ABU DHABI- His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received at his Majlis in Al Bahar Palace, the visiting His Beatitude John X Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and his accompanying delegation.
During the meeting, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi exchanged cordial talks with the guest and discussed with him the important role of clergymen in spreading of love and peace among religions.
Sheikh Mohamed said that the UAE-led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is following the same approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which highlights the moderation, tolerance and dialogue values among various sects and religions, out of the importance of communication and bolstering bonds of brotherhood, friendship, love, co-existance and peace among mankind.
For his part, His Beatitude John X Patriarch of Antioch and all the East expressed his pleasure to visit the UAE and meeting its leadership, lauding the wise approach of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which obviously seen in the religious tolerance.
He also thanked Sheikh Khalifa for providing a plot of land in Mussafah area of Abu Dhabi to build the Orthodox Church on, which follows the approach of the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He added that during his meeting with the Orthodox community in the country, he felt their appreciation and love to the UAE’s leadership and people, expressing their satisfaction by the religious tolerance in the country.
Among those who attended the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. -WAM