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    ISESCO Director General concludes his visit to Mauritania with official meetings and a visit to Chinguett University

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) concluded his first official visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which started on 22 December 2019 and included meetings with senior Mauritanian officials, attending the award ceremony of Chinguetti Prize 2019, and visiting Chinguett Modern University.

    After being received by H.H. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, Dr. AlMalik met the Prime Minister, Mr. Ismail Bedde Cheikh Sidiya, and together they stressed the importance of promoting coordination and consultation so as to implement ISESCO’s initiatives launched for the benefit of Mauritania, including ISESCO’s willingness to support Chinguetti Prize, schedule Nouakchott on the programme of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, contribute to the success of the celebration of the ancient towns in Mauritania, establish a training institute for imams, and launch Mahdara’s initiatives while reaffirming the importance and role of such initiatives in contributing to the development of Mauritania.

    Besides, ISESCO Director General met the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed. This meeting explored ISESCO’s initiatives, agreed to look for strategic partnerships to support the development projects in Mauritania within ISESCO’s fields of action, and reaffirmed the importance of the cultural diplomacy and multilateral cooperation in achieving the joint objectives as part of ISESCO’s initiatives for the benefit of Mauritania.

    Mr. Ismail Sidiya thanked Dr. AlMalik for these initiatives and expressed the willingness of the official and competent parties in Mauritania to support ISESCO in this regard.

    ISESCO Director General also had meetings with Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, and Mr. Dah Ould Sidi Ould Amar Taleb, Minister of Islamic Affairs and Traditional Education of Mauritania. The two meetings explored the development of cooperation between the Organization and Mauritania within ISESCO’s fields of action.

    In addition, Dr. AlMalik made a visit to Chinguett Modern University, which receives ISESCO’s support and hosts one of its Academic Chairs. One of the University’s Amphitheatre will be named after ISESCO. Chinguett Modern University is a private university with four departments, namely Islamic Studies, Sharia and Law, Islamic Economics, and Arabic Language and Literature.

    President of the Republic of Mauritania receives ISESCO Director General

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    H.H. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, today at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), who is in a visit to Mauritania upon an invitation from Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, to attend the award ceremony of Chinguetti Prize 2019 as a guest of honor.

    At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik thanked President of Mauritania for the warm welcome, commended Chinguetti Prize and its role in supporting and encouraging scholars and intellects to be creative, and reviewed ISESCO’s new vision, which pays special attention to the cultural heritage and scientific research as two foundations of development.

    Besides, Dr. AlMalik highlighted a number of initiatives that ISESCO intends to launch in Mauritania, including the importance of Mahdara in the Islamic world as it constitutes a great and unique heritage of Mauritania.

    The meeting also tackled ISESCO’s initiatives to proclaim Nouakchott as a Capital of Islamic Heritage given its rich heritage and history as well as its intellects and historians.

    Dr. AlMalik stated that the four ancient towns in Mauritania have had their share of ISESCO’s attention through their preservation to be an exemplary model for Muslim countries. “Five Mauritanian heritage sites have been inscribed by the Islamic World Heritage Committee. We are hopeful that we will inscribe more tangible and intangible heritage”, he added.  

    H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani also expressed his appreciation of ISESCO’s initiatives while reaffirming his country’s willingness to cooperate with the Organization in their implementation so as to embody the partnership of the two parties.

    The meeting was attended by Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania; as well as Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of External Relations and Cooperation; and Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Supervisor of the Directorate of Education from ISESCO.  

    ISESCO adopts the inscription of 7 new regions on the Islamic World Heritage List

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) adopted the inscription of Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco; Tunis, Kairouan and Mahdia, the Republic of Tunisia; the historical region of Cairo in the capital of Egypt; and Kasbah region in Algiers, Republic of Algeria; as well as Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman, on the Islamic World Heritage List.

    This adoption was on the Final Report of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, held in Tunis on 17-18 December 2019 under the theme “Toward the Development of Current Cultural Policies in the Islamic World”, with the participation of 50 countries and 15 regional and international organizations.

     Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, had requested the Ministers of Culture and the competent parties in Member States to continue the submission of the technical files to inscribe all the tangible, intangible, natural and industrial heritage sites in their countries on the Islamic World Heritage List.

    In his address at the Conference’s opening session, Dr. AlMalik stated that ISESCO established a special unit for the inscription of heritage sites in Muslim countries according to strict scientific and international standards. ISESCO also signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO on the inscription of heritage sites of Member States on the World Heritage List.

    Besides, Dr. AlMalik underlined that heritage and cultural heritage in many Member States are subject to disappearance, destruction and looting as the List of World Heritage in Danger includes 37 sites in Muslim countries out of 54 sites accounting to almost 70% of the sites in danger.

    ISESCO Director General also stressed the importance of translating the cultural unity and solidarity regarding the preservation of the Islamic cultural heritage into a programme to be supervised by ISESCO to jointly inscribe a number of exemplary historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of trade caravans, and the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscripts, etc) on the Islamic World Heritage List while reaffirming that ISESCO adopted this action within its new vision.

    Partnership Agreement to activate the initiative of restoring Ibn Khaldūn’s house in Tunis

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    As part of the activation of the initiative of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to restore the house of the polymath Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn Khaldūn in downtown Tunis, announced by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, at the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, ISESCO signed a partnership agreement with the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs to initiate the restoration and conservation works of this architectural monument.

    The Agreement, signed in Tunis, provides for the commitment of ISESCO to finance the works of restoration and conservation of the house of Ibn Khaldūn, according to the technical report prepared by the Tunisian National Heritage Institute, whereas The Ministry undertakes to use the funds provided by ISESCO in the works of restoration and conservation of the house of Ibn Khaldūn. The necessary funding shall be settled in three (3) installments, the first of which stands at 30% of the gross amount to be transferred as from the date of the signing of the Agreement.

    The Agreement also provides for the establishment of a joint committee to follow-up to the project, composed of two representatives of ISESCO, one representative of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and one representative of the Agency for Heritage Development and Cultural Promotion (AMVPPC). The period of implementation of the Agreement shall be two years as from the date of the signing thereof.

    The signing was attended by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and a number of officials of the Ministry, as well as Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference, Executive Council and Specialized Ministerial Conferences, and Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Centre of Strategic Anticipation.

    The Agreement was signed for ISESCO by Dr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Legal Advisor to the Director General, and for the Ministry by Mr. Faouzi Mahfoudh, Director General of the National Heritage Institute.

    It is worth mentioning that ISESCO’s initiative to restore the house of Ibn Khaldūn, announced by Dr. AlMalik in Tunis, was greatly commended in Member States. This initiative reaffirms ISESCO’s new vision which keeps up with the digital cultural transformations and calls for investment in the cultural diplomacy, promotion of the cultural capital, and exportation of the Islamic enlightening culture to the world.

    AlMalik announces a number of initiatives to promote partnership between ISESCO and Mauritania

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) stressed that “cooperation between the Organization and the competent parties in Mauritania is special and covers the areas of education, science and culture. ISESCO is keen to develop and expand this cooperation according to the strategic priorities of this country in such a way as to have an impact and respond to the needs”.

    In his address at the award ceremony of Chinguetti Prize 2019, held today under the supervision of the President of the Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, at the Congress Centre in Nouakchott, Dr. AlMalik announced a number of specific initiatives aiming at promoting cooperation between ISESCO and Mauritania, including ISESCO’s willingness to support and promote the international outreach of Chinguetti Prize, schedule Nouakchott on the programme of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, contribute with its partnerships, expertise, experiences and technical and material potentials to the success of the celebration of the ancient towns in Mauritania.

    ISESCO Director General also announced the establishment of a training institute for imams and Mahdara’s graduates in Nouakchott with a view to training the religious and educations leaders to carry out their tasks and fulfil their mission in society.  As for the Mahdara, which is a unique academic institution, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ISESCO’s willingness to prepare a comprehensive strategic programme for its development, establish similar Mahdaras in Muslim countries with the same curriculum adopted in Mauritania, and provide the material and technical support therefore in cooperation and coordination with ISESCO Regional Educational Centre, established years ago by ISESCO in Mauritania.

