The 123rd regular session of the Executive Board of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) kicked off on May 28, 2025 at ALECSO headquarters in Tunis. The two-day session was chaired by H.E. Mr. Hani bin Moqbel Al-Moqbel, Chairman of the Executive Board, and was attended by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, and Mr. Sorour Al-Jarman, representative of the General Secretariat of the Arab League, along with the Members of the Executive Board, and the directors of ALECSO technical departments and subsidiary institutions.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Al-Moqbel, Chairman of the Board, pointed out that the meeting is taking place amid the exceptional and painful circumstances suffered by the Palestinian people. He reaffirmed the Executive Board’s full and unwavering adherence to the humanitarian and fraternal position in support of war-stricken Gaza and all of Palestine, within the framework of Arab cooperation and solidarity. ALECSO, he added, was established to serve the interests and meet the educational, cultural, and scientific needs of Member States.
Mr. Al-Moqbel welcomed the nine new members who joined the Executive Board, expressing thanks to the former members for their commendable performance. He called on the Council members to give greater attention to countries facing challenges, including those experiencing conflicts, emergencies, crises, and countries with specific conditions. He noted that the meeting is an important opportunity to recall the vision put forward by HRH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Saudi Arabia National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, in his opening speech at the 27th General Conference held in May 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Board expressed its support for the nomination of Dr. Khaled El-Enany as a candidate from the Arab Republic of Egypt for the position of Director-General of UNESCO, being the only Arab nominee for that position. The Board emphasized that this candidacy is a valuable opportunity to enhance the Arab role in supporting the cultural, educational, and scientific fields at the global level.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, welcomed ALECSO’s guests and congratulated the new members of the Board, wishing them every success in fulfilling their noble mission and contributing to the advancement of joint Arab action in the fields of education, culture, and science. He also expressed thanks to the outgoing Board members for their commendable efforts, affirming that the meeting reflects the deep belief in the importance of joint Arab action in ALECSO’s areas of competence.
The Director-General extended his sincere thanks and gratitude to the President, Government, and people of Tunisia, the ALECSO host country, for the continuous and gracious support offered to the Organization, so that it can perform its mandate as effectively as possible. He also expressed appreciation to Mr. Hani bin Moqbel Al-Moqbel for his commendable efforts as Chairman of the Board. He praised his skillful chairmanship of the Board meetings.
The Director-General paid tribute to the heroic resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land. He called on the international community and all people of conscience around the world to assume their humanitarian and legal responsibilities and act seriously to stop the massacres and grave violations being committed against a defenseless people defending their land, dignity, freedom, and right to life. He urged the world to strive for a just and comprehensive peace that would ensure freedom and independence for the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The Director-General briefed the meeting on ALECSO’s projects implemented in 2024, benefiting Member States in the educational, cultural, and scientific fields. He pointed out that 85% of the planned activities were carried out, which he considered a promising indicator.
