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Abu Dhabi /Â WAM
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, opened the Armenian Church in Abu Dhabi, with Hassan Youssef Saad, Lebanese Ambassador to the UAE, Gegham Gharibjanian, Armenian Ambassador to the UAE, leaders of the Armenian community and hundreds of Armenian Christians in the UAE in attendance.
Addressing the congregation, Sheikh Nahyan hoped the place of worship would serve as an important centre for enriching life, interaction and communication and will help in taking care of the affairs of the Armenian community in Abu Dhabi and the UAE at large.
”This building underscores that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has always been and continues to be a country whose people embrace Islam, the religion that preaches tolerance and respect for other faiths, values which constitute the basic pillars of our country and created the fertile ground where all people live in co-existence, peace and security,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
”The Church is a spiritual symbol for the power of belonging and loyalty of the members of the Armenian community and for deepening social and religious interaction,” he added.
Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia appreciated the efforts being made by President Khalifa for promoting tolerance between different religions and nationalities living in the UAE.