    The initiatives also include the inscription of Mahdara on the Islamic World Intangible Heritage List, to join the five Mauritanian heritage sites inscribed by ISESCO at the last Extraordinary Meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee. In his address at the ceremony, which he attended upon the invitation of the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Dr. AlMalik highlighted that “the objectives and purposes of Chinguetti Prize are consistent with ISESCO’s new vision which pays special attention to the cultural heritage and scientific research as two foundations of development. Through heritage, nations reflect upon their past, have hope in the present and look forward to the future through positive dialogue and scientific research to promote the mechanisms of progress and entrench knowledge.”

    Dr. AlMalik also stated that ISESCO’s interest in these two fields has recently yielded the inscription of 132 heritage sites in Member States on the Islamic World Heritage List of ISESCO, as well as the initiative of restoring the house of the historian Ibn Khaldūn in Tunis as a historical monument with a symbolic value.

    ISESCO launches an initiative to restore ibn Khaldūn’s house in Tunis

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    As part of its new vision and future strategies, which adopts the protection and conservation of heritage in Muslim countries, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) launched an initiative to restore the house of Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn Khaldūn in downtown Tunis.

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, announced this initiative during his address at the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, held last Wednesday in the City of Culture, Tunis.

    Dr. AlMalik stated that “we face enormous digital and cultural challenges and transformations that we should keep up and deal with. We should also invest in the cultural diplomacy, promote the cultural capital, and export our enlightening culture. The salient example of this is our intention to restore the house of ibn Khaldūn in Tunis and ensure the necessary financial resources therefore.”

    Dr. AlMalik’s initiative was warmly applauded by the audience of the ceremony, most notably Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and the heads of delegation of Muslim countries to the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, held in Tunis on 17 December 2019.

    Ibn Khaldūn is one of the most famous philosophers, historians and sociologists in the Arab history. He studied in a school close to his birthplace in downtown Tunis, where he spent the longest period of his life. He also lived in Egypt for almost a quarter of a century and died there in March 1406 at the age of 76. He was buried near Bab al-Nasr cemetery close to al-Abbassya neighborhood. He left many works and his biography has been the subject of many studies. His works are used as references in philosophy, history and art. The book “Muqaddimah” is still his greatest work.

    Cairo proclaimed as Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    ** AlMalik, Zine El Abidine and a number of figures honored at the City of Culture in Tunis

    ** Bamako as the African region’s Capital of Islamic Culture… and Bukhara for the Asian region

    During a special ceremony held in the City of Culture in Tunis, the Celebration of Tunis as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 closed with the proclamation of Cairo as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020. Bukhara, Republic of Uzbekistan, will be the Asian region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020 after Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. As for the African region, Bamako, Republic of Mali, will be the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020 succeeding Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

    The ceremony, held yesterday in the wake of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (ICCM) and attended by the members of the delegations participating in the Conference, started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he indicated that the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 was held concurrently with the 40th anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Dr. Zine El Abidine also thanked ISESCO for its substantial cooperation to make this one-year-long event successful. “The event was not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered all the Tunisian cities and regions. It was an exceptional year by all measures”, he added.

    Afterwards, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, gave an address wherein he thanked the Tunisian President, Mr. Kais Saied, for his patronage of the Conference, and commended the great attention paid by the Tunisian Government to the programme of the activities implemented as part of the Celebration.

    Besides, Dr. AlMalik highlighted that ISESCO aimed, through the launch of the Programme of the Capitals of Islamic Culture and the choice of Makkah Al-Mukarramah in 2005 as the first Capital of Islamic Culture to inaugurate this great civilizational project, to promote joint cultural action and cultural development among states, achieve civilizational outreach, and export the enlightening Islamic culture.

    Dr. AlMalik also reaffirmed that the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 is a recognition of its cultural heritage and civilization contribution thanks to its cultural and religious monuments and landmarks bearing witness to its long-standing heritage and the uniqueness of its people and human heritage.

