Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the two-day conference of OIC ministers of culture in Madinah, which ended its deliberations Wednesday, was a big success by all standards. “We have seen good interaction among participating delegates,” he said.

He commended the important role played by Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman in making activities marking the selection of Madinah as the Islamic culture capital for 2013 a resounding success.

Speaking about the interfaith initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the minister said: “Appropriate measures must be taken to activate this significant initiative in cooperation with other countries, cultures and faith communities.”

He said the Madinah conference has passed many sound resolutions that would promote cultural cooperation among the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries.

Khoja emphasized the importance of multiculturalism, saying it would contribute to strengthening human civilization and culture.

“The conference discussed a topic entitled ‘the Promotion of Cultural Rights in the Muslim World in the Service of Dialogue and Peace’,” Khoja said, adding that the papers presented at the conference gave a referential document for Muslim countries on cultural rights.

ISESCO Director-General Abdul Aziz Altuwaijri said the declaration made by the conference on cultural rights is a document of considerable importance. “It draws the roadmap for Muslim countries to protect cultural rights.”

He said the declaration would help OIC countries strengthen their cultural cooperation. He also urged all participating countries to implement the conference’s resolutions.

Altuwaijri said the approval of the executive plan for King Abdullah’s interfaith dialogue initiative would promote joint Islamic work in the field of dialogue with followers of other religious faiths and cultures.

Halit Eren, director-general of IRCICA, also spoke at the conference, highlighting his organization’s achievements during the past 34 years.