In its bid to encourage medical and specialized scientific
research, thereby promoting humanitarian and social undertakings as its core
objective, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO) announced setting up a US$200,000 prize award for individuals or group
who will find an effective cure or develop vaccine against Coronavirus (Corvid
19).
The ICESCO Director
General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, reaffirmed this initiative, reflecting the
Organization’s awareness of the serious repercussions of this virus, threatening
to become a global pandemic with serious impact on the world socio-economic
situation.
Dr. AlMalik added that setting up this Prize goes in harmony with
ICESCO’s new vision which highlights the need to adopt applied scientific
research as a tool to find appropriate solutions to exigent and challenging
issues, calling on all governments, international organizations and civil
society institutions to assume their roles and intensify their efforts to
counter the spread of this dangerous virus.
In the same context, Dr. AlMalik reiterated his sympathy for the
families of the victims who lost their lives to this virus, and reasserts the
Organization’s absolute readiness to assume its humanitarian role to abate the continued
proliferation of the deadly contagion.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik,
Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), explored ways to promote
cooperation between the two Organizations to strengthen coexistence and
dialogue between cultures, in light of the great changes and challenges facing
the world today.
At the outset of the
meeting, which took place today, Friday, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr.
AlMalik welcomed Mr. Moratinos and his delegation, stressing that ICESCO’s new
vision adopts openness, cooperation and effective partnerships with all
entities in its areas of competence, namely education, science and culture, as
it seeks to serve Muslims in its 54 Member States and Muslim communities in
non-Member States as well.
Moreover, ICESCO
Director General explained that in order to widen the scope of cooperation with
non-Member States, the Organization is establishing contact with many of them
regarding becoming Observer States in the Organization. He added that one of
the manifestations of ICESCO’s openness was the “Forum Future”, which
it organized in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation at its
headquarters on 17-18 February. The Forum brought together more than 30 experts
working at international organizations such as UNESCO and other eminent bodies,
specializing in strategic foresight and artificial intelligence and coming from
different countries, some of which are not ICESCO Member States.
For his part, Mr.
Moratinos thanked ICESCO Director General for his warm welcome, praising
ICESCO’s important role in its areas of competence, and stressing that it is
one of the organizations that the Alliance of Civilizations would cooperate and
work with in many fields, especially those related to the dialogue between
cultures, which is becoming ever more important and complex. He added that at a
time when there is ongoing talks about the need to protect the environment and
save the planet from global warming, there is also a need to preserve our
humanity, learn about coexistence and mutual respect, and understand the
existence of different religions, cultures and civilizations.
Mr. Moratinos called on
ICESCO to cooperate and participate in the Ninth Global Forum of the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations, to be held on 29 November- 01 December 2020,
in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco, stating that it is the first the Forum is held in
Africa. He added that this session marks the 15th anniversary of the
UNAOC, which started as an initiative by the UN Secretary General, maintaining that
the session will assess the work of the UNAOC since its inception and devise a
plan of action to save humanity.
ICESCO Director General
reaffirmed the Organization’s readiness to cooperate and support this major
event, as it relates to its areas of competence, maintaining that the
Organization has a Division of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity affiliated with
the Cultural sector.
A number of ICESCO officials talked about key ICESCO activities scheduled for the upcoming period, including the First Meeting of the First Ladies of ICESCO African Member States, to be held end of next March, in Niamey, capital of Niger, in cooperation between ICESCO, the Nigerien Government and the First Lady of Niger, Dr. Lalla Malika Issoufou. This meeting will be dedicated to discussing issues of community development in Africa, empowering women, combating illiteracy, and facing violence against girls.
The Director General of
the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr.
Mohamed M. AlMalik, today, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, met with Dr.
Khalifa Al Suwaidi, , member of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, and together they
explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation in the
sector of education, in light of ICESCO’s new vision, which adopts openness and
cooperation with the civil society institutions operating in the Organizations’
areas of competence.
The two parties also
reviewed the preparations for the awarding ceremony of “Hamdan– ICESCO Prize for
Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World Countries”,
to be held at ICESCO headquarters early April 2020, in the presence of His
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chair of the Prize, Deputy Ruler
of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates. Likewise, the two
parties discussed arrangements for holding the second edition of the Prize.
The meeting was attended
by Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of External Relations and Cooperation at
ICESCO.
Today’s meeting is the
second between Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dr. AlMalik, after the
one held early February, in Zabeel Palace in Dubai, following the close of the
40th session of ICESCO Executive Council, held in Abu Dhabi, UAE,
which adopted the Organization’s new vision and a number of key decisions
contributing to ICESCO’s fresh start. During the first meeting, Dr. AlMalik
invited His Highness to award the winners of the Prize’s first edition.
