Abu Dhabi: "It is not an exaggeration to say that there is a part of both the cultures in all of us, whether Arab or Indian," Indian President Pratibha Patil said on Tuesday as she sought to highlight the readiness of both cultures to draw on positive aspects of one another.
India and the UAE have much in common in their promotion of religious harmony and tolerance towards different schools of thought and belief, she said while inaugurating the new building of the Indian Islamic Centre (IIC) in Abu Dhabi. The construction of the Dh12 million building was funded by the Abu Dhabi Government.
Patil recalled that the foundation stone of the new facility had been laid by the late Indira Gandhi when she was prime minister during her UAE visit in 1981.
She acknowledged the benevolent policies adopted by rulers of the UAE and their support for Indian community organisations. "I understand that the UAE is home to many nationalities that are living in perfect harmony with each other. This "unity in diversity" is also a hallmark of our society".
