Foreign Minister visits Sapienza University in Rome

Manama, June 30(BNA): Foreign The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, paid a visit to Sapienza University, on the occasion of his visit to Italy. Dr. Al Zayani with the Vice Rector of Sapienza University, Professor Giuseppe Ciccarone, and was briefed about the scientific efforts undertaken by the university in order to graduate generations of the world's youth specialized in all humanities that serve humanity. Professor Ciccarone also briefed the minister about the distinguished positive results achieved by the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at this prestigious university. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa patronized the inauguration of the chair in 2018, with the aim of spreading a culture of tolerance and promoting the principle of peaceful coexistence between nations and people of faith. The minister praised the important cultural role played by Sapienza University in Rome, in establishing a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among different peoples and nations. He noted the graduation of a number of students in various disciplines who contributed to providing valuable academic studies that tell the centuries-old experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in tolerance and acceptance of the others, as well as respect for religious pluralism. He affirmed His Majesty the King’s keenness to continue supporting this long-standing educational edifice, and to promote the university’s constructive role in promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence and dialogue among people of belief. He underlined the Kingdom’s interest in promoting academic, cultural and educational cooperation with this distinguished university in order to achieve common goals in spreading culture and science and creating generations of students who believe in the values and principles of tolerance in all countries of the world. Dr. Al-Zayani also met with Professor Alessandro Saggioro, who is in charge of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at Sapienza University. He expressed Bahrain’s pride in the outstanding success achieved by the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, and the graduation of a number of students in various disciplines who contributed to presenting studies and research papers that shed light on Bahrain’s unique experience throughout the centuries in the field of tolerance, coexistence, acceptance of others and dialogue among civilizations. He said that the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence is one of the many noble initiatives launched by His Majesty to consolidate the values of tolerance among people of the world,. This includes the Declaration of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which emphasizes respect for religious freedoms and the promotion of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He also stressed the keenness of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, to pass on this experience to the younger generations in order to be the best ambassadors for spreading the culture of peaceful coexistence and dialogue among followers of religions, civilizations and cultures, as the way to spreading peace among nations. Professor Alessandro Saggioro expressed his great pride in the positive results achieved by the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, stressing that the young graduates and participants in the Chair's programs have benefited from the distinguished experience of the tolerant Bahraini society. Professor Saggioro also reviewed the academic programs offered by the Chair, and its outstanding contributions to qualifying graduates specialized in the fields of tolerance and coexistence, reviewing the future plans of the university to develop these programs. He also expressed Sapienza University's pride in embracing the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence, which opens doors of hope for the world's youth of all races and ethnicities through education, high culture and values that transcend hatred, violence and extremism, stressing the university's interest in continuing its humanitarian role in supporting and expanding the university research department specialized in the fields of coexistence, tolerance and acceptance of one another. During the visit, Dr Al Zayani was accompanied by the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador in Rome, Dr. Nasser Mohammed Al-Balushi, and the minister’s accompanying delegation.