The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, met with Mr. José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in spreading the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

During the meeting, both parties explored mechanisms to expand the application of the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Eminence Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church, in Abu Dhabi in 2019. This includes promoting awareness and mutual understanding among different religions and sects.

The President of the Republic of East Timor emphasized that the implementation of the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity represents the sole correct path to establishing a global society based on peace, justice, and humanity. He lauded the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of His Eminence the Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, in fostering civilizational and religious communication, peaceful coexistence, and understanding among diverse cultures and peoples.

President Ramos-Horta expressed appreciation for the United Arab Emirates, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for its leading efforts in spreading and promoting global peace and coexistence.

His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam highlighted the importance of developing a shared vision that embodies the principles of human fraternity and translates them into tangible initiatives and projects to address humanitarian crises. He commended East Timor’s actions under President Ramos-Horta's leadership, including the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity as a national document and its integration into various educational curricula.

The Secretary-General congratulated the President of East Timor on the country's accession to the World Trade Organization, wishing the Republic of East Timor, its leadership, and its people further development, progress, and prosperity.

At the meeting's conclusion, both parties agreed on the necessity of concerted international and regional efforts to face global challenges that impede achieving peace and coexistence. They reaffirmed the significance of religious leaders and organizations in disseminating tolerance and human fraternity values and enhancing dialogue and communication between cultures and peoples.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Indonesia and the Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of East Timor, and Her Excellency Sheikha Khulood Al Qassimi, Advisor to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.