MAKKAH — More than 400 experts and specialists from across the Arab and Islamic world will meet in Makkah on Sunday to discuss potential threats posed by human interaction to biological diversity and come out with proposals for legislation aimed at protecting the environment.
Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour Bin Miteb will attend the 13th Conference of Islamic Capitals and Cities, which will be held under the aegis of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at Makkah Clock Royal Tower Fairmont Hotel. The 141-member Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) is organizing the three-day event. A special exhibition, titled “Protection of environment and achievements of the mayoralties of Islamic capitals and cities in this regard,” will be held on the sidelines of the conference. OICC Secretary-General Omar Qadi said an interaction with Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on the topic of “Makkah Toward Sustainable Environment” will be the major highlight of the first session of the conference. The inaugural session will be addressed among others by Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar, Doha Mayor Mohammed Al-Sayed, who is also chairman of the 12th session of the conference, as well as representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank. A total of 42 working papers will be presented at a seminar under the theme of “Legislation to protect the environment for sustainable growth.” A meeting of the administrative council of the OICC will also be held. OICC prizes in the fields of writing, investigative reporting, translation, scientific research and municipal projects and services will be distributed at the conference. Some mayors of Islamic capitals and cities will be honored in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the organization, Qadi said. The OICC is an international non-governmental and non-profitable organization with headquarters in Makkah and Jeddah. The conference is part of OICC's efforts to achieve sustainable development and preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the member cities.
