Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), headed a delegation from the Organization to the 15th Islamic Summit Conference, which was held in Banjul, capital of the Republic of Gambia, from May 4 to 5, 2024, in the presence of heads of states and governments from Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Summit, held under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” discusses the political, economic, social and cultural issues of the Islamic world as well as the causes of youth, women, family, science, technology and media, and Muslim communities in non-OIC Member States. The Summit also features discussions on the brutal Israeli war on Gaza, repudiation of hate speech, promotion of dialogue, consolidation of peace and coexistence, climate change and food security.
ICESCO seeks through its participation to inform the leaders of the Islamic world about the Organization’s efforts in education, science and culture as part of its new vision and strategic orientations based on openness, innovation and creativity aimed at serving its Member States.
ICESCO delegation to the Summit included Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah Abah and Dr. Alioune Sall, Advisors to the Organization’s General Directorate.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Mansur Muhtar, Vice President of Operations at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, held a meeting to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank. The goal of the meeting is to push the cooperation towards new horizons through the joint implementation of a number of initiatives, programs, and projects in areas of mutual interest, which will be included in a partnership agreement soon to be signed by both parties.
Dr. AlMalik opened the meeting, held on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Riyadh, by congratulating the IsDB Group and its Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, on the success of the Bank’s golden jubilee celebration, marking 50 years since its establishment, as well as the success of the Bank’s annual meetings, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between April 27 and 30, 2024. He praised the workshops organized during these meetings, and the distinguished speakers and participants throughout the sessions.
Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key elements of the Organization’s new vision and its strategic directions, as well as its initiatives, programs, and activities being implemented during the Meeting, which was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, Expert at the same sector, and Mr. Salah Jelassi, Director of Partnerships, Global Advocacy, and Resource Mobilization at the IsDB Group, along with several officials from the Bank’s team.
Moreover, the Meeting discussed proposals for practical programs and projects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank to meet the needs of Islamic world countries in the fields of education, science, culture, as well as social and economic development, with a focus on vulnerable groups. The discussions also touched upon preparing the new generations to adapt to the changes happening in today’s world and future-proofing their professional skills.
For his part, Dr. Mansur Muhtar commended ICESCO for the significant roles it plays in serving the Islamic world in its areas of expertise, and for implementing programs and projects together with its international partners. IsDB Vice-President of Operations also reaffirmed his institution’s keenness to upgrade cooperation with the Organization.
At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed upon continued coordination, in addition to holding expert meetings to devise an action plan for joint cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank over the upcoming period. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the importance of ICESCO’s participation in the Bank’s annual meetings, and the attendance of representatives from the Bank at conferences and activities carried out by the Organization.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), emphasized the urgent need to respect cultural diversity as a cornerstone for fostering harmony and cooperation among societies. Dr. AlMalik called for strengthening cultural dynamics through “soft power,” given its pivotal role in establishing the values of coexistence and peace. Moreover, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the historical role of dialogue in bridging the gap between different cultures and promoting tolerance in a world plagued by conflicts resulting from a lack of respect for cultural differences.
Dr. AlMalik delivered his speech during the closing session of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, held on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, by ICESCO in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and several international organizations in Baku.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik began his speech by expressing pride in the Organization’s participation in this major event, which provides an opportunity to discuss and follow up on the international commitment to shared development to ensure “lasting peace and global security.” Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, his government and people for their generous hospitality and excellent organization of the Forum.
Furthermore, ICESCO DG reiterated the necessity for taking responsibility and doubling commitment in today’s globalized world to turn the proposals and recommendations of the Forum into an approach aimed at achieving lasting peace and security. Dr. AlMalik noted the role of international organizations in promoting intercultural dialogue and consolidating coexistence and peace, emphasizing the need to transcend differences and stereotypes to reverse disparities among communities and foster closeness.
Following, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO places education, science and culture at the heart of its concerns as they are solid foundations for establishing global peace and security. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to continue coordinating and building constructive partnerships with its Member States and international organizations to explore ways to enhance collective awareness of the importance of cultural dialogue.
ICESCO DG emphasized the importance of youth’s ideas and actions in advancing the nations, thus the need to involve them. Convinced of the role of youth as peacemakers and the backbone of the future, Dr. AlMalik proposed theming the next edition of the Forum “Youth and Dialogue for the Achievement of Peace, Solidarity and Unity.”
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). They discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan to ensure the success of COP29, which Azerbaijan will host in the capital Baku in November 2024.
During the Meeting, held today, Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, in Baku, on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, organized by ICESCO in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and several international organizations, both sides expressed their commitment to contribute to the excellence of COP29, which is of great importance in light of the world’s climate changes that require intensified international efforts to develop strategies to address the risks threatening natural resources and food security.
