UAE Ambassador to Ireland meets Irish President Michael D Higgins

Dublin: Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland, has met the UAE Ambassador to Ireland, Khalid Nasser Rashid Lootah on the side lines of the annual forum of the ‘International Charity Bazaar 2013’ in Dublin.

The event is held under the patronage of the Irish president and organisation and support of all foreign embassies accredited to Dublin. Proceeds will go for fighting poverty, supporting women and children around the world.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation in humanitarian work aspects, where Michael D Higgins highlighted the prime role of the UAE in supporting the humanitarian and work and aid.

During the Forum, Lootah affirmed UAE’s keenness to provide humanitarian and relief assistance all over the world since they have continuous and direct follow up from President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He added that the total assistance provided by the State since 1971 reached to more than Dh 160 billion, making it one of the first countries in this regard.

He also pointed out to the UAE’s initiatives in the field of supporting children around the world, including the ‘Dubai Cares’ launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in 2007, where its programmes during the past five years reached to over 7 billion children around the world, in addition to the initiative of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces to provide Dh 440 million to support the global efforts to eradicate polio by the year 2018, which was announced during the ‘Global Vaccine Summit, held in Abu Dhabi last April.

The UAE Diplomat hailed the Irish contribution in the field of supporting humanitarian work worldwide.