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Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Rt. Honorable Speaker of Parliament
Honorable Ministers,
Trustees and President of the University,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Deans, Faculty and Staff of the University,
Parents, Donors, Supporters and Distinguished Guests,
And Graduands.

Humjambo and Karibuni. Hongera, Wanafunzi wote, I’m learning a little Swahili.

What a remarkable day this is – and what a pleasure it is to be here.

For Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bjTUo_P_vM

Honorable Ministers,
Trustees and President of the University,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Deans, Faculty and Staff of the University,
Parents, Donors, Supporters and Distinguished Guests,
And Graduands.

Humjambo and Karibuni. Hongera, Wanafunzi wote

What a remarkable day this is – and what a pleasure it is to be here.

This is a very important day in your lives, of course, and I must say that this first chance to share in an East African AKU convocation makes this a singular day in my life, as well.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Distinguished guests; governors, faculty, staff and students of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, families and very young children of the graduates; ladies and gentlemen,

President Frank and leaders of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada,
Madame Clarkson
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies & Gentlemen

Monsieur le Président, je voudrais vous remercier pour l’honneur que votre institut me fait aujourd’hui. Je remercie Monsieur Baird de m’avoir nommé pour recevoir ce prix si prestigieux et de ces paroles élogieuses.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Mr. Chairman, the Right Honorable Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond
Honourable President Ghani,
Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to express my gratitude to the Governments of Afghanistan and the United Kingdom for co-hosting this Conference. We welcome the reform agenda of the Government of National Unity, and we re-affirm our commitment to the peoples of Afghanistan in their journey towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous future.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

President of the Republic of Portugal
President of the Parliament
Secretary-General of the Council of Europe
Government Ministers and Members of Parliament
President of the Portuguese Parliament’s Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Chair of the Executive Committee of the North‐South Centre
Fellow laureate, Suzanne Jabbour
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a singular pleasure for me to be here with you and to tell you how deeply honoured I am by this remarkable award.

Deforestation is one of the great challenges of our times. Scientists estimate about half of all the forests that once covered the Earth are gone. The United Nations Environment Programme tells us that 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed around the globe every year. At that rate a forest the size of Kenya would be cut in less than six years. A forest the size of Uganda – three…

This year is the UN International Year of Forests. It should remind us of the importance of forests in our lives.

Thank you very much, Dr. Thompson and Dr. Wykle, for your warm and generous words of introduction. It is an honour to have been selected as a recipient of a leadership award by such a distinguished international professional organisation working in the field of health. It is particularly meaningful to receive this recognition from Sigma Theta Tau with its record of focussed dedication to the global advancement of nursing. I have long felt the enhancement of the nursing profession to be absolutely critical to the improvement of health care in the developing world, and the Islamic world.

On behalf of the International Social Development and Sports Foundation, let me welcome you to the International Ismaili Women's Forum. I hope that you have all had safe journeys, and that you are rested and ready for three days of hard work.

Before we begin, I would like to thank the Canadian National Council, the International Steering Committee and the many volunteers who have invested countless hours and made tremendous personal sacrifices to prepare this event.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Chancellor Labelle
President Rock
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests

Permettez-moi d'exprimer avant toute chose ma profonde reconnaissance pour l'insigne honneur que vous me faites.

Your Excellency President Museveni
Honourable David Migreko, Minister for Energy
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests

Let me begin by expressing my warmest thanks for your kind introduction and for this wonderful welcome.

Honourable Minister for Education Professor George Saitoti
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies
Chairman Dehlavi and the Members of the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees
President Firoz Rasul
Generous donors and well wishers of the University
Distinguished guests

My thanks go out to all of you for sharing in this occasion with me. It is a special one for many reasons - including my close ties over so many years to this country, and to so many here whose friendship has enriched my life.

As we meet here tonight, a deeply moving occasion for me, my thoughts turned first of all to my late Beloved Father who would have been so encouraged to see such a large gathering of Ismailis concentrated in a new land where they have never been before and as I think of my Late Father, I am greatly encouraged by the strength, the resilience, the tremendous ability to adapt, that all of you here have shown in settling in this great, this wonderful country.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Mr. Chairman, the Right Honorable Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond
Honourable President Ghani,
Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to express my gratitude to the Governments of Afghanistan and the United Kingdom for co-hosting this Conference. We welcome the reform agenda of the Government of National Unity, and we re-affirm our commitment to the peoples of Afghanistan in their journey towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous future.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Prime Minister Harper,
Your Highness, my brother,
Madame Clarkson,
Excellencies,
Ms Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages,
Honourable Ministers,
Chancelier de Broglie,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Prime Minister Harper,
Your Highness, my brother,
Madame Clarkson,
Excellencies,
Ms Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages,
Honourable Ministers,
Chancelier de Broglie,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

Distinguished guests,

Thanks you Mr. McDonald for your very kind words, and for protecting me from eggs and tomatoes for having studied at Le Rose.

Let me say what an honour and pleasure it is to share this important day with this graduating class, with your faculty, your parents, your alumni. I congratulate you most warmly for all your successes, not only in your academic endeavours but also in the many fields where you have demonstrated exceptional talent. In music and art, in drama and sports, and in so many other areas of endeavour.

Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada

February 28, 2014

Thank you Prime Minister for those most generous and gracious words.

Thank you also for the unique honour in asking me to address your Parliament yesterday. It was a moving day for me because I was talking to one of the most important partners that we have in any part of the world. (applause)

Video is now available here:

: http://www.youtube.com/embed/vSvXca3OiZo

His Highness the Aga Khan will deliver a Stephen A. Ogden Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs at Brown University on Monday, March 10, 2014, at 5 p.m. His lecture will be given as part of Brown’s 250th anniversary celebration and will be carried live on the Brown website.

Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare,
Dr. Seif Rashid,
His Excellency Marcel Escure,
Ambassador of France in Tanzania,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Please allow me first and foremost to welcome you all on this lovely day to the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam. We are truly grateful for your presence in what is a very important and exciting day in the life of this institution.