ABU DHABI, 11th May 2014 (WAM) -- Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, today at his palace received His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and the members of the delegation accompanying him.
During the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan and Patriarch John X had cordial exchanges on interfaith tolerance and the commitment of U.A.E. to promote tolerance as part of an approach established by U.A.E. founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In his remarks during the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan reiterated the commitment of U.A.E., under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to this approach in order to further promote fraternity, coexistence, peace and security for all people regardless of race, religions, colour, culture or language. On his part, Patriarch John X commended U.A.E.'s wise policy on religious tolerance and affirmed that followers of the Orthodox church enjoy freedom of worship in U.A.E. He also noted that in U.A.E. followers of all faiths and nationals of all countries, including Lebanese nationals, receive good treatment, enjoy religious freedom and have equal job opportunities. Earlier today, Patriarch John X laid the foundation stone for the new Mar Elias Church in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, in presence of a large number of the followers of the Orthodox Church. Present at the meeting with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak were Sheikhs, scholars, economists and academicians.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.
