March, 17th,2008(WAM)--HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received here today Abdou Diouf,Secretary General of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) .
As he welcomed Diouf, Sheikh Hamdan expressed UAE's appreciation to the efforts being exerted by OIF to reinforce cultural understanding with the Arab world. The UAE, said Sheikh Hamdan, is ready to offer any kind of support possible to promote OIF mission. Sheikh Hamdan also briefed Diouf about UAE endeavors to promote global cultural understanding and respect, noting that all forms of support would be rendered to specialised centres. "The Emirate of Abu Dhabi will bustle with enhanced cultural and scientific activities within the next coming five years", said Sheikh Hamdan. For his part Diouf lauded the UAE for its keenness to bolster cooperation with OIF and the wider global cultural movement. He said he expected this positive stance from the UAE, a country he said to have known closely since the days of the late Sheikh Zayed. "As President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000, I have frequently visited the UAE and knew it to be a country of visionary leaders and an active member of the wider global family", Diouf said.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.
