Visit of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent(ICIC) deledation to the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS), Ankara, April 8-9, 2026
The ICIC delegation paid a working visit to Ankara, Republic of Turkey, on April 8 – 9, 2026, at the kind invitation of the TRCS. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and enhance coordination in the fields of humanitarian and relief work. The delegation consisted of:
– H. E. Ambassador Ali Mahmoud Buhedma, ICIC President,
– Dr. Mohamed Hamad Elasbali, ICIC Executive Director ,
The photo was taken during a meeting with Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yorilmaz, President of the Turkish Red Crescent, and Mr. Alper Küçük, Director General of International Relations, and his assistants.
This visit falls within the framework of close cooperation between the ICIC and the TRCS, and follows up on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties during the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey, on June 21, 2025. This MoU aims to unify efforts, exchange expertise, and enhance joint humanitarian work, thereby contributing to addressing the growing humanitarian challenges in crisis zones.
A technical meeting was held between specialists from both parties on April 8, 2026, to discuss the draft minutes of the meeting. These minutes addressed the executive aspects aimed at establishing an advanced framework for strategic and operational coordination, based on joint leadership in planning and coordination between the two parties. This ensures a unified approach and maximizes humanitarian impact, assigning executive tasks to joint organs under the ICIC umbrella, The meeting also ensured functional integration and avoided any conflict of legal mandates between the two parties, and established a unified executive team.
.The photo shows Dr. Mohmed H.Elasbali , ICIC Executive Director , Mr. Can Sencer, Advisor to the Director General of International Relations for the TRCS; Mr. Abdullah Kaya, Director of Relations with the Movement and International Organizations; Mr. Ahmed Govin, Head of the OIC-Red Network; and Mr. Selçuk Öztürk, ICIC Regional Representative for North Asia and Europe
.In conclusion, both parties affirmed their full commitment to strengthening this strategic partnership and working in a spirit of shared responsibility to achieve a more efficient and sustainable humanitarian response, in line with the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the fundamental principles in the ICIC Agreement, and serving the needs of the OIC member States.
The minutes of the meeting were signed by Dr. Mohamed H. Elasbali, ICIC Executive Director, and Mr. Alper Küçük, TRCS Director General of International Relations , in the presence of H. E. Ambassador Ali Mahmoud Buhedma, ICIC President, and H.E. Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, TRCS President, at the TRCS headquarters in Ankara on April 9, 2026.
.Meeting with the ICIC Regional Representative for North Asia and Europe (IRRO) April 8, 2026
Following the technical meeting to discuss the draft minutes of the meetings held during this visit, a meeting was held with Mr. Selçuk Öztürk ICIC Regional Representative for North Asia and Europe, the IRRO. During this meeting, some administrative and financial procedures related to the representative’s work during the past period were discussed, as well as the draft annual work plan to be presented at the ICIC next meeting .
Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs April 9, 2026
A meeting was held between the ICIC delegation including H.E. Ambassador Ali M. Buhedma ICIC president and Dr. Mohamed with H. E. Ambassador Musa KulaKlikaya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara on the morning of April 9, 2026, in the presence of Ms. Handa Sarı, Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Humanitarian Aid, and Mr. Ali Bozcalıskan, Head of the Department of the Deputy Director General of the OIC Muslim Minorities, and Mr. Alper Küçük, Director General of International Relations of the TRCS, within the framework of contacts with the OIC States Parties to the ICIC Agreement. In this meeting, the bilateral relations between the ICIC and the Republic of Turkey on the one hand, and the TRCS and the ICIC on the other hand, were reviewed. H. E. the Deputy Minister appreciated the close relations between the ICIC and the TRCS, which are represented in hosting the IRRO office and the role it plays, as well as the efforts carried out by the ICIC in many regions of the OIC member States in the fields of humanitarian work and the support of the Republic of Turkey for it.
