Counselor Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, stressed that the Tangiers Interfaith Dialogue would produce friendships that lead to peace.
This came in statements by Abd al-Salam to “Al-Ain News” on the sidelines of his participation in the Tangiers Dialogue activities.
The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders pointed out that the initiatives of interfaith dialogue, dialogue between East and West, as well as dialogue between civilizations and cultures, lead to a very good result represented in acquaintance as a message for all mankind.
He said: “The message of all mankind is: (And get to know each other..and we are all working in this way)”.
Regarding the activities of the Tangiers Dialogue, Counselor Abdel Salam said that such events are important to promote peace and a culture of brotherhood and tolerance among followers of different religions.
He stressed that this meeting would spread the spirit of cordiality and friendship for peace, explaining that such events are important to humanity, especially as they deal with very important topics such as education, economy, youth and culture.
He continued, “These topics we desperately need at this time.”
On Friday, the Tangiers Dialogue on Religions meeting kicked off in Morocco, with the participation of high-ranking international officials, government representatives, diplomats, religious leaders, thinkers and intellectuals from different countries around the world.
The two-day meeting will discuss a set of current and urgent issues related to the issue of coexistence and interfaith dialogue, most notably the importance of economic factors in the dynamics of relations between the West and the Islamic world.
It also discusses the effects of the Corona pandemic and climate change, the mechanisms for overcoming the North-South divide, the role of culture, education and modern technology and how they can contribute to building a new era of partnerships.
In his speech at the opening session, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita affirmed that his country is a space for dialogue and coexistence between cultures.
He said: “From Tangiers, Ibn Battuta set out to travel the world, and the city knew a great expansion and openness thanks to the vision of King Mohammed VI.”
He considered that such meetings are “very important because the world needs thought,” calling for the need for this dialogue to turn into a tradition and a regular date.
In turn, Andre Azoulay, advisor to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, stressed that the kingdom is open to everyone and believes in freedom of religions and beliefs.
He added, “Moroccan culture in its current form is an intensification of 3000 years of civilization,” noting that “everyone in Morocco knows these ingredients that nourished the Moroccan spirit.”
He cautioned that “Islamic civilization is part of the cultural components of the Jews of Morocco,” stressing that the kingdom “allowed everyone of their various religions to preserve their religious rites.”
For his part, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken considered the Tangiers dialogue an opportunity to confront hatred by working together, stressing that the forum is an important event for dialogue and coexistence.
