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Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Avignon Forum on The value and importance of cultural diversity and its role in promoting peace and development

Minister of Culture and Communication,
European Commissioner for the Information Society and the Media,
Ministers,
Representatives of the European Union,
Representatives of international organisations and institutions,
Representatives of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and the Département of Vaucluse,
Your worship, the Deputy Mayoress of Avignon,
Representatives from the world of culture and economy,

Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Avignon Forum: The value and importance of cultural diversity and its role in promoting peace and development

Zarkava, in the Aga Khan's green & red colours, comes from behind to win!

Carla Bruni yesterday gained a rival as the most photographed female in France as Zarkava produced a stunning performance to add her name to the roll call of Arc greats.

Bruni, the former model who is the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has grown accustomed to the paparazzi pressing cameras in her face, but the best filly in the world got a taste of the snapping tussle as the flickering lenses pressed into her in the winner's enclosure.

ZARKAVA was crowned Queen of Europe after a breathtaking win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp yesterday.

The Aga Khan’s unbeaten filly, who was stretching her run to seven, has never been more impressive as she stormed two lengths clear of Youmzain in the Paris thriller.

Soldier Of Fortune dead-heated with It’s Gino for third but Duke Of Marmalade never looked like winning his sixth Group 1 of the season.

Zarkava became the first three-year-old filly to win the race since Akiyda, also owned by the