Azhar Grand Imam meets Blair
Egypt-UK, Politics, 1/30/2002

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mohammed Sayed Tantawi and his accompanying delegation left for London Tuesday morning on a several days' visit to Britain at the invitation of Archbishop of Canterbury and the Head of the Anglican Church.

In statements following his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Al-Azhar Grand Imam said that he called on Britain to intervene to halt Israeli aggressions on Palestinians. Tantawi added that Blair pledged to exert his best efforts to stop the bloodshed on Palestinian territories.

Prior to his departure, Tantawi said he will sign an agreement on cooperation and dialogue between Al-Azhar and the Anglican Church. The visit aims at clarifying the tolerant face of Islam and that it is a religion whose mainstay is justice and peace.

It also aims at standing beside the Palestinian people to restore their rights and establish an independent state, said the top Muslim Scholar.

Tantawi noted he would take part in a number of meetings on civilizations. The Grand Imam will also have talks with Prince Charles of Wales and some Christian leaderships in Britain in addition to attending some meetings organized by the Egyptian Embassy in London.

On the other hand, Tantawi and Carey are due to sign an agreement on dialogue today in London. The agreement states four points, first of which encouraging Anglican Christians to understand Islam correctly.

Secondly, encouraging Muslims to understand the creed of Christianity as sawn by the Anglicans.

Thirdly, contributing to solve problems and ending conflicts that erupt occasionally between Muslims and Christians in some places in the world. Fourthly, working together to prevent wrongdoing and aggression on people's legitimate rights.

The agreement, also, states not to dissociate between peace and justice calling for spreading the common virtues on Islam and Christianity.

To reach these goals, the committee decided to form a joint committee of the two sides to convene twice a year.

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