During receiving the Lithuanian Ambassador to Cairo, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb averred: “Al-Azhar International Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers is one of Al-Azhar’s tools to achieve the dream of world peace. Al-Azhar receives Imams from around the world and hosts them at its expense, qualifies them through a program specially designed to suit each community over a period of two continuous months. During this period, the Imams are trained to address modern problems related to debunking extremist thought, the Islamic position on women, and Muslims’ coexistence with others”. The Grand Imam added that Al-Azhar is keen to have the Imams get down to the street to acquaint with what is going on, regarding Muslim-Christian coexistence. In this way, the Grand Imam asserted, the Imams can develop enlightened and well-sustained moderate thought, and mainstream their knowledge, not only among Muslim youth, but also among all other members of their communities through daily interaction.

For his part, Mr. Artūras Gailiūnas, Ambassador of Lithuania to Cairo, expressed pleasure to meet the Grand Imam and appreciation for his efforts to spread world peace. He acknowledged his aspiration that Al-Azhar sends its imams to the Lithuanian community, and that Lithuania benefits from the Al-Azhar International Academy’s programs for training Imams. He asserted that religions have held together the Lithuanian society over several centuries, and that Muslims and Christians live in peace and harmony in Lithuania.