The visionary statesman

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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Patrice Poli, French Ambassador to the UAE

'He was a strong, wise and unique leader' - Patrice Poli.

Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan personifies to people in France the conquest of independence, the building of the federation of the United Arab Emirates and the constitution of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council. He was a strong, wise and unique leader who managed to successfully mix tradition with the most modern vision, proving to be a man of both yesterday and tomorrow.

The UAE’s respect and admiration for Shaikh Zayed and his family was evident when the President of France Jacques Chirac came to the United Arab Emirates last year to attend the funeral of his friend Shaikh Zayed. Shaikh Zayed’s first visit to Europe in 1953 was to France to attend a crucial arbitration session in Paris on oil concessions. France liked him immediately. Since then, the people of France and successive presidents of our Republic never cease to express great respect for him and his impressive achievements.

Ahsan Ullah Khan, Pakstani Ambassador to the UAE

'His demise was a deep and sad loss' - Ahsan Ullah Khan.

Shaikh Zayed was a beloved leader not only for the UAE but the entire Muslim world. He was a man of vision, generous and compassionate. He was an Arab and Muslim statesman, a leader whose loss was widely mourned in the Islamic world and beyond. He was a fatherly figure for many of us. His memory will live on, as he was an example of leadership, generosity and solidarity.

He pioneered the development of the UAE and also brought it in the international arena. By using his political skill and foresight he built solid institutions and maximised human resources. For Pakistan, Shaikh Zayed was a true and tested friend and he symbolised Pakistan-UAE friendship. He loved Pakistan and we loved him. Pakistani leaders consulted him on all important regional and international issues and benefited from his advice. He used to contribute generously towards Pakistan’s development. His demise was a deep and sad loss for the Pakistani nation. We pray to Allah to reward him with a high place in Jannah.

C.M.Bhandari, Indian Ambassador to the UAE

'A noble ruler of extreme courage' - C.M.Bhandari.

Even though I did not have the opportunity to meet Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, from whatever I have read from numerous books and heard first-hand accounts from many of the Indian community members, the late president was a “peoples’ darling” who ruled their hearts. Within a short period of becoming the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, Shaikh Zayed, along with the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum played a critical role in establishing the United Arab Emirates.

Shaikh Zayed had a special place for the expatriate Indian community in his heart and the community also loved and respected him for his benevolence. His commitment to the non-aligned foreign policy was a measure of his admiration for India’s first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, the propounder of the non-aligned doctrine. It was an act of great statesmanship on the part of Shaikh Zayed that he kept his country away from political instability and conflicts of the region.

He was also held in high esteem in the Gulf region and the Arab world. He contributed generously to every possible humanitarian cause, and was equally generous towards the Palestinian cause. He ensured provision of modern facilities to rural populations of the UAE. His contribution to the greening of the UAE, planting of millions of trees and preserving the bio-ecological diversity and endangered species will always be remembered in golden letters. I pay homage to this great soul, the benevolent President, a noble Ruler of extreme courage, magnanimous towards all and gracious to his own people. His compassion for commoners made him the “peoples’ President”.

Mohammad Sa'ad, Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE
The tributes paid to Shaikh Zayed regionally and internationally stand as a remarkable testimony to his greatness. Shaikh Zayed is one of the very few leaders the Egyptians, known as tough critics, are unanimous on. They eloquently speak of admiration for his wisdom and his extraordinary success in building the UAE and catapulting it to the frontline of nations.

The Egyptians also value Shaikh Zayed’s generous assistance in meeting humanitarian challenges the world over. They will never forget his strong words during the 1973 Arab war with Israel when he said Arab oil is not dearer than Arab blood. Shaikh Zayed was the dynamic force behind the political, economic and social development of the UAE. Shaikh Zayed’s legacy to his country, to the region, and to relations with Egypt cannot be overstated. He was also a true Arab leader with faith in Arab nationalism.

His far-sightedness and the principled positions adopted on issues of importance for the Arab and Islamic nations earned him widespread international recognition. He played an important role in the search for greater unity within the Arab world and was, for more than 30 years, a powerful exponent of the need for consultation, discussion and reconciliation among the Arab countries.

Being an Arab Wise Man, Shaikh Zayed was one of the rare leaders who resolved problems faced by the nation. He did not spare any efforts to mend Arab rifts. He was the nation’s devout leader, and will remain a symbol as well as a source of inspiration for the Arab and Islamic world. Shaikh Zayed will always live in the memories and hearts of millions. May Allah bless his soul, and let him rest in peace.

©Gulf News