President Ilham Aliyev Meets Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb at COP29
Baku, The Gulf Observer: President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met with Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, on November 11, following the latter’s participation in the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the Grand Imam for accepting the invitation to attend the event, noting that his presence added significant value to the summit. The President also highlighted a recent event in Azerbaijan, which saw the participation of world religious leaders, including representatives from Al-Azhar, as well as the importance of their visits to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.
Reflecting on his previous visit to Egypt, President Aliyev recalled his meeting with El-Tayeb, where they discussed various issues and exchanged ideas on future collaboration. Aliyev emphasized the constructive role of Azerbaijan in fostering regional cooperation and building bridges among different religious communities.
In turn, Grand Imam El-Tayeb expressed his gratitude to President Aliyev for the invitation to COP29 and praised the event as magnificent. He also thanked the President for his support in organizing the Faith Pavilion at the summit. El-Tayeb extended his congratulations to Azerbaijan for the return of its occupied territories, describing President Aliyev as a “victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief” and commending his generosity and humane approach to peace.
El-Tayeb also acknowledged Azerbaijan’s vital role in strengthening interfaith relations, particularly in the context of Sunni-Shia dialogue. He looked forward to Azerbaijan’s participation in the interfaith and Sunni-Shia dialogue event in Bahrain next February, highlighting the country’s success in fostering unity among religious groups.
In response, President Aliyev thanked the Grand Imam for his kind words and emphasized Azerbaijan’s peace initiatives, including the proposal for a peace treaty despite the 30 years of occupation. The President reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to unity within the Islamic world and its efforts to strengthen interreligious harmony. He expressed regret over attempts to divide the Muslim community but affirmed that Azerbaijan remains a model of peaceful coexistence for representatives of all religions.
President Aliyev concluded the meeting by confirming Azerbaijan’s active participation in the upcoming event in Bahrain, reaffirming the country’s dedication to fostering peace and cooperation in the region.
