18-19 March 2006 : Aleppo and Damascus, Syria
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His Highness the Aga Khan visits Syria

Aleppo, Syria, 19 March, 2006 – His Highness the Aga Khan begins a two-day visit official visit to Aleppo, Syria, to attend an inauguration ceremony marking the recognition of Aleppo as a “Capital of Islamic Culture.” The ceremony was attended by Syrian Prime Minister, Mohamed Naji Al-Otri, Syria’s Minister for Culture, Dr. Riad Naasan Agha, various Cultural Ministers from the Arab World, and other dignitaries.

Aleppo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, was named as a “Capital of Islamic Culture” for 2006 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO). This year, the title is also being awarded to Timbuktu, Mali, an important economic and cultural capital of West Africa, and Esfahan, one of the oldest cities of Iran. Held under the patronage of His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad, the ceremony was attended by over 500 prominent leaders as well as key political and media figures.

In 2004, ISESCO introduced the “Capitals of Islamic Culture” project as part of its ongoing effort to promote unity within the diverse Islamic world. Under this programme, cities are named as “Capitals of Islamic Culture” for the duration of a calendar year in order to recognise their important role in the history of Islamic civilisation. The first city to receive this honour was Mecca in 2005.

Aleppo, Syria, 18 March 2006 His Highness the Aga Khan is welcomed in Aleppo by the Governor of Aleppo, Tamer al Hajai and the Minister for Tourism, Saad Alla Agha Kalaa. The Aga Khan was in Aleppo to attend an inauguration ceremony marking the recognition of the city by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), as a “Capital of Islamic Culture".

Damascus, Syria, 19 March 2006 His Highness the Aga Khan meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss development activities in the country and collaboration with the Aga Khan Development Network. AKDN has been present in Syria for over five years. A Framework for Development Cooperation Agreement between the AKDN and the Government of Syria was signed in 2001 and ratified by the Syrian Parliament in 2002.