Al-Azhar Grand Imam, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, received at Al-Azhar Headquarters, Ambassador Georgy Borisenko, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Egypt, and the accompanying delegation to discuss the development of educational relations between Al-Azhar and Russia.

The Grand Imam said that Al-Azhar welcomes raising the level of scientific cooperation with Russia, receiving students and training Russian imams, in addition to exchanging scholarships and opening new horizons for cooperation through sending students from Al-Azhar to study in Russia. He expressed his pleasure with the performance of Russian students and the speed of their mastery of the Arabic language, and that Al-Azhar aims at refining the skills and ideas of international students that qualify them to protect their societies from any deviant ideas, and to enhance the moderate and tolerant thought that characterizes Al-Azhar.

The Russian Ambassador, for his part, was pleased to meet the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar “who enjoys a global status and makes strenuous efforts to spread the tolerant message of Islam, which is a religion of peace”. He also noted that Al-Azhar graduates in Russia are cherished and respected, stressing Russia’s endeavor to strengthen relations with Al-Azhar and make great use of Al-Azhar’s educational and missionary expertise and its global and pivotal role in promoting dialogue and peace among the followers of different religions. He added that Russia is a fertile ground for dialogue and acceptance of the other, with nearly 30 million Muslims, and hundreds of mosques and Islamic educational centers.