HE Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, received, on January 17, 2018 at the seat of the Ministry, HE Dr. Saud Hilal Al-Harbi, Director-General of ALECSO.
The two sides discussed the ways and means to strengthen cooperation between ALECSO and the concerned Algerian stakeholders. The Minister presented Algeria’s experience in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He also presented Algeria’s initiative, approved by the United Nations in December 2017, to proclaim May 16th of each year an “International Day of Living Together in Peace”, calling on UNESCO to celebrate this day in cooperation with other relevant organizations, and on ALECSO to contribute to the commemoration and publicization thereof.
The Minister underlined the need to reform the joint Arab action system in general and to reform the Organization so that it can cope with the changes taking place in the region, concentrate on field work, and meet the aspirations and expectations of generations. He reaffirmed, in this regard, Algeria’s readiness to support the Organization in implementing its new vision. The Minister inquired about the status of the “Arab Center for Antiquities and Civilizational Heritage” established by Algeria, and the ways to benefit from it, calling on the Director-General to work for operationalizing this Center so that it can serve all Arab countries.
Dr. Al-Harbi expressed his thanks to the Algerian Minister for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him, as well as for the open discussion and constructive ideas. He then presented his vision for the future work of ALECSO in the fields of education, culture and science, especially with regard to enhancing the sense of citizenship among Arab societies and developing educational curricula on a sound basis that can protect youth from extremist thinking, radicalization and prejudices against the other. He highlighted the message of the Organization which advocates moderation and dialogue in all its forms, with the involvement of civil society, currently considered as one of the key stakeholders.
After the meeting, the Minister and the Director-General held a joint press conference.
