The Bibliotheca Alexandrina witnessed on Friday, 18 June 2010, the closing of the international conference “Initiatives in Education, Science and Culture Towards Enhanced US- Muslim Countries Collaborations” attended by a diverse group of scholars, clergymen, community leaders, political figures, education experts, university students, faculty members, technology consultants, and library specialists from 40 different countries around the world.
 
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, announced that the 3-day-Conference came up with proposals and recommendations for cooperation between the US and the Islamic world, covering the conference themes, namely: education, science, and culture, and promised that the BA will use these recommendations to structure real tangible projects.
 
Mr. Rashad Hussain, Special Envoy of the US President to the Islamic Conference Organization, said that as a Muslim American, he feels all the concerns and challenges voiced by the participants, however, he senses hope and enthusiasm to reach common ground. He stated that there has been a fundamental shift in relations since President Obama’s address to the Muslim World from Cairo in June 2009. Hussain presented several partnerships between Obama’s administration and the Islamic countries in different fields of cooperation launched during the last year.
 
Mohamed Ben Saleh, Representative of the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) explained that ISESCO seeks to indulge in all endeavors that bridge the gap between peoples and cultures to make up for what has been spoilt by politics. He highlighted that Muslims have no problem with the US, however, the real problems lie within the American policies, which need to be altered to achieve just and comprehensive peace.