Tunis this morning: ISESCO Director General addresses message to French-speaking Youth Summer School

Tunis: 29/07/2010

Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), addressed a message to the summer school for the French-speaking youth, which was officially opened this morning in Tunis. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr Samir Laabidi, the Tunisian Minister of Youth, Sports and Physical Education, Mr Clément Duhaime, Administrator of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the representative of the ministerial conference of the French-speaking states, and a host of high-ranking personalities.

In his message, which was read out on his behalf by Mr Mohamed Ghemari, the Director of External Relations and Cooperation, ISESCO Director General said: “The proclamation of the International Year of Youth by the international community reflects its deep faith in the role the Tunisian President, Mr Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, plays in assisting the youth in their endeavour for a brighter future, sensitizing them to the tough challenges of sustainable development, as well as to the need for consolidating peace through the recognition of cultural diversity as a universal heritage shared by all humankind.”

“The civilizational message of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s policy and initiatives to the youth confirms that the Islamic civilization has always favoured universal communion based on the lofty human values, and that Tunisia owes its achievements in terms of progress to a strong popular involvement coupled with clear-sighted governance,” he added.

Furthermore, Dr Altwaijri urged the youth to remember the men and women from all cultural backgrounds who made sacrifices to spare humanity the agonies of ideological, cultural and religious conflicts both in the present and the future. In the same vein, he insisted on them to bear in mind that in spite of all the advancements of human thought, tragic events remind us from time to time that economic, social and cultural development is not as satisfactory as to ward off the terrible specter of such tragedies. He also highlighted the need for dialogue among civilizations, and stressed that cultures are equal in dignity.

ISESCO Director General equally lauded the successful Tunisian model in terms of youth development to which the Tunisian President attaches much importance. In this regard, Dr Altwaijri said: “We will seek inspiration in the successful Tunisian model in a bid to enrich the activities of the summer school, and contribute to shaping a brighter future for the youth across the world.”