Established in 2017 with
support from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in
cooperation with ICESCO, the Prize aims to incentivize and pay tribute to authors
of voluntary initiatives and charity works in education, namely in the
development of educational institutions in Islamic world countries.
The Prize is awarded biennially
to three winners from among individuals or institutions having contributed to
developing education institutions in Islamic world countries. The value of the
Prize stands at US$ 300,000. Each winner receives a shield and a reward of
US$100,000 which will go to charity work, especially developing education
institutions.
The Director
General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, stated that the Organization has taken upon
itself, as part of its new vision, to make of future building one of its
pillars. To this end, Dr. AlMalik added, it established the Center for
Strategic Foresight to develop its action mechanisms, upgrade its executive
plans, provide the necessary expertise and support to competent authorities in
the Islamic world and step up their performance to keep pace with future
challenges.
In his
address at the opening session of ICESCO Future Forum which kicked off at
ICESCO headquarters today, ICESCO Director General highlighted that the
Organization committed itself to entrenching foresight thought in the youth
through holding training sessions and providing school or training grants, in
coordination with international foresight centers.
Moreover,
Dr. AlMalik revealed that ICESCO initiated preparations for a very important
conference in June on the theme “Tomorrow’s Professions”, while pointing out
that foresight is a novel field ICESCO intends, as part of its new vision, to
further explore and an industry of strategic thought whose findings will contribute
to building a brighter future for the Islamic world.
“If we fail
to anticipate the future now, we will chain ourselves in
the dungeons of the past and dash our hopes for joining the ranks of
developed countries. These countries owe their progress to the findings of
anticipatory studies of present and future changes in all the fields of
development”, Dr. AlMalik warned. He added that these countries used these
findings to develop their strategies based on sound forward-looking thought
away from random predictions that are not scientifically founded.
In another
vein, ICESCO Director General said foresight is the best way to preserve and
consolidate human gains, as specialized studies have proved that in order for
peoples to progress and civilization to flourish they need to consider and
reflect on their future based on a scientific approach, through the analysis of
data and past and present gains to predict their medium and long-term prospects.
“Foresight
does not at all mean waiting for change to happen in order to interact with its
consequences. It rather entails monitoring and interacting effectively and
proactively to effect the desired change. Looking back on the experiences of
leading nations in today’s world, we realize that their civilizational
resurgence was made possible thanks to their solid foundations of foresight
thought, which proved to be the most efficient way to address future challenges
and measure their compatibility or incompatibility with the available
capacities”. He added that such thought allows for investing and adapting the
said capacities with the current situation, or monitoring them to prevent any
negative impact on the future of individuals and societies.
In this
vein, ICESCO Director General provided examples of the results of this
strategic foresight approach achieved at world level, namely the practical
proposals to address the challenge of climate change risks and curb global
warming. These include reducing CO2 emissions to around 45% by 2030 and to “net
zero” by 2050; and monitoring the rise of sea level. He added that the same
approach to the challenges posed by digital transition and smart technologies
in the economic and business fields in preparation for the fourth industrial
revolution reaffirms that 64% of global corporations are aware that their
employees lack the necessary skills for digital transition but only 16% of
these companies have action plans to address the issue.
At the close of his address, ICESCO Director General expressed his thanks and appreciation to all the attending officials and experts and to Konrad Adenauer Foundation for their support in the preparation for the first edition of the conference.
The Director General of the Islamic
World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, along with several officials from the Organization, met with Dr. Ramazan
Abdulatipov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to OIC, and his
accompanying delegation to explore cooperation prospects between ICESCO and
Russia, ICESCO Observer Member, in the fields of education, science and
culture.
At the outset of the meeting held at
ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the visiting delegation to
which he reaffirmed that the Organization’s new vision promotes openness to and
cooperation with all world’s countries in the Organization’s fields of competence
for the benefit of Member States and Muslim communities in Non-Member States.
He added that the vision seeks to ensure that Observer States play a larger
role in the action of the Organization, which ushered in a new stage toward the
attainment of this objective; and transmit the true image of the Islamic
civilization and culture that promote world peace, hence its new modified name
“Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization”.
By the same token, ICESCO Director
General stated that cooperation with the Russian Federation, as an ICESCO
Observer Member, is of paramount importance, thanks to the outstanding
relations between Russia and the Islamic world and Russia’s progress in the
areas of higher education, scientific research and new technologies and long-standing
culture which tremendously contributed to human civilization. In this regard,
Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO is ready to inscribe some Islamic historic
sites in Russia on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL) which now includes
140 sites from 23 countries.
