Abu Dhabi: A number of officials issued statements on the occasion of International Tolerance Day, which falls on November 16.
Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council
“On this day the whole world celebrates tolerance as a noble humanist value and a principle that unites human beings of various nationalities, races, religions and political and cultural backgrounds. Tolerance goes beyond its festive dimension to the logic of need and necessity.”
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs,
“Tolerance is a key value of the UAE and a significant part of the country’s societal structure. The UAE has established itself as a global role model for tolerance, harmony and coexistence, adding these values to boost the country’s future.
“These efforts culminated with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, forming the first Ministry of Tolerance in the Arab world and across the globe, as part of the structural change to the UAE government.”
Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council,
“The UAE presents an honourable model that embodies values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.” He said that the UAE has consolidated these values, making these values a way of life for every segment of society residing in the UAE.
Al Jaber pointed out that the visit to the Vatican by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, reaffirms the keenness of the UAE to cooperate in bolstering values of tolerance, dialogue and coexistence in order to achieve security, peace and stability.
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of State and Chairman of the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority
“The efforts of the wise UAE leadership had a direct impact on instilling values of tolerance in Emiratis and UAE residents. President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a role model for members of society due to his humanitarian initiatives that lend a helping hand to people from different ethnicities and religious beliefs around the world who are suffering from hardships and disasters.
Najla Mohammad Al Awar, Minister of Community Development
“Tolerance is an honourable value that is deep-rooted in the culture of Emirati society, which was instilled by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Thanks to the leadership’s efforts, the UAE continues to play a leading role in promoting values of peace, tolerance and peaceful coexistence between different cultures and religions.
Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment
“We, in the UAE, do not view tolerance as a sign of powerful nations that have full confidence in themselves and are able to embrace the value of tolerance and accept the other. We do not look at tolerance from its narrow meaning of forgiving others but in a broad sense of respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of world cultures and different forms of expression and human qualities, as stipulated in the UN Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.”
Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development
“The UAE exerted immense international efforts to strengthen joint humanitarian values, reaffirming values of coexistence and respecting cultural diversity, as well as rejecting violence, extremism, hatred and discrimination. The International Day for Tolerance emphasises once again the role of the UAE and its wise leadership in promoting coexistence and peace in communities in the UAE and abroad.”
Dr Jamal Al Suwaidi, director of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research,
“People from more than 200 nations are living in harmony in the UAE within a secure and tolerant environment. This is clear proof of the UAE’s full belief in the values of tolerance, and makes it a role model for coexistence between different ethnicities and cultures.”
