Azerbaijan’s president, Egypt’s grand imam emphasize interfaith unity at COP29

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, in Baku on the sidelines of the COP29 climate summit. 

President Aliyev extended his appreciation to the Grand Imam for accepting the invitation to COP29, emphasizing that his presence added “special significance to the event.” He noted that Azerbaijan recently hosted a significant gathering of world religious leaders, including representatives from Al-Azhar, and underscored the importance of participants visiting Azerbaijan’s liberated territories after the event, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Reflecting on their previous meeting in Egypt, President Aliyev recalled the discussions he held with the Grand Imam on “key issues” and their exchange of ideas on potential cooperation. “You are truly a victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” El-Tayeb told Aliyev, congratulating him on Azerbaijan’s regained territories and lauding his “humane attitude towards the opposing side.” The Grand Imam described the Azerbaijani President’s actions as “magnanimous,” reflecting values aligned with “the principles of all religious denominations.”

El-Tayeb commended Azerbaijan’s role in fostering relations among countries in the region and expressed anticipation for Azerbaijan’s participation in the upcoming interfaith Sunni-Shia dialogue in Bahrain scheduled for February. “Azerbaijan has a successful experience in Sunni-Shia dialogue and harmony among representatives of different religions,” he said.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude for the Grand Imam’s remarks and congratulations on Karabakh’s liberation, reiterating Azerbaijan’s commitment to peace initiatives despite enduring 30 years of occupation. He highlighted the unity displayed at the Heydar Aliyev Mosque, where Azerbaijani Muslims pray for solidarity, remarking that this unity could serve as an example for other nations.

Aliyev further emphasized Azerbaijan’s active efforts to reinforce unity within the Islamic world, while lamenting attempts to divide it. He affirmed that all religious communities coexist peacefully in Azerbaijan.

At the end of the meeting, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb presented a keepsake to President Ilham Aliyev, commemorating their shared vision for a harmonious future.

By Vugar Khalilov