Eating Together – Iftar

On March 5^th, H.E. Saad Saleh Alsaleh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hosted a gala dinner at the Raffles Hotel in Warsaw to celebrate iftar – the first meal eaten after sunset during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Iftar is the first meal that Muslims eat after sunset during the fasting month of Ramadan. It is an important religious ritual that is often shared with others, after the sunset prayer (maghrib). Iftar is a break from fasting after a full day of abstinence that begins with suhur – a meal before sunrise. During the day, from dawn to sunset, Muslims observe the fast, abstaining from food, drink, and other pleasures.

The guest of honour of the meeting was Radosław Sikorski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, who gave a short speech after the gala dinner. Here is what Minister Radosław Sikorski said:

– I am pleased to participate in another iftar dinner, especially this year, when we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Polish-Saudi relations, and Saudi Arabia is hosting the dinner again. The relations between our countries are developing well. We have had high-level visits. We are very happy to receive Saudi tourism in Poland. Polish tourists are also discovering Saudi Arabia. We also have parliamentary visits. Poland has developed in the last 30 years and has become an important client that is open to business. So I am very happy with the relations with Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world.

The ceremonial dinner was attended by ambassadors of Arab countries and other invited heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Poland. It was the second iftar dinner organised in this format by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first one was held a year earlier.

Such celebrations are a beautiful symbol of cultural exchange, especially during Ramadan, which is so important for Muslims around the world.

Given the complicated geopolitical situation, diplomatic meetings such as the iftar dinner take on special significance, allowing diplomats to engage in dialogue and cooperation in difficult times. Such events become a platform for building bridges of trust and mutual understanding that can help to ease tensions and promote stability and peace in the international arena.