ICESCO DG emphasized the importance of youth participation in this major international event, explaining that the Organization can collaborate to ensure greater attendance of Islamic world countries at COP29, as well as representatives of ICESCO’s partner bodies and institutions worldwide, to enrich the Conference’s discussions and scientific sessions.
The Meeting also discussed ICESCO’s participation in the Conference and the provision of a special pavilion for the Organization in the blue zone, reserved for accredited participants, world leaders, media, and observers, to contribute to enhancing ICESCO’s presence and promoting its environmental work.
The Azerbaijani minister, for his part, affirmed his country’s keenness, as well as that of the authorities responsible for COP29, to facilitate all logistical and technical procedures for ICESCO’s participation in this event.
At the closing of the meeting, it was agreed to continue coordinating between the two teams formed at ICESCO and the ministry to follow up on the arrangements for participation in COP29 and the activities to be implemented by the Organization at the Conference.
Attending the Meeting from ICESCO’s side were Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Hesham El-Askary, Advisor to the DG.
Dr. AlMalik Receives President Aliyev’s Invitation to Attend World Climate Action Summit in November
Dr. Salim M.AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the urgent need for effective response to climate change challenges, noting its status as a pressing global environmental concern at the forefront of the international agenda. He urged for concerted international efforts to address the impacts of climate change by enhancing the work of credible, reliable, and specialized international organizations. He also underscored the necessity of developing bold and ambitious policies that prioritize environmental sustainability.
This statement was delivered during his speech on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, at the high-level meeting for international organizations titled: “Sustainable Paths to a Greener Future: Joint Actions for the Success of COP 29 and Beyond.” The session was part of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, organized by ICESCO in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and various international organizations, held in Baku from May 1-3, 2024.
ICESCO’s DG highlighted the critical nature of addressing the adverse effects of climate change to prevent severe repercussions for future generations. This necessitates the enactment of stringent policies to curb global emissions, invest in renewable energy infrastructure, and support for initiatives that enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.
Dr. AlMalik further reviewed ICESCO’s efforts aimed at achieving the common goal of “protecting our planet for future generations” through practical initiatives and programs, emphasizing the Organization’s commitment to ongoing participation in United Nations climate change conferences and its contribution to the preparations for COP29.
Ambassador Nazim Samadov, representing the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of Morocco, extended an invitation on behalf of H.E. President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to Dr. AlMalik to attend the World Climate Action Summit scheduled for November 12-13, 2024, on the occasion of the launch of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The invitation emphasized that ICESCO’s participation in this significant event reaffirms the Organization’s role and contribution to addressing the climate change phenomenon and supporting international cooperation in this regard. COP 29 is expected to significantly enhance climate solidarity, paving the way for a greener, more just, comprehensive, and sustainable world.
The Sixth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the participation of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and high-level representatives from 110 countries. The Forum, co-organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), UNESCO, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is themed ” Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity.”
In his opening remarks, H.E. President Aliyev commended the international organizations involved in organizing the Forum, highlighting the contributions of the distinguished participants in developing new methodologies to address major issues in the international agenda. H.E. President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has always been a crossroads of cultures throughout history thanks to its strategic location between the East and West, which added to the Azerbaijani society’s cultural richness and ethnic diversity, and its commitment to tolerance, coexistence, respect, and partnership.
In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, emphasized the Organization’s openness to all in light of its forward-looking vision and strategic orientations in an international and regional context that calls for practical solutions to resolve conflicts through strengthening the foundations of culture and dialogue and urging regional and international research centers to adopt reliable standards in issuing information and analysis on which policies are based. Dr. AlMalik added that the state of peace and degree of security are two reliable standards that reassure people to look forward to a better future.
Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its President, government, and people and expressed his gratitude to H.E. President Aliyev for his efforts to promote dialogue among nations. Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of the Forum in a world that is still regressing at the level of security and coexistence. Dr. AlMalik reviewed statistics showing that 2023 recorded the highest rates of deteriorating security and escalating conflicts internationally, with 183 armed conflicts, a 28% increase in violent incidents, 800 million people below the poverty line, a decline in the number of teachers, and 459 armed groups whose activities provoke humanitarian concerns, with 195 million people living under their full or partial control.
Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik lauded the outcomes of the “Baku Process” and the several events being held in Baku, expressing pride in the distinguished partnership between the Organization and Azerbaijan, to be reinforced by the upcoming activities of celebrating Shusha as the Culture Capital of the Islamic World for 2024. Dr. AlMalik reviewed a set of ICESCO programs in this regard and stated that the two sides have identical views of the cultural and civilizational scenes as they have the same aspirations and understanding of global dialogue.
