Untitled - ircica

published, among others, the album of historical photographsof Al-Quds in its Arabic, English and Turkish editions; theedition of the Quran copy attributed to the time of CaliphOthman and located in Cairo; the second volume, concerningtranslations in Urdu, in the series of bibliographies ofmanuscript translations of the Quran, and, the proceedingsof the congress held in Isfahan relating to the Arts and Craftsof the Muslim World. After describing the progress achievedin the context of some programs such as the architecturalprogram “Al-Quds/Jerusalem 2015”, Dr. Eren declared thatthe project concerning the Prince Sultan bin Salman IslamicArchitectural Heritage Database came to a stage where theMember States’ providing information to the Centre on theirarcheological sites and monuments is necessary in order toload this information in the database. He also recalled thedevelopments related to the Centre’s library. After the activityreport, the Director General presented the proposed workprogram and the proposed budget for 2010. Prof. Amir Pasic,Head of the Department of Architecture, made power-pointpresentations on the “Al-Quds/Jerusalem 2015” program andthe Islamic Architectural Heritage Database.The Board examined the report of the Director Generaland expressed its satisfaction of the results obtained by theCentre in various fields, including research, publications,studies in various areas, holding of seminars, conferencesand exhibitions in its fields of competence, at its headquartersor in the Member States. The Board also noted withsatisfaction that the Centre completed a number of projectsin cooperation with academic and cultural institutions inthe Member States and elsewhere. The Board membersunderlined the pertinence of the Centre’s continuous effortsto define new perspectives for its future activities. The Boardapproved the activity report and the work program andformulated recommendations:- The Board expressed its satisfaction of the arrangementsmade in the Silahhane building which was allocatedby the Government of Turkey for the library, and, thepreparations made for the digital section thanks to thesupport extended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin RashidAl-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of theUAE and Emir of Dubai.- Referring to the presentation and the report publishedin book form concerning the “Al-Quds/Jerusalem 2015”program, it recommended that the Centre distributesthis report to all parties concerned around the world andinvited all the Member States to support this program.- The Board recommended that the photograph album onAl-Quds published by IRCICA be distributed to policymakers in the Member States of the UN Security Counciland the Member States of the OIC and that travelingexhibitions of books be organised in Europe, America, andthe Muslim world, in order to reinforce public awarenesson this matter and draw assistance to the project.- It underlined the importance of publishing the proposedjournal of the Centre twice a year and distribute it on alarge scale.- It recommended that a website be designed on Islamic artsand Islamic civilisation and be annexed to the Centre’s site.- The Board recommended to send the Centre’s publicationsto libraries and universities around the world and todisplay them in book fairs.- The Board lauded the Centre’s initiative to organise a conferenceon “Libraries in the Muslim world, past and present”.- It expressed its appreciation of the contribution of theTurkish Promotion Fund affiliated to the Prime Ministryof Turkey for the printing of the Turkish edition ofthe album of historical photographs of Al-Quds, thecontribution of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairsof Qatar to the English version of the same album, and thecontribution of H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani insupport of the publication of its Arabic version.- The Governing Board paid tribute to H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddinİhsanoğlu, Secretary General of the OIC, for the continuoussupport and valuable assistance extended to the Centre invarious areas and at international level, and expressed itsappreciation of his scholarly supervision of the long-termprograms of the Centre.- The Board lauded the efforts of Dr. Halit Eren, DirectorGeneral, for the clear progress recorded until now; it alsoexpressed its thanks and appreciation to all the staff of theCentre for their remarkable efforts towards the objectivesof the Centre, which is one of the most important culturalcenters of the Muslim world.8Newsletter September -December 2009, No: 80