMalik also affirmed the Organization’s keenness to cooperate with Syrian entities in the fields of science, environment, and artificial intelligence, and to develop and reform the educational system by implementing training programs for teachers.

For his part, Mr. Al-Shaibani welcomed the ICESCO delegation, affirming that the visit is highly valued at all levels of the Syrian State, and that the Ministry is ready to cooperate with ICESCO during the coming period by providing all necessary facilities. Dr. AlMalik also addressed the possibility of preparing and training Syrian youth to work in international organizations through intensive training courses at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat.

The Syrian Foreign Minister explained that the State is giving the highest priority to education and its development during this period, within the framework of its vision based on investing in people, pointing out that the Ministry is working towards the return of Syrian competencies and scientific elites who had migrated, back to their homeland to contribute to rebuilding the Syrian State.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented Mr. Al-Shaibani with ICESCO’s commemorative shield.

The ICESCO delegation included Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Sector of Media and Communication; Ms. Faizah Alaoui, Expert at the Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence; Dr. Adham Hamawiya, Expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers; and Mr. Mohammad Al-Absi, Expert at the Islamic World Heritage Center.