The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, visited the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University in Cairo today, where he talked with the Deputy Grand Imam of Egypt and the Deputy Secretary of that University, Muhammad Ad-Duwini.

Minister Selaković said that the university is more than a thousand years old, that it is the second oldest university in the entire Arab world, and he stated that the deputy grand imam is a man of incredible education and incredibly broad culture.

"During the conversation with the grand imam’s deputy, great respect was shown towards the Republic of Serbia, but also great recognition was given to the attitude and respect of the state of Serbia towards different confessions, towards members of different religions living in our country, in our Serbia, and some concrete offers and opportunities for strengthening our cooperation were also brought out", said the head of Serbian diplomacy after the meeting.

He conveyed that Dr. Duwini, on behalf of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif University, offered scholarships to young imams from Serbia, to come to Cairo to get an education, to improve their knowledge, both in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Minister Selaković emphasized that the Serbian delegation in Egypt was convinced of the way in which this oldest educational institution in Egypt and in this part of the world makes a serious contribution to the fight against terrorism, extremism, various types of radicalism within the interpretation of the Koran, that is, within Islam as a religion.

"The contribution that this institution makes to the preservation of peace and stability in the Middle East and in the entire Islamic world is something incredibly important. What I would especially like to point out is that the idea that Christians and Copts in Egypt should no longer be called a minority, but equal citizens, brothers, fellow citizens, friends, came from the great imam of Egypt himself", says Minister Selaković.

He pointed out that it can be freely said that a new wave of refreshment in relations in the Egyptian society itself originated from this university.

"It can be said that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif fully follows what is the policy of Egyptian President El-Sisi, and that is strengthening the internal cohesion of Egypt itself, and then strengthening Egypt's role in the entire Arab and Islamic world, but also in the world in general", concluded Minister Selaković.

After the conversation with the grand imam’s deputy, Minister Selaković visited the observatory within that university, which he stated was a very serious and modern institution.

23 August 2021