The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said ISESCO, considering the progress it has made and the responsibilities it has assumed, has become a vital necessity for the Muslim world, particularly at this difficult juncture marked with huge civilizational challenges and acute development problems. The Muslim world also engaged in a gyre of regional and local conflicts that constitute a serious impediment to the priorities required for building Islamic countries and preserving human dignity, spreading the culture of justice and equality in Muslim societies, establishing good governance based on active and responsible involvement of all components of the Ummah, confronting the Israeli expansionist policies in occupied Palestine which challenge the international community by establishing colonies and judaizing Al-Quds Sharif, and oppressing the Palestinian people and depriving them of their right to establish their independent state." In his address delivered at the celebration ceremony of ISESCO's 30th anniversary held today morning at the Organization's permanent headquarters, the Director General said "ISESCO's continued success, expanded scope and active contribution to addressing these enormous challenges require the sustained support of all Member States. Indications of this can be witnessed year after year and through the high position the Organization has gained in the Islamic and international arenas." "ISESCO embarked on its civilizational action, following its founding conference, which was held in 3 May 1982, in Fez, the scientific capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, and during the closing session of which King Hassan II made an address that has served as a roadmap and a guide for the Organization. The leadership of this Organization was assigned to a prominent scholar and a shrewd politician, Abdelhadi Boutaleb, who made enormous efforts to establish this Organization, lay down its first action plans, set up its organizational structures and lead it to success," Dr. Altwaijri said. "Since its inception, ISESCO has implemented a founding action plan, a two-year action plan, nine three-year action plans, three medium-term plans, devised fifteen sectoral strategies, and established two regional offices and five educational centers in a numbers of Member States. It has also published 813 books in different fields of knowledge, implemented 3049 specialized activities, and awarded 2908 scholarships to students from the Member States to enable them pursue their higher studies. Similarly, it has developed major civilizational programmes, namely the Special Programme for Literacy and Basic Education for All in Islamic Countries and Communities, the Programme for Transcribing Muslim Peoples' Languages in the Quranic Script, the Programme of Islamic Culture Capitals, and the Programme for Countering Stereotypes about Islam and Muslims in Western Media. Also, ISESCO has appointed Ambassadors of Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations, and signed cooperation agreements with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) as well as with more than 190 international and regional organizations, and established its permanent headquarters, which has enabled it to carry out its action in the best way possible," Dr. Altwaijri added.
