PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV ATTENDS OPENING CEREMONY OF ICYF-DC
The event was also attended by OIC Secretary General, representatives of the governments of the OIC member countries as well as European nations, UN, Council of Europe, ISESCO and other international organizations.
President of the Forum Ali Sarikaya and Secretary General Elshad Iskandarov informed the ceremony participants that the Government of Turkey decided on allotting the headquarters to ICYF-DC in the Istanbul World Trade Center after the Forum was granted (by the virtue of the Sana’a resolution adopted by the 32nd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers held in Sana’a, Yemen in June, 2005) with the status of institution affiliated to the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
ICYF-DC and Istanbul World Trade Center signed an Agreement on the Permanent Headquarters.
The ceremony was continued in the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul.
It was addressed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, chairman of the Buyuksheher municipality of Istanbul Kadir Topbash, President of the Forum Ali Sarikaya and its Secretary General Elshad Iskandarov and others.
On Pakistan’s stance on conflicts hit some regions, as well as the situation in the Middle East, its Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said his country supports territorial integrity of all countries, and resolutely condemns acts of terror.
Prime Minister of Turkey, in his turn, expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani Leader Ilham Aliyev for supporting the forum from the very first days of its founding. He stressed that Islamic spirituality supports global peace. According to him, only peace, cooperation and dialogue can ensure the future of the troubled world.
Congratulation messages from government agencies and international organizations were read out at the ceremony.
A presentation of the joint initiative Youth for Alliance of Civilizations of the Forum and Council of Europe, United Nations and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) took place at the ceremony, as well. This idea was put forward by Prime Ministers of Turkey and Spain to step up the role of youth in realizing the Alliance of Civilizations initiative approved by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as UN international program in June 2005.
During the ceremony, ICYF-DC signed documents on cooperation with Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Council of Europe, United Nations Development Program, ISESCO and Islamic Development Bank.
It was announced that concerts under the motto “Mutual Understanding Through Dialogue, Respect and Music” will be organized in May 2007 with participation of performers from all over the world.
There was a ceremony of giving awards to the persons who have supported the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, including President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saleh Kamil Head of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Chairman of the Buyuksheher municipality of Istanbul Kadir Topbash, and Chief Advisor to the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
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