H.E. President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan awarded Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Order of Friendship (Dostlug Order), in recognition of his outstanding role in strengthening and developing close cooperation between Azerbaijan and ICESCO across education, science, and culture, This honor is one of the highest in Azerbaijan.

During the awarding ceremony, held in Shusha, the President praised the achievements and distinctive initiatives resulting from this partnership, commending Dr. AlMalik’s efforts in advancing joint work to broader horizons.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik expressed his sincere gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for this high honor, noting that the award recognizes ICESCO as a whole and all its staff who work diligently to serve Member States and enhance actions in education, science, culture, and innovation.

This state honor reflects the growing international recognition of ICESCO’s standing and its forward-looking vision, which positions it as a leader in fostering future-oriented initiatives, bridging cooperation between the Islamic world and beyond, and advancing innovation, digital transformation, heritage preservation, and youth preparation for the future.