the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, yesterday in Tunis, held the meeting of the Joint Preparatory Committee of the 11^th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the closing ceremony of Tunis as Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, due to be held on 17-18 December 2019. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and attended by Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Executive Council, General Conference and the Specialized Ministerial Conferences of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).

In addition to officials of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the meeting brought together the representatives of the Tunisian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Local Affairs and Environment, Tourism and Handicrafts, Equipment, Housing and Territorial Planning, and the Tunisian Customs as well as Tunis’ Municipality and Governorate.

During this meeting, Dr. Zine El Abidine stressed the need to provide adequate logistic and technical organization and media coverage for this Conference to reflect the event’s value and Tunisia’s position in the Islamic world. He also lauded the efforts exerted throughout a whole year to ensure the success of this event, give the Conference due attention in both Tunisia and the Islamic world, and upgrade the Islamic culture’s presence in the Tunisian cultural identity.

On his side, Mr. Ghemari commended the cooperation between ISESCO and the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the other official bodies concerned with the event to ensure its success and highlight the position of Tunisia.

Moreover, the meeting reviewed the overall cultural activities and events organized throughout a whole year in Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture, and the participation of some of Tunisian internal parties with Islamic civilizational dimension and national and Islamic significance. The participants also explored the necessary measures and arrangements, and the final preparations for the 11^th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the closing ceremony of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture on 17-18 December 2019.