    Afterwards, the ceremony honored Dr. AlMalik in appreciation of his efforts to ensure the success of the Conference and the Celebration. Dr. Zine El Abidine presented him with the Shield of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

    Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference, Executive Council and Specialized Conferences at ISESCO, was also honored for his collaboration toward the success of the Conference and received the Shield of the Ministry.

    Besides, Dr. Zine El Abidine was presented with as shield by Dr. AlMalik. The other figures honored during this ceremony are Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Sudanese Minister of Culture, President of the 10th session of the Conference; Dr. Taïeb Baccouche, Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union; Dr. Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Higher Education; Mr. Ahmed Adhoum, Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs; Mr. Chadli Bouallag, Governor of Tunis; and Dr. Hayat Qatat Al-Qurmazi, Director of Culture at ALECSO.

    Afterwards, the head of delegations of the countries, whose capitals were celebrated in 2019, passed the torch of Islamic Culture Capitals to their counterparts whose capitals will be celebrated in 2020. Then, the participants attended a show presented by the Tunisian Orchestra.

    ICCM closed with release of Tunis Declaration

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    ** Extraordinary session in Cairo next year to mark the city’s celebration as Islamic Culture Capital.

    The 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers closed its proceedings today by adopting, after examination, its final report and resolutions, composing its Bureau and releasing Tunis Declaration for the Reform of Present Cultural Policies in the Islamic World.

    The Conference participants accepted the offer made by the Arab Republic of Egypt to host an extraordinary session in Cairo next year to mark the city’s celebration as the Arab region’s Islamic Culture Capital for 2020.

    The Conference welcomed the project of the creation of the OIC Platform for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Muslim World as a coordination mechanism to showcase ISESCO’s efforts as a specialized organization through its observatory and committee for heritage in the Islamic world; and highlight the relevant efforts of the Research Centre for Islamic History Art and Culture (IRCICA).

    The Conference also welcomed Kazakhstan’s initiative to commemorate the 1150th birthday of the renowned philosopher Al–Farabi and the 2200th anniversary of the city of Shymkent.

    Moreover, the Conference approved the Final Report of the 17th Meeting of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World; ISESCO’s Report on its Achievements in Cultural Fields between 10th and 11th sessions of the Conference; the Report of the Islamic World Heritage Committee; the Guidance Document on Digital Culture: Prospects and Challenges; and the Practical Proposals on Parallel Funding Sources for Cultural Projects.

    Likewise, the Conference formed its Bureau with Tunisia as a Chair; Burkina Faso, Egypt and Kazakhstan Vice-Chairs; and the Sudan as Rapporteur. The participants also elected the members of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World for a two-year term as follows: United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Libya for the Arab region; Brunei Darussalam, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for the Asian region; and Cameroon, Uganda and Gabon for the African region.

    At the closing session, the Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, delivered an address wherein he thanked ISESCO for its efforts to ensure the success of the Conference and to the participating delegations for their endeavors to issue such important resolutions.

    Then, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, read out the participants’ message of thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia, for his patronage to the Conference and support to ISESCO to fully discharge its missions in its areas of competence.

    By the same token, Dr. AlMalik made an address congratulating the participating delegations on the success of the Conference and achievement of its objectives thanks to the concerted efforts made by them and the General Directorate to advance joint Islamic cultural action, embodied in the resolutions issued.

    “Our common will to upgrade working mechanisms to attain these objectives was clearly manifested in this session. We have moved from the usual traditional methods to a new phase of concrete field cultural action to meet the real needs of our Member States”, he added.

    ISESCO Director General calls on Muslim world countries to inscribe their heritage sites on Islamic World Heritage List

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    ** AlMalik: development through culture is a priority choice…we should export our Islamic enlightening culture

    ** 70% of the world’s heritage sites in danger are in Islamic countries

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), called on the ministers of culture and competent parties in Member States to continue the submission of their technical files for the inscription of all the tangible, intangible, natural and industrial heritage sites in their countries on the Islamic World Heritage List.

    In his address at the opening session of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, kicked off today in Tunis, Dr. AlMalik first expressed his thanks to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia, for his patronage of the Conference. He also thanked the Tunisian Government, represented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs; and Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs, for his support to hold this conference. In addition, he stated that ISESCO has set up a special unit to inscribe heritage sites in Muslim countries according to strict scientific and international standards and signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO to inscribe Member States’ sites on the World Heritage List.