For his part, Dr. Abdulatipov lauded
the new vision and its openness and the progress being made by the
Organization, while expressing his delight at the meeting and the steps to be
taken to coordinate the development of cooperation between Russia and ICESCO in
its fields of competence and foster relations with Islamic world countries.
In addition, Dr. Abdulatipov underlined that
cooperation between Russia and ICESCO can cover higher education, modern technologies
and strategic foresight given the large number of Russian scientific centers
operating in the field of sustainable development and cultural fields, while
reaffirming his commitment to give shape to this cooperation.
Several ICESCO officials then took the
floor to stress the commitment of many sectors to cooperate with the Russian
Federation and reach out to Russian technical experts to hold future meetings
to agree on best modalities of cooperation. Mr. Valerian Shuvaev, Ambassador
Plenipothentiary and Extraordinary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of
Morocco, reaffirmed that the Embassy will follow up the work with ICESCO to
coordinate cooperation.
The meeting was attended from the
Russian side by Mr.Vassili Tchetchine, Advisor to the Russian Embassy to
Morocco, Director of the Russian Cultural Center in Rabat, and Ms. Alina
Danilova, Third Secretary at the Embassy.
In attndance from ICESCO were Dr.
Ahmed Said Bah, Director of Extrenal Relations and Cooperation; Mr. Najib
Rhiati, Director of Culture; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of
Strategic Foresight; Dr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Chief of the Department of Legal
Affairs; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Division of Dialogue and
Cultural Diversity; Ms. Zineb Iraqi, Supervisor of the Center of Planning,
Statistics and Assessment; Mr. Samy El Kamhawy, Supervisor of the Center of
Communication; and Ms. Rime Jirari, Programme Specialist at the Directorate of
External Rlations and Cooperation.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik,
Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
International Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco, today,
at the headquarters of the Moroccan Foreign Ministry to explore cooperation
relations between the Organization and the Kingdom in the fields of education,
science and culture.
During this meeting, Dr.
AlMalik expressed his thanks to the Kingdom of Morocco, represented in His
Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan Government, for their sustained
support for ICESCO. He also reviewed with Mr. Bourita the key themes of
ICESCO’s new vision, which was adopted, along with its relevant decisions, by
the 40th session of ICESCO Executive Council, held in Abu Dhabi,
UAE, on 29-30 January 2020.
In addition, the
Director General underlined that the
Organization is witnessing a fresh start to become a beacon of outreach for
Muslim countries, through promoting more communication with Member States to
implement the programmes and activities needed in these countries, thus
contributing to their respective plans to achieve sustainable development; and opening up to non-Member
States and cooperating with them in service of Muslim communities.
For his part, the
Moroccan Foreign Minister reaffirmed the keenness of the Moroccan Government to
support ICESCO, guided by the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in
meeting the expectations of the peoples of the Islamic world; and becoming,
through its new vision, a beacon of global outreach in the fields of education,
science and culture.
Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ICESCO); Mr. Abdellah Al Ghariri, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Morocco; and Mr. Mustapha Mansouri,
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a
visit to the Rabat-based National Center for Rehabilitation and Neurosciences
(CNRNS) of the Hassan II Foundation for Prevention and Fight against Nervous
System Diseases to learn about the Center’s services.
During this
visit, Dr. Abdesslam El Khamlichi, President of the Foundation, provided ample
explanations about the Center and all the sorts of treatment it provides to
patients, including surgeries and radiographic procedures. He also pointed out
that the Center does not only offer treatment but also carries out studies and
research works on nervous system diseases and provides training to African
doctors to be eligible for higher specialized degrees in neurosurgery.
To consolidate
these efforts, Dr. AlMalik announced that ICESCO would allocate 10 scholarships
annually for the training and qualification of doctors from African Member
States at CNRNS in this vital specialty to be able to serve their countries
after the end of their training. Dr. El Khamlichi hailed the initiative and
reaffirmed his appreciation for ICESCO’s considerable role in its fields of
competence.
Dr. AlMalik
and Dr. El Khamlichi agreed to sign an agreement between ICESCO and CNRNS to manage
these scholarships and define their eligibility criteria, in coordination with
the Center and the Organization.
It is worth
noting that the National Center for Rehabilitation and Neurosciences (CNRNS)
was established by Hassan II Foundation for Prevention and Fight against
Nervous System Diseases, in cooperation with the Moroccan Health Ministry, and
Ibn Sina University Hospital Center. Opened in 2010, the Center was
designed to respond to the urgent need for kinesiotherapy and physical therapy for
patients with nervous system diseases at their advanced stages. It is also the
expression of the will of some international institutions such as the World
Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) and the World Health Organization
(WHO) to turn Morocco into a “model center for the training of African
neurological surgeons”.
The Director
General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, yesterday at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat,
received Mr. Harsul Azwar, Ambassador of Indonesia to Morocco, and together
they explored cooperation prospects between ICESCO and Indonesia in the next
stage.
During the
meeting, the parties explored ways to foster relations through programmes and
initiatives mutually agreed by the Indonesian ministries of education, culture
and science and ICESCO, as part of the new start of the Organization and its
new vision, which came into effect after its adoption by the 40th
Executive Council (Abu Dhabi, UAE, 29-30 January 2020).
Dr. AlMalik
reaffirmed ICESCO’s appreciation to Indonesia, as it is one of the important
Member States and commended its progress and transition toward the future, its outstanding
contribution to technological developments and its ancient monuments and landmarks
attesting to the glorious Islamic civilization.
Moreover, ICESCO Director General expressed his thanks to the Indonesian Government for its willingness to pay the remainder of its arrears to ICESCO’s budget and commitment to regularly pay its contributions.
Talks during
the meeting also touched on details of a future visit by the Director General
to Indonesia to explore the frameworks of future cooperation with senior
officials.
The meeting
was also attended by Mr. Hanung Nugraha, Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs
at the Indonesian Embassy; Mr. Mahmudin, Counsellor for Social and Cultural Affairs;
Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture; Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of External
Relations and Cooperation; Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of
the General Conference, Executive Council and Specialized Ministerial
Conferences; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight;
and Dr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Legal Advisor to ICESCO Director General.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), today at his office, received Mr Atef Abu Saif, Palestinian Minister of Culture. Together they explored ways of promoting cooperation between the Organization and the State of Palestine in ICESCO’s areas of competence during the upcoming stage.
During this meeting, the two parties discussed the support programmes ICESCO may provide to the State of Palestine in the fields of education, science and culture within the framework of its new vision that will step up communication with its Member States and identify the needs of each country in terms of programmes in line with their national sustainable development plans.
Talks also highlighted the importance of
documenting the heritage landmarks in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and inscribing
them on the Islamic World Heritage List with the aim of preserving its identity.
During the meeting, efforts made by ICESCO for the restoration of the historical
sites in the city were reviewed.
The two parties also examined the
activities to be implemented as part of the closing ceremony of Al-Quds Culture
Capital of the Islamic World for 2019, and the latest preparations for
organizing Al-Quds Cultural Weeks in ICESCO Member States. They both reaffirmed
their keenness to maintain fruitful cooperation between the Organization and
the State of Palestine in the future.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Jamal Choubaki,
Palestinian Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Maher Abu Rida, Assistant Under-Secretary
at the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of
Culture at ICESCO.
The Director General of the Islamic World Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, briefed
His Highness Sheikh Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, on
the main themes of the new start of ICESCO launched at the 40th
session of its Executive Council on 29-30 January 2020 which adopted all the
plans and draft decisions proposed by the General Directorate.
This came at a reception of His Highness of ICESCO’s
delegation taking part in the Council’s meetings and Ms. Noura bin Mohammed Al
Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and her team which
participated in the preparation for hosting the 40th session ICESCO
Executive Council in Abu Dhabi.
Duruing that meeting, Dr. AlMalik gave an overview of
ICESCO’s Development Waqf which was established to ensure sustainable funding
for the Organization’s programmes and initiatives, including ICESCO
International Consultative Council, Center for Strategic Foresight and Center
for Heritage Preservation.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed appreciated
these achievements and lauded the initiatives and ICESCO’s new start, wishing
that they will achieve the ambitions of the Islamic world peoples and serve
their issues, and promote the standing of the Organization as an active
platform for joint Islamic action at regional and international levels.
Moreover, His Highness reaffirmed UAE’s commitment to
supporting joint Islamic action and serving the Islamic world issues in the
fields of education, science and culture, and advance these fields to open up
larger prospects for the Organization’s presence at the regional and
international levels.
ICESCO Director General thanked His Highness for the
warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to the Executive Council members
and to ICESCO’s team during the period of the Council’s meeting and appreciated
the cooperation of the UAE with ICESCO to fully discharge its roles in
education, science and culture for the benefit of Member States.
