Al-Azhar Grand Imam said the European Union has a great responsibility and plays a role in addressing contemporary global issues, and the problems the world is facing require concerted international efforts based on cooperation, understanding and respect for the other. His Eminence also said that the contemporary world, with its scientific and technical progress, should put man at the forefront of its concerns, without discriminating among people because of their religion, race or nationality. During his meeting with Ambassador Christian Berger, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt, Al-Azhar Grand Imam added that the East played an important role in building Western civilization, and it continues to play an important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation.

The Human Fraternity Document is the most prominent stage of cooperation between the East and West in the contemporary time, whose drafting took a whole year of tireless work between Al-Azhar and the Vatican to come into light and suggest effective solutions to the problems of our contemporary world, removing barriers and obstacles among the human beings. The Grand Imam stressed that Al-Azhar always welcomes cooperation that strengthens the relations between people and spread security and peace.

Ambassador Christian Berger, for his part, said that this is the first visit in which he meets the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in his capacity as the Ambassador of the European Union in Cairo, and he is closely following up with the great efforts made by Al-Azhar and its Grand Imam in the service of world peace. He said the European Union cooperates with international bodies and global institutions, and attaches great importance to cooperation with religious institutions and religious leaders such as Al-Azhar Grand Imam. Mr Berger Congratulated Al-Azhar Grand Imam on the International Day of Human Fraternity that celebrates the Human Fraternity Document, which marks the beginning of a new era in dealing among the human beings.