Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Pope Francis met to discuss cooperation between ICESCO and the Vatican in promoting peace, civilizational dialogue and the values of coexistence and tolerance.

At the start of the meeting, which took place on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in the private library where he holds his official meetings, Pope Francis welcomed Dr. AlMalik and his accompanying delegation. ICESCO’s Director-General commended the Pope’s role in promoting tolerance and understanding among the followers of different religions and cultures. He emphasized that ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations place peace-building, co-existence and civilizational dialogue at the core of its priorities and that the Organization is open to cooperation with stakeholders to support the development of the fields of education, science and culture, in a way that serves humanity and helps to address future challenges. This was reflected in the opening of membership for non-member states to join ICESCO as observers, for further cooperation and exchange of experiences with the countries of the Islamic world.

ICESCO’s Director-General pointed out that the Organization seeks to achieve its objectives through the launching and implementation of several concrete initiatives, programs and projects with tangible results for the benefit of youth and women in the African continent, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (80 ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace from Member and Non-Member States have benefited from this program and that the Organization aspires to train 500 Ambassadors by 2025).

For his part, the Vatican Pope expressed particular interest and appreciation for the program, noting the possibility of implementing a joint program between ICESCO and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for training in peace-building and the promotion of the values of brotherhood and tolerance. He also welcomed Dr. AlMalik’s proposal to receive a group of young ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace at the Vatican, or during the World Youth Day in Lisbon celebration in July 2023, a year that the Organization will proclaim as the Year of Youth.

ICESCO’s Director-General seized this opportunity to present the Organization’s shield to the Vatican Pope, as well as a copy of the book “Peace 360: Exploring the Dimensions of Peace,” which was recently published by the Organization. For his part, Pope Francis presented Dr. AlMalik with his autographed encyclical letter “All Brothers” and a commemorative medal on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his appointment.

Pope Francis commended ICESCO’s efforts, expressing his willingness to strengthen cooperation between the Vatican and the Organization in consolidating peace and promoting coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Pallavicini, ICESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of ICESCO Office at UNESCO.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of culture, aimed at intensifying consultation in the field of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and enhancing joint international cooperation in inscribing natural and historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic World Heritage List.

The MoU was signed today, Wednesday (7 September 2022) in Riyadh by Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, and His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, during their attendance at the 23rd session of the Conference of Ministers in charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World.

The MoU covers cooperation between ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture in the fields of teaching the Arabic language and promoting its presence internationally, giving greater attention to literature, translation, publishing and libraries, and to the exchange of expertise and experiences in the field of visual arts, architecture, design and Islamic decorations, digitization of culture, creative industries, sustainable development and culture-related creative economy.

The MoU also specifies the means of implementing cooperation through exchanging official delegations and experts in various cultural fields, the establishment of training programs and work sessions to develop skills, organizing seminars for specialists, and setting up a joint working group that undertakes the tasks of setting action plans and following up their implementation, and overcoming the difficulties and obstacles facing them.

This agreement is part of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientation for cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States to support the fields of culture, especially those related to enhancing the presence of the Arabic language at the international level, benefiting from the specialists’ know-how, strengthening cooperation between experts and researchers, capitalizing on and developing successful experiences.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), underlined that ministers in charge of cultural affairs assume significant responsibilities to position culture at the heart of sustainable development, raise future generations of culture enthusiasts, and open up to the global environment, while preserving and celebrating its distinct identity. He added that the culture ministers are also responsible for keeping up with the latest trends of the digital revolution, noting that culture is not a luxury but rather an essential prerequisite for paving the way for our societies to build the future.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement in his address on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, during the opening session of the 23rd Session of the Conference of Ministers in Charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, held under the theme, “Culture and the Green Future.” The two-day conference is held by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and is hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in Riyadh.

At the beginning of his address, Dr. AlMalik hailed the conference, expressing his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah preserve him, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Government for the special attention they accord to culture and culture enthusiasts.

Moreover, the Director-General highlighted the importance of culture in humanitarian work, given its ability to raise hopes, promote fraternity and spread the values of charity through policies carefully drafted to foster unity. He also called for preparing an empirical study on the reality and future of the cultural world in the Islamic world countries, setting up a committee to explore the prospects of cooperation in organizations concerned with cultural work, and creating cultural centers. He also urged Member States’ governments to raise the share of cultural work in their general budgets, encourage young cultural initiatives and cooperate to devise the proper policies to capitalize on the information and AI applications technology in cultural work.

The ICESCO Director-General concluded his address by reiterating ICESCO’s commitment as a global house of expertise to support culture in its Member States, seizing the opportunity to cast light on the Organization’s programs and initiatives, partnerships and agreements to preserve heritage sites and specialized training sessions to build capacities to ensure cultural sustainability.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Dr. Fuad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, at the Ministry’s headquarters, in Baghdad, on Sunday (December 4, 2022), following their participation in the 6th Forum of Ancient Civilizations, held in Baghdad, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During this meeting, Dr. AlMalik appreciated the organization of this Forum in Iraq, which aims to enhance communication and experience sharing between different peoples and cultures, preserve world heritage, and pay attention to historical and cultural tourism given its importance in achieving sustainable development.

He also stressed that ICESCO, within the framework of its new vision and strategic orientations, adopts the approach of openness to all parties for establishing partnerships to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, noting that ICESCO and Iraq have close and distinguished relations, which the Organization is keen to strengthen.

