The Prime Minister of Serbia affirms his country's commitment to strengthening its relations with Islamic countries and institutions, most notably Al-Azhar.

The Prime Minister of Serbia: We seek to strengthen our relationship with Al-Azhar and support the rights of the Palestinian people.

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb received today, Wednesday, at Al-Azhar headquarters, Mr. Đuro Macut, Prime Minister of Serbia, to discuss ways to enhance educational and religious cooperation to support Serbian Muslims.

His Eminence the Grand Imam affirmed Al-Azhar's readiness to meet the needs of Serbian Muslims by training imams and preachers at Al-Azhar Academy for the Training of Imams and Preachers, preparing them to confront contemporary intellectual and da’wah challenges, particularly those related to spreading the values of human brotherhood and positive coexistence, integrating Muslims into Western societies, clarifying women's rights in Islam, and refuting the arguments of extremist groups with reason and logic.

His Eminence indicated Al-Azhar's willingness to host Muslim students from Serbia who wish to enroll at Al-Azhar University, in addition to opening an Arabic language teaching center in Serbia to serve members of the Muslim community and teach them the language of the Holy Quran.

The Grand Imam emphasized that Al-Azhar is committed to ensuring that peace and understanding are the foundations for coexistence among all. He explained that Al-Azhar instills in its students the notion that patriotism is sacred, and fosters in them openness to others and acceptance of diversity. He emphasized that diversity and difference are a universal law that Allah willed and guaranteed to endure. He emphasized that Al-Azhar embraces the dissemination of Islam's message of moderation, embodied in peace.

The Serbian Prime Minister, for his part, expressed his pleasure at meeting with the Grand Imam. He stressed his country's aspiration to strengthen its relations with Al-Azhar and support cooperation in the fields of education and daw’ah with this most prestigious institution in the Islamic world, by sending Serbian students to study at Al-Azhar, both at university and in the pre-university stages.

Macut indicated his country's desire to sign cooperation protocols between Al-Azhar University and Serbian universities to promote joint scientific and research projects and exchange professors and students. He emphasized his country's keenness to strengthen its relations with Islamic countries and institutions, most notably Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. He noted that his country voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution granting Palestine full membership, and that his country has taken positions supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state.