The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, yesterday, held a videoconference with Mr. Anar Karimov, Acting Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, to discuss ways of promoting cooperation and partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan. Mr. Vasif Evaz Zadeh, Secretary-General of the Azerbaijani National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, also attended the videoconference.

During the meeting, Mr. Karimov briefed Dr. AlMalik on the destruction of some historic monuments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the attempted desecration of mosques and places of worship, in the wake of the conflict with Armenia. The two parties examined ways of joint action to restore those sites.

The Acting Minister invited ICESCO DG to visit Azerbaijan for a meeting with senior officials in the country to explore cooperation aspects and tour the heritage sites that have been destroyed or have endured serious vandalism in Nagorno-Karabakh Region.

Talks during the meeting centered on the arrangements for Baku Heritage Forum, to be held on May 5, 2021. ICESCO will actively participate in the forum as part of its new vision and working strategy.

ICESCO Heritage Center is a testament to the special attention the Organization’s vision and strategy pay to heritage. The Center trains professionals of the field within the Member States and inscribes historical sites on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL) following the adoption of the inscription files by the Islamic World Heritage Committee (ISWHC).