Al-Azhar, Anglican Church Joint Committee denounces deterioration in Al-Quds

The Joint Committee of Al-Azhar and the Anglican Church Thursday denounced the deterioration in the holy sites in Al-Quds and pledged to work hard on redressing misconceptions of Islam and Christianity.

The committee lauded Egypt's efforts on the international and regional arenas to help security and stability prevail in Al- Quds.

The statement came at the end of the permanent committee meetings in Cairo between Al-Azhar committee for dialogue among religions and the Episcopal Anglican Church Dialogue Committee that wound up its proceedings Thursday.

The two parties signed an agreement in January 2002 for boosting dialogue among the Islamic and Christian faiths.

The joint committee's next meetings will take place in the autumn of 2005.

Meanwhile, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohamad Sayyed Tantawi will meet today morning with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who is due in Cairo.

William's visit comes at an invitation from Tantawi on the occasion of convening the joint committee of Al-Azhar and the Episcopal Anglican church.