Iyad Madani takes over as OIC secretary general
Baku, December 31 (AZERTAC). Iyad Madani, the former Saudi minister of Culture and Information, succeeded Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as the new Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the 57-member grouping of the Muslim countries.
Iyad Madani has presented a memento to his predecessor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu highlighting his achievements during his tenure as OIC chief and took over formally as secretary general of OIC at a function held in Jeddah on Monday.
Madani will now replace Turkey`s Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, whose term expires in 2014 and succeed him for the next five years.
This is for the first time that, Saudi Arabia, the host country of OIC, has its official at the helm of the second largest international organization after the United Nations.
Ekmeleddin Ihsaonoglu, who served as secretary general of OIC since 2005, said that he “dedicated himself to Islam and would continue to work for the Muslim world with all his power.”
“OIC has succeeded well in Ihsanoglu`s term and he introduced the organization to the world,” said Iyad Madani.
The ongoing and achieved projects in Ihsanoglu`s term were explained to the attendants and compared with the efforts of the previous OIC Secretary General.
Ihsanoglu has been in office since January 1, 2005.
Born in Mecca in 1946, Madani held his bachelor degree from Arizona State University. He was the 10th term president of OIC.
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