Tolerance is UAE’s soft power - Sheikh Nahyan

Tolerance Talks 2019 is a Khaleej Times initiative for the Year of Tolerance

The UAE has turned tolerance into its soft power and emerged as a global model for a prosperous and peaceful country, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, has said.
“Although the UAE is a young country, it has an impressive history of tolerance. Tolerance is part of the soft power of our country,” said Sheikh Nahyan while opening the inaugural Tolerance Talks series in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
A Khaleej Times initiative, the Tolerance Talks 2019 is a year-long series of talks aimed to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence as the UAE celebrates the Year of Tolerance.
The event was attended by Mohammed Abdul Latif Galadari, Director, Galadari Brothers; Vicky Kapur, Khaleej Times Executive Editor; Dr Tayeb Kamali, Director-General for Education and Training Development at the Ministry of Interior; and Nayla Al Khaja, Emirati film director.
Innovation in Tolerance
Lauding Khaleej Times for launching conversations on tolerance, the minister said the initiative is an “innovation to be applauded and encouraged.”
Sheikh Nahyan said the Ministry of Tolerance itself is an innovation by the government of the UAE. “It is the first and currently only such ministry anywhere in the world.”
The minister said the Tolerance Talks series is also an opportunity to reflect upon the journey of the UAE - “One of the most diverse countries in the world, but, at the same time, one of the most peaceful, harmonious and prosperous places on earth.” He said the Arabic-Islamic heritage and Sheikh Zayed’s vision have enabled the country to welcome its diverse population, engage them in dialogue, understand the differences and accept the shared values. “We view all human beings as members of one global society.”
At the same time, the minister emphasised that the country is not resting on its laurels and have learned that tolerance requires nurturing and hard work. He said the country is focused on promoting tolerance in all forms of communication and reinstating it through education.
“We wish to build local and global partnerships based on a tolerance that realises the potential in diversity. And we undertake continued societal and legislative initiatives that fight hate, promote mutual respect and celebrate our shared human values.
“These are some of the reasons that have made the UAE a global model of success as a peaceful, tolerant and prosperous country.”
Elaborating on the vision of the Ministry of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahyan said it “promotes tolerance by working with all of the country’s residents cooperatively on activities such as volunteer programmes, advocacy, education and awareness raising, public events and celebrations, while all the time undertaking research about the drivers of tolerance and the causes of intolerance as well as determining strategies and monitoring progress”.
“We aim for the ministry to always be known as a ministry of action, outcomes and impact. It will always be known as a ministry for all the country’s residents.”
Promoting inter-faith dialogue
Commenting on the historic visit to the UAE last month of Pope Francis and the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Sheikh Nahyan said “it was a great tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who worked tirelessly to make these visits possible”.
He said the visits celebrated the value of dialogue among peoples of different religions and beliefs.
“It clearly showed that dialogue does not require us to abandon our identities and our commitments. Dialogue does, however, require us to acknowledge, understand and explain our commitments as we gather knowledge about others.”
Making three observations at the end of his speech, Sheikh Nahyan said tolerance has been an essential virtue and a guiding principle for UAE’s people and its leadership from “As far back as I can remember”.
“Our region has always been a crossroad for people, ideas and commerce, and it has always welcomed travellers with unconditional hospitality. We grew up understanding the importance of celebrating the common bonds that unite all members of the human race.”
As his second observation, the minister emphasised the power of tolerance. “Tolerance will help us deal with important environmental issues. Tolerance will help solve conflicts and political disagreements. Tolerance will help improve education and encourage innovation so that all citizens can contribute to a knowledge-based economy. Tolerance will make us champions for human rights and human obligations.”
For his final observation, Sheikh Nahyan compared promoting tolerance to tending a beautiful garden.
“We know that gardens are most beautiful when they have flowers of many varieties. So too, our tolerant communities are those that have diverse populations.”
He said individual and joint actions will promote a greater degree of tolerance in the region and around the world. “Such an achievement would give me the greatest satisfaction and gloriously reinforce my pride in being the Minister of Tolerance in the UAE.”
In his opening remarks, Vicky Kapur said media plays a critical role in nation development.
“And with Tolerance Talks, our attempt is to further those efforts. Moving beyond news coverage, we believe it is time citizens and residents of the UAE, and those of this world, hear for themselves the stories of peaceful coexistence, love and respect for each other as human beings, irrespective of our race or religion or community,” he added.
— anjana@khaleejtimes.com