CAIRO, Jan 26 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty held a meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Tunisia, Sheikh Hisham bin Mahmoud, the Grand Imam of the historic Zaytuna Mosque, at the headquarters of Zaytuna Mosque in the Tunisian capital, in the presence of the Secretary of Religious Affairs.
The meeting underscored the depth of the historical, cultural, and religious ties that bind Egypt and Tunisia, and highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation and communication between religious institutions in the two countries.
During the meeting, Minister Abdelatty affirmed the deep fraternal and historical bonds between Egypt and Tunisia, as well as the civilizational and cultural affinity that characterizes relations between the two brotherly nations.
He pointed to the importance Egypt attaches to enhancing cooperation in intellectual, religious, and cultural fields in a manner that serves the values of moderation and tolerance and consolidates a culture of coexistence.
In this context, Minister Abdelatty praised the role played by religious institutions in Tunisia in promoting an enlightened, moderate religious discourse, stressing Egypt’s keenness to support efforts aimed at renewing religious discourse, entrenching the values of citizenship and coexistence, and confronting extremist ideas and hate speech.
He also highlighted the pivotal role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in supporting the approach of moderation and balance, and affirmed Egypt’s readiness to enhance cooperation, coordination, and the exchange of expertise with the Tunisian side in this regard.
Abdelatty further expressed his aspiration to strengthen communication between institutions concerned with religious affairs in both countries in a way that contributes to addressing current intellectual challenges.
The two sides exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination and consultation in a manner that serves the shared interests of the two brotherly peoples.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Grand Mufti of Tunisia expressed his appreciation for the fraternal relations between Egypt and Tunisia, commending Egypt’s role in supporting the values of moderation and tolerance.
He also affirmed the Tunisian side’s keenness to continue coordination and cooperation with Egypt in intellectual and religious fields in a way that strengthens the bonds of cooperation between the two brotherly countries. (MENA)
