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The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the “International Cultural Forum: Central Asia at the Crossroads of Civilizations”, which was held in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on September 14-15, 2021, under the patronage of His Excellency the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Forum aims at exploring and promoting culture and the common heritage in Central Asia and consolidate their important role in shaping civilizations in the region and beyond.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, took part in the closing session through a video speech, on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. Mr. Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan, moderated the closing session, which also brought together Assistant DG for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, ICCROM DG, the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, and the Minister of Culture of Turkey.

In his speech, ICESCO DG noted the prominent role that the Central Asian region played in human civilization throughout history. “It was the cradle of many sciences and arts thanks to its scholars and thinkers, who influenced the ancient and modern human civilization,” he added.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted ICESCO’s great interest in investing in the opportunities of the applications of artificial intelligence and space sciences and supporting the Member States to keep pace with modern technology. He explained that the Organization has established an artificial intelligence unit at ICESCO Heritage Center, which undertakes the tasks of preserving heritage in the Islamic World. He also called on the ICESCO Member States to submit files to register their historical sites and cultural elements on the lists of heritage in the Islamic world, which now includes 326 sites and heritage elements.

ICESCO DG announced the Organization’s initiative to conduct an extensive study on the impact of climate change on several sectors, including heritage, with proposals for fully feasible solutions, to reduce the risks of this phenomenon.

At the close of his speech, Dr. AlMalik called for developing the existing cooperation between ICESCO, Uzbekistan, and all the countries of the region in the Organization’s areas of competence.

Dr. Osama Al-Nahas and Mr. Bilel Chebbi, experts at Culture and Communication Sector, represented ICESCO at this forum, which saw the high-level participation of representatives of many international organizations, in addition to experts and specialists in the fields of culture, heritage, science, and the arts.

     Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Ms. Esperança Bias, Chairperson of the Parliament of Mozambique, on the sidelines of their participation in G-20 Inter-faith Forum, in Bologna, Italy. The meeting touched upon the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Mozambique in the areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held on Monday, September 13, 2021, Dr. Al-Malik reviewed the vision and new action strategy of ICESCO, highlighting the major initiatives and programs launched and implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic to support the efforts of Member States in countering the negative repercussions of the pandemic, especially on the African continent, which ICESCO gives a special priority.

He pointed out that the Organization encourages training and building the capacities of youth and women to fulfill their roles in achieving sustainable development for their countries.

Ms. Bias commended ICESCO’s roles and efforts to support its Member States, stressing the importance of building cooperation between Mozambique and ICESCO in the fields of education, science and culture.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik met with the Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Dr. Azza Karam, on the sidelines of the G20 Interfaith ​​Forum 2021 in Bologna, Italy. The meeting explored prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Religions for Peace in areas of common interest, primarily civilizational dialogue.

During the meeting, held yesterday, September 13, 2021, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the most prominent efforts that ICESCO undertook in the field of promoting the values ​​of coexistence and peace, including the establishment of the ICESCO Civilizational Dialogue Center, organizing several international conferences with the participation of intellectual figures and global religious leaders, implementing many programs and activities to train young people on leadership for peace and security, and other programs that accomplish the ICESCO’s new vision.

Dr. Azza Karam valued the roles that ICESCO played in its fields of competence, stressing the keenness of Religions for Peace to cooperate closely with the Organization to achieve its common goals.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in developing training programs, preparing reference materials, outreach and communication activities for the benefit of young people and women. They also discussed cooperation implementing the contents of the Encyclopedia on Deconstructing the Discourse of Extremism in practical and field programs, to counter attempts of attracting young people and distort religious texts and sources, in cooperation with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in Morocco and its executive partners.

Religions for Peace is a global organization that brings together the largest number of religions and has been working since its foundation in 1970, to achieve its vision of a world in which religious communities cooperate in order to achieve peace through taking joint and concrete actions. The organization is committed to lead efforts to enhance multi-religious cooperation to achieve peace at the national, regional and global levels.

     Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Muammar, Secretary-General of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), explored ways to strengthen and develop partnership between the Organization and the Center, in the field of civilizational dialogue and the consolidation of the values ​​of coexistence and peace.

During the meeting, which took place today, Monday, 13 September 2021, on the sidelines of the G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 in the Italian city of Bologna, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Bin Muammar discussed several suggested initiatives and programs likely to be implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and the Center, and the signing of an executive action plan for partnership between the two parties.

The two parties agreed to develop cooperation and partnership in the areas of training and capacity building for the benefit of youth and women and to include the values ​​of peace, tolerance, justice, and moderation in educational curricula, in order to present the correct image of the Islamic civilization and culture, which call for dialogue and acceptance of difference as a building block that enriches human civilization.

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) is an international organization established in 2012 by Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Spain, and the Vatican as an observer founding member. The Center is based in the Austrian capital, Vienna, and seeks to advance dialogue and understanding between followers of different faiths religions and cultures, and to promote the culture of respect for diversity, and to establish the rules of justice and peace among nations and peoples.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, the Baku Higher Oil School, and the institution of New Space Innovation, launched a program to train young people on how to create and develop small projects in the field of technology and innovation. The program includes a two-day bootcamp and a six-week intensive course, during which the young participants will put to practice their newly acquired knowledge to launch start-ups.

