oic research centre for islamic history, art and culture - ircica

y bringing forth the notions of common history andcommon heritage constitutes a most direct and beneficialway of building cooperation and solidarity in internationalrelations. IRCICA’s contributions to this end fulfil ahistorical mission. The Minister affirmed the Centre of theTurkish Government’s continuous support.The Secretary General of the Organisation of the IslamicConference Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu said, in his address,that IRCICA as the cultural subsidiary of the OIC has beenfulfilling its mission in an increasingly effective way throughauthentic activity programs reflecting the true features ofIslam, the development of its civilization and the culturalexchanges it generated between nations and civilizationsof the world. Prof. İhsanoğlu said that these activitiescontribute to cultural solidarity among the OIC MemberStates while at the same time they open channels for culturaldialogue between Muslim countries and other nations andcommunities. This contribution of IRCICA serves at thesame time the objectives set forth in the Ten-Year Programof Action of the OIC adopted by the Third ExtraordinarySummit Conference held in Makkah in December 2005which stresses the need to correct misjudgments aboutIslam, reflect its true image, disseminate respect forcultural diversity and combat Islamophobia. The SecretaryGeneral expressed his gratitude to H.R.H. the Chair andthe distinguished members of the Governing Board. Hecongratulated the members of IRCICA, particularly theDirector General, for their achievements.A special section in the last part of the ceremony wasdevoted to the presentation of Ijaza in the art of calligraphy(certificates of qualification) by three teachers of calligraphy,namely Hasan Çelebi, Davut Bektaş and Ferhat Korlu, tothirteen calligraphers from seven countries (Egypt, Iraq,Kuwait, Spain, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates)whom they had trained in various styles of writing, incourses coordinated by IRCICA during 2006 and 2007 (seeIRCICA Activities section).During the working sessions, Dr. Halit Eren presented areport outlining the activities undertaken by the Centreduring 2007 and the proposed work program for 2008.The Board adopted the activity report and the proposedwork program. It expressed its satisfaction regarding theprogress made by the Centre in research, publications,studies in various fields and the symposiums, conferencesand exhibitions which were held on its premises or in themember countries. The Board also expressed its satisfactionof the various projects implemented by the Centre incooperation with the cultural and academic institutionswithin and outside the member countries. The members ofthe Board commended the steps which were taken by theCentre in view of its future activities which opened newavenues for the latter.The Board expressed its deep appreciation of the allocationto the Centre, by the Government of Turkey, of the Silahhane(Armoury) building within the Yıldız Palace complex,which will house the electronic library to be establishedby the Centre; it lauded the generous support extended byH.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice -President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emiratesand Emir of Dubai, towards this project.During the sessions, the Board members were briefed by Prof.Arch. Amir Pasic, Head of the Department of Architectureof IRCICA, on two major projects, namely the Data Bankof Islamic Sites and Monuments and the “Al-Quds 2015”program of architectural studies and workshops. The Boardexpressed its gratitude to H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Selmanfor the generous contribution brought towards the DataBank. It underlined the importance of the ten-year program“Al-Quds 2015” carried out by IRCICA and expressed itswishes of success to the Centre in its implementation.The Board commended the publication by the Centreof the copy of the Holy Quran attributed to the time ofCaliph Othman bin Affan taking note of the high qualityof the edition, expressing its gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Dr.Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qassimi, member of the SupremeCouncil of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Sharjah, fortaking charge of the printing expenses. The Board membersexchanged views on various other activities of the Centreincluding: the IRCICA Award for Excellence in Researchand the IRCICA Award for Patronage in the Preservationof Cultural Heritage and Promotion of Scholarship, bothplanned for 2008; participation in international fairs withinand outside the Muslim countries; dissemination of theCentre’s publications in universities around the world. Thereport and recommendations of the session will be presentedto the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers of the OICMember States.SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2007, NO: 74 Newsletter 9