UAE Embassy hosts tolerance meet in Ethiopia

addis ababa — The UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa hosted a roundtable meeting on tolerance, as part of its activities for the Year of Tolerance.

The meeting was attended by Suood Ibrahim Alamash, Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the embassy; Cardinal Burhan Yossus Surafil, archbishop of the Catholic Church; Father Samuel, chairman of the development and aid committee of the Orthodox Church; and other officials.

In his speech, Alamash said the Year of Tolerance honours the legacy of the Founding Father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as his values of moderation, openness and coexistence.

He also pointed out that the Year of Tolerance is an opportunity to celebrate human diversity and tolerance, noting that the UAE aims to promote the culture of tolerance through organising a range of activities in the sectors of employment, education, community and politics.

Cardinal Surafil expressed his appreciation for the UAE’s efforts to celebrate tolerance. He highlighted the visit of Pope Francis to the UAE and its positive outcomes, while praising the signing of the Human Fraternity Document.

Father Samuel stressed the importance of tolerance to the community and expressed the Orthodox Church’s appreciation for the UAE’s decision to celebrate tolerance in 2019.

Alamash also presented a donation of 783,000 Ethiopian birr (Dh98,500) from the UAE to major churches in Ethiopia, to support their development activities. —