The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb has expressed his support for the Conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage, which starts in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

''I'm extremely delighted at this kind initiative which incorporates the cultural meaning and human values that bring the East and the West together in a conference that seeks to repair damage caused by the barbaric terrorism and destruction created by extremists,'' he said in a message of support for the event.

He stated that terrorism and extremism were seeking to eliminate cultural identity, and erase human culture and heritage - a property of the next generations and an uncompromisable right of all.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar expressed his profound appreciation to the UAE and France for co-organising the conference that aims to mobilise international support to safeguard endangered cultural heritage.

He said that the gesture to organise this event comes from two friendly countries that no one can deny their efforts to preserve human heritage. ''France is an incubator of literature, culture, free thought and art, while the UAE is a stalwart supporter for Arab culture and spares no efforts to develop the human being and preserve its cultural identity,'' he added..