The program, which ICESCO will implement in 10 other Member States over the upcoming period, aims at supporting the creative economy in the Islamic world, promoting technology-oriented startups, and launching more than 150 companies by the end of 2025. A jury of experts will select the top three teams from each country to participate in the grand finale and present their proposals to funders and investors.

In his video speech at the launch ceremony of the program on Sunday, September 12, 2021, in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, the Director-General of ICESCO, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, highlighted the program’s goals in enhancing the skills of young graduates in the Islamic world, and supporting women. “The Organization believes in the creative capabilities of young people and women that can contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development,” he added.

The First Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, Mr. Elnur Aliyev, underlined the strong partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan in many fields, wishing the participants success. The head of the Baku Higher Oil School, Mr. Elmar Gasimov, also commended ICESCO’s efforts to support the countries of the Islamic world, including Azerbaijan, stressing the importance of the training program in which 23 teams are participating.

During his statement, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, the Advisor at the Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, noted the high level cooperation between the Organization and Azerbaijan, elaborating on the various stages of the program.

The program is ICESCO’s most recent effort towards its new vision, which promotes benefitting from the modern technology to achieve sustainable development in the Member States. Particularly as the first phase of the program focuses on building the capacities of participants constructing business models and conducting market research, with a focus on five sectors: agriculture, digital media, financial technology, entertainment and games, tourism, and food technology.

In his address at G-20 Inter-faith Forum 2021, in Italy, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for restoring the universal human values, which must prevail over all ideologies that still divide peoples. He also stressed the need to prepare the next generations for the future to become thinkers and creators, who would contribute to the culture of peace.

During the session on “Education and Religious Diversity,” held on Monday, September 13, 2021, which brought together many Arab and European officials and ministers, Dr. AlMalik explained that ICESCO’s new vision goes beyond the idea that peace is the absence of war or its opposite.

“The Organization prides itself on a uniquely multisectoral and holistic approach to tackle issues of peace within the realms of education, economic, cultural, environmental, social dimensions, including the integration of the values ​​of affection and compassion in the educational curricula of ICESCO Member States. ICESCO’s International Conference on the Civilizational Values ​​in the Prophet’s Seerah held on May 27, 2021, called on the United Nations to declare April 21^st as the World Day of Mercy” The DG added.

ICESCO DG stressed the importance of peace institutions and bodies around the world, which provide the necessary mechanisms to prevent conflict that may results in war as these institutions are one of the key milestones in human history to establish peace and prevent wars.

Dr. AlMalik also reaffirmed that ICESCO is willing to work jointly to achieve world peace through the power of education and religious and cultural diversity. “The Organization has launched ambitious programs aimed at promoting peace by mobilizing youth, women and religious leaders through its pioneering program to train youth on leadership for peace and security and through its Regional Center for Education for Peace and Security, established in 2008, as an embodiment of its strong commitment to promoting the culture of peace,” he underscored.

At the close of his address, ICESCO DG called on leaders and officials to instill the spirit of solidarity, understanding, and tolerance in their societies, noting that this pursuit encouraged ICESCO to launch its initiative “The Societies We Want”, which aims to build peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, resilient and sustainable societies to prevent mistrust and hatred, which is the essence of Makkah Declaration that emphasizes the importance of common human values ​​and morals, and mutual respect.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, and the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, Mr. Anar Karimov, held a meeting to discuss trilateral cooperation between ICESCO, the Alliance of Civilizations, and Baku Dialogue Forum, to promote intercultural dialogue.

During the meeting, held on September 12, 2021, in the Italian city of Bologna as part of their participation in the G20 Interfaith Forum, the participants valued the roles and efforts undertaken by the three institutions to anchor the values ​​of coexistence and dialogue between different cultures, based on human commonality.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the activities of their respective institutions to promote intercultural dialogue and agreed to cooperate in organizing joint programs and projects in this field, examine a set of initiatives for the benefit of young people and women, and promote peace and rapprochement between cultures and peoples.

Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG in charge of Partnerships and International Cooperation, Mr. Wassef Aivaz Zadeh, Secretary of the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Ms. Nihal Saad, Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) attended the meeting.

The opening session of G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 kicked off yesterday in Bologna, with the participation of this year’s G20 chairman, the President of Slovenia, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, a large number of ministers, chiefs of international organizations, religious leaders, and global intellectual figures.

Dr. AlMalik will take part in the forum, as ICESCO’s first participation in the global forum, today, Monday 13 September 2021, during the Education and Religious Diversity session, in which a large number of Arab and European officials and ministers will participate.

The Forum is held this year under the title “Time to Heal: Peace among Cultures, Understanding between Religions”, under the auspices of the Italian Presidency. It started on September 12, and it will end on September 14, prior to the organization of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The Forum is considered one of the most important initiatives of the G20, to create a space for meeting and dialogue, not only between religious leaders, but also between political authorities, international organizations, spiritual authorities, and intellectual personalities to discuss important issues and programs.