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Chirac leaves after offering condolences

ABU DHABI - The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has received cables of condolences on the death of late president Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan from a number of world leaders.

Presidents Tarja Halonen of Finland, Svetozar Marovich of Serbia and Montenegro, and Saparmurad A. Niyazov of Turkmenistan cabled their condolences to Shaikh Khalifa.

His Highness Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also received cables from Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and the Turkmenistan’s leader.

Shaikh Khalifa yesterday received Yoriko Kavaguchi, Special Assistant to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who offered condolences. Fouad Mebaza, Speaker of the Tunisian House of Representatives and emissary of President Zein El Abidine Ben Ali, offered his condolences to Shaikh Khalifa in the presence of Shaikh Maktoum.

The envoy conveyed condolences from the Tunisian leader and people to Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Maktoum, Rulers of the emirates, and Lt-General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, President Jacques Chirac of France left yesterday after offering condolences. He was seen off by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education, Saif Sultan Mubarak Al Aryani, UAE Ambassador to France, and Francois Gouyette, French Ambassador to the UAE.

In a statement made earlier by the French president, he described Shaikh Zayed as “one of the greatest personalities the world has ever seen in modern times.”

He added that he had great respect for Shaikh Zayed, noting that their strong friendship had been a long time one, and that is why he left the European Union summit currently going on in Brussels to come down here to offer condolences to the UAE government and people on the death of Shaikh Zayed. He further cited the good deeds and great achievements made by the late UAE leader, who, he said, the world would dearly miss.

He also lauded the excellent relations between the UAE and France. He attributed the cause of improvement of ties between the two countries to the strong friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.

Chirac expressed great appreciation for Shaikh Zayed’s role in strengthening the bilateral ties.

Shaikh Khalifa also received condolences from local officials, diplomats and UN representatives. He also received condolences from Abdullah Rashid Al Nuaimi, Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary, and other top ministry diplomats and senior officials.

Heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country, led by their dean Qatari Ambassador Abdullah Mohammed Al Uthman, also called on the President to offer their condolences.

Representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was also among the dignitaries who offered condolences to Shaikh Khalifa.

They expressed their deep sorrow and sadness over the demise of Shaikh Zayed and prayed to the Almighty Allah to rest his soul in peace and grant his family the patience to bear the great loss.

Accepting condolences along with Shaikh Khalifa were the other sons of Shaikh Zayed and other members of the Al Nahyan family.

Shaikh Khalifa met Speakers Saeed Mohammed Kindi of the Federal National Council (FNC) and Abdullah Al Masoud of the National Consultative Council (NCC) who came to offer condolences.

Members of the two houses, top army and police commanders, Islamic scholars, UAE dignitaries and figures from the business, economic, cultural and sports sectors as well as a crowd of citizens and residents also called on the President to offer sympathy on the death of Shaikh Zayed.

Her Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE Women’s Association, received here yesterday a cable of condolences from Mrs Laila bin Ali, wife of the Tunisian president.