For his part, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, called for joint efforts to achieve peace and stability globally and for greater solidarity and complementarity among civilizations and cultures to resolve conflicts. Mr. Moratinos stressed the need to intensify dialogue to stop wars and affirmed that the alliance of civilizations is a crucial step in preserving human dignity and a moral duty that guarantees the protection of human rights.
Following the opening session, the Forum’s three-day working sessions began with the participation of a high-level delegation from ICESCO, including Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector, Ambassador Khalid Fath Al-Rahman, Director of the Civilizational Dialogue Center, Dr. Weber Ndoro, Director of the Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, Dr. Hesham El-Askary, Advisor to DG, and Musallim Afandiyev, Expert in the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The meeting discussed ways of enhancing cooperation and joint action in preparation for the Conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), which will be hosted in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, with a high-level presence of heads of state and government, ministers and experts from all over the world.
During the meeting, held on Monday, April 29, 2024, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the two parties stressed their keenness to contribute to the success of COP 16, which is a major event gaining further momentum in light of the global climate change and its threat to natural resources and food security.
The meeting also touched on ICESCO’s participation and activities throughout the conference days, from December 2-13, in full coordination and cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. These activities will focus on building young people’s capacities in the field of the environment to raise awareness of climate change and environmental challenges, including desertification, within the framework of the Organization’s strategic orientations to prioritize environment protection, implement a number of initiatives, programs and projects, encourage Member States to invest in renewable energy, shift towards flexible, smart and sustainable cities, and promote the use of modern technology in agriculture.
Moreover, ICESCO DG indicated that the Organization will form a team of experts and officials to devise the program of ICESCO participation in COP 16 and supervise the preparation and implementation of its activities in this major international event.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General (SG) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Riyadh, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group, currently hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They discussed enhancing the partnership between ICESCO and OIC, especially in the fields of education, science, and culture.
At the outset of the Meeting, held today, Sunday, April 28, 2024, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s strong commitment to deepening existing cooperation with its parent organization (OIC), in service of the Member States of both organizations, and to enhance joint action through the implementation of programs and projects in the fields of science, culture, and education, especially girls’ education, capacity-building for youth and women, and social welfare for vulnerable groups in countries most in need.
ICESCO DG extended an invitation to OIC SG to visit Rabat during the meetings of the Joint Committee for Cooperation between the two organizations, held annually to coordinate cooperation plans between ICESCO and OIC, in order to closely acquaint himself with flagship initiatives and programs undertaken by each organization.
For his part, OIC SG welcomed the invitation, appreciating the roles of ICESCO and its implementation of programs and projects to support the countries of the Islamic world in its areas of expertise, reaffirming his keenness to continue the partnership between the two organizations.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq, Minister of Finance, and Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Minister of Islamic Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, on the sidelines of their participation in the annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the Maldives in areas of common interest.
During the meeting, which took place on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Riyadh, Dr. AlMalik emphasized ICESCO’s commitment to developing and enhancing cooperation with the Republic of Maldives as part of the Organization’s vision and strategic direction. He reviewed the key pillars of this vision and highlighted the initiatives, programs, and activities currently being implemented by ICESCO, focusing on building the capacities of youth and women to face future challenges, leveraging the potential of modern technology, anchoring values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue, and preserving and promoting heritage.
The Meeting also discussed proposals for programs and activities of cooperation between ICESCO and the Maldives, following the Organization’s approach of identifying the priorities and needs of its Member States and designing appropriate projects for each country.
Furthermore, the Meeting addressed the issue of the Maldives’ overdue contribution to ICESCO’s budget, with both ministers confirming their commitment to settling it as soon as possible.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (ICESCO), praised the significant work being done by the Arab Group for the Coordination of National and Regional Development Institutions, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the OPEC International Development Fund to ensure effective response to financing development projects in several countries of the Islamic world. This is achieved by coordinating efforts and enhancing procedures related to financing major projects and programs in these countries to contribute to achieving strategic development goals.
The remarks came during the DG’s address, delivered on Sunday 28 April 2024, at the Arab Coordination Group Forum, held as part of the annual meetings of the IsDB Group, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, from 27 to 30 April 2024, coinciding with the celebration of the Bank’s golden jubilee, marking its 50th anniversary.
Dr. AlMalik also called on the said Group to hold its next meeting at the ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, commending the joint efforts of all Group institutions aimed at achieving sustainable development and prosperity by cooperating with institutions, states, governments, and international organizations to practically contribute to improving the quality of life for individuals and advancing societies.
Dr. AlMalik’s invitation, embodying ICESCO’s new forward-looking vision of openness and cooperation for the benefit of its Member States, was warmly welcomed by the attendees.
