Astana:The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre has extended its cultural presence in Kazakhstan under the 'Minarets of the Two Capitals' initiative, a component of the 'Jusoor' programme. This initiative is coordinated with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in Kazakhstan.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative aims to enhance the Centre's global cultural and civilisational presence, promoting tolerance, coexistence, and intercultural dialogue. The Centre's engagement in Kazakhstan spans nearly eight years, starting with the presentation of a model of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the Museum of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana and the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Centre for Arabic Language Education.
Additionally, the Centre has contributed specialized books from its library on Islamic architecture and arts to the Archive of the President of Kazakhstan. Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Centre, emphasized that these efforts reflect the Mosque's mission of fostering dialogue among cultures and reinforcing values of tolerance and coexistence.
Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Ariqi, UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan, noted the significance of the Centre's activities, including the donation of library publications to the Presidential Archive and a lecture at Maqsut Narikbayev University, as a testament to the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan. He highlighted that cultural dialogue is achieved through actions, exemplified by the delegation's visit to Astana's Grand Mosque.
During the programme, Dr. Al Obaidli delivered a lecture at Maqsut Narikbayev University, attended by the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs, students, faculty, embassy representatives, and academics. He discussed the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as a realization of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's vision to build communication bridges among peoples.