    Moreover, ISESCO Director General warned against the degradation, disappearance, destruction, and looting of cultural institutions and cultural heritage in a number of Member States, pointing out that the List of World Heritage in Danger includes thirty-seven (37) sites in Muslim countries out of fifty-four (54) sites, accounting to almost 70% of the sites in danger.

    “Even though Member States agreed to create the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) in 2007, the Committee had a shaky start as only five (5) sites were inscribed. However, with the new General Directorate, this situation has changed as ISESCO committed itself to inscribing one hundred (100) sites on the Islamic World Heritage List before the end of 2019 managed to exceed the said number, praise be to Allah, through concerted efforts with the IWHC and Member States, we were able to inscribe 132 sites. We then cheerfully ushered ourselves into the era of the codification of our cultural and civilizational heritage”, Dr. AlMalik added.

    By the same token, Dr. AlMalik underscored the need for translating Member States’ cultural unity and solidarity regarding the preservation of cultural heritage into a programme to be supervised by ISESCO to jointly inscribe a number of exemplary historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of trade caravans, and the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscript, etc.) on the Islamic World Heritage List. In this regard, he stressed that ISESCO has adopted this as part of its new vision.

    Moreover, ISESCO Director General reaffirmed that access to development through culture has today become one of Member States’ strategic priority choices. As such, Dr. AlMalik underlined that culture should never be considered as a secondary sector and that cultural diplomacy and capital should be employed in serving cultural development in Muslim countries, defending their strategic interests, and exporting Islamic enlightening culture. Likewise, he called for keeping up with digital changesto promote culture and encourage creativity and innovation, in order to highlight Muslim societies’ rich cultural diversity, linking the achievement of this goal to providing new and diverse funding sources for cultural projects.

    At the close of his address, ISESCO Director General wished every success to the Conference in reaching tangible outcomes and resolutions likely to achieve cultural development in the Islamic world.

    11th Conference of Culture Minister kicks off in Tunis

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Today, the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers kicked off under the theme “Toward the Development of Current Cultural Policies in the Islamic World”, under the patronage of President Kais Saied, with the participation of the delegations of 50 countries and 16 international and regional Organizations.  

    The opening session started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he welcomed the guests of Tunisia, pointed out to the development of the cultural field in Tunisia over the past years, and referred to the most important activities implemented throughout 2019 as part of the Celebration of Tunis as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019.

    In his address at the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), called on the Ministers of Culture and the competent parties in Muslim countries to complete their technical files for the inscription of their heritage sites on the Islamic World Heritage List, while warning that around 70% of the world heritage sites in danger are located in Muslim countries.

    Dr. AlMalik also stated that ISECCO will supervise the programme of the joint inscription of a set of exemplary historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of commercial convoys, and the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscript, etc) on the Islamic World Heritage List, while reaffirming that ISESCO has included this issue within its new vision.

    Afterwards, Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Culture of the Sudan, President of the 10th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, took the floor and stressed that the Islamic world faces major challenges in all fields, most notably the development of Muslim countries without losing their identity, and identified investment in the cultural field as the sole means to achieve such objective.

    Dr. Saleh also commended the efforts of ISESCO, praised the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and thanked the Republic of Tunisia for hosting this conference.

    The address of Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary General, was given on his behalf by Ambassador Tariq Bakhit, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Al-Othaimeen stated that “the conference comes at the appropriate time. The cultural communication between the OIC Member States and the other countries is the primary objective of the OIC in coordination with Member States and the organizations operating in this field, particularly ISESCO.”

    Afterwards, ISESCO Awards, including the Incentive Award in the field of Traditional Industries and Handicrafts, ISESCO Award for Best Media Production, and the awards for the best cultural projects of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, were presented to the winners.

    After the opening ceremony, the conference started its working session behind closed doors to consider the agenda and draft resolutions, elect the member of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, set the date and venue of the 12th session of the conference and adopt the final report of the conference.