For his part, the Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister commended ICESCO’s efforts and the proposals included in the Director General’s address before the Forum of Ancient Civilizations to confront illicit trafficking in cultural property and retrieve stolen ones, as well as his announcement of ICESCO’s intention to establish an academic chair in an Iraqi university in the field of ancient civilizations.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for renewing the historical and civilizational curricula in universities in line with scientific development and paying special attention to youth initiatives to help young people express the visions of future generation regarding their ancient civilizations and benefit from the developments in artificial intelligence to discover the treasures of those civilizations.

This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address, delivered on Sunday (December 4, 2022), at the opening of the 6th Forum of Ancient Civilizations, held in Baghdad, under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Forum brought together the representatives of Iraq, Egypt, Greece, China, Iran, Italy, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico, and witnessed the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Fuad Hussein, and the representatives of Arab and foreign international and diplomatic missions, most notably Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

Dr. Al-Malik appreciated the organization of this Forum in Iraq while the world is going through conditions that threaten human civilizations and the survival of mankind, noting that Allah Almighty has honored mankind and brought him to Earth as he is the only creature qualified to preserve civilizational values, mainly ‘coexistence,’ which connects cultures, spreads the spirit of dialogue and prevents civilizational clashes.

He also pointed out that the world is awakening through concepts that enhance people’s understanding and solidarity to face the calls for hatred and racism, and the escalation of war economies, which are based on the high production and sale of weapons that interrupt human development, considering that such threats include crimes of theft and illicit trafficking of cultural property as well as the narrow interests policies that threaten the treasures of humanity through the depletion of natural resources.

ICESCO Director-General reaffirmed that the Organization is aware of the need to mobilize efforts to preserve the most valuable properties of humanity, explaining that ICESCO established the Center for Civilizational Dialogue to keep pace with the relevant aspirations and held a virtual conference that brought together the ministers of culture, tourism and antiquities, and discussed the most effective ways to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking in cultural property. “ICESCO also held an International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, which saw the participation of world leaders, and concluded with the approval of the “Day of Mercy” as an international day. Besides, ICESCO signed an agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities during COP27 to support the use of clean energy in heritage sites, and established the fund for the preservation of heritage sites from climate change, calling on the international community to join its race of civilizational creativity,” added Dr. AlMalik.

Moreover, he declared ICESCO’s intention to establish a special academic chair in an Iraqi university to stimulate studies and research on ancient civilizations and meet the Organization’s plan for the inscription of heritage sites.

ICESCO Director-General concluded his address with poetic verses on Baghdad, the city of civilization and history.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Ahmed Fakak, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, explored means for enhancing cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in the fields of culture and heritage preservation.

During the meeting, which was held on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO attaches particular importance to preserving, protecting and valorizing the Islamic world’s heritage, explaining that the Organization is working on inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on its Islamic World Heritage Lists. He added that ICESCO holds a range of sessions and workshops aimed at training heritage professionals in its Member States on preserving and protecting cultural heritage and preparing nomination files for the inscription of cultural elements on heritage lists, noting that the two parties can cooperate to hold such events in the Republic of Iraq.

ICESCO DG lauded Iraq’s rich heritage which bears witness to the country’s ancient history, highlighting that this cultural wealth must be safeguarded and that the illicitly trafficked antiquities must be recovered.

The meeting touched upon proposals for programmes and projects that represent potential avenues of cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq, as well as a proposal to celebrate the city of Baghdad as the culture capital of the Islamic World in the years ahead.

For his part, the Iraqi Minister praised ICESCO’s distinguished roles in its areas of competence, stressing the Ministry’s keenness to foster cooperation with the Organization in its commendable programmes and projects.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Iraq in Baghdad, with Dr. Falah Mahmood Al-Qaissi, Deputy Minister, with the presence of Dr. Alaa Abed Oudha Al-Wayly, Secretary-General of the Iraqi National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

During the meeting, held on Sunday, December 4, 2022, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to promote cooperation in the Organization’s areas of competence, within the framework of ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy, which adopts establishing communication with the Member States to take stock of their priorities and needs to design suitable programs and projects.

The meeting also discussed the activities of the Director-General’s official visit to Iraq, which include reviewing proposals for future cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq, especially about building young people’s capacities and increasing the participation of the Iraqi youth in ICESCO’s activities, contests and programs.

For his part, Dr. Al-Qaissi expressed his thanks to ICESCO and its Director-General, commending the Organization’s keenness to implement practical and innovative initiatives, programs and projects to support its Member States’ efforts to develop their education system, promote scientific research and innovation and safeguard heritage.

Dr. Anas Al-Nuaimi, Expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, also attended the meeting.

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on December 4, 2022, at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Baghdad, as part of ICESCO’s Director-General official visit to Iraq.

Dr. AlMalik started the meeting by expressing his gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the Iraqi President and the government and people of Iraq for their warm hospitality and invitation to attend the 6th edition of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, hosted by Baghdad under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing ICESCO’s eagerness to develop distinguished relations with Iraq in fields of education, science and culture.

He reviewed the main components of ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations, as well as the priority the Organization accords, in its ambitious programmes and projects, to build the capacities of youth and women and training them in leadership for peace and security, consolidating the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue, supporting and training youth in the fields of technology, innovation and artificial intelligence, encouraging Member States to invest in Space science, valorizing and preserving the heritage of the countries of the Islamic world and inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Tangible and Intangible Heritage Lists.

ICESCO’s Director-General briefed the President of the Republic of Iraq on the most recent publications of the organization, and the key programmes and projects that it is currently implementing for the benefit of its Member States including Iraq.

For his part, the President of the Republic of Iraq appreciated ICESCO’s efforts, stressing his keenness to sustain cooperation between the Iraqi competent authorities and the Organization in its fields of competence, especially in training Iraqi officials. The Iraqi president requested to have copies of all ICESCO’s publications.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General presented the Organization’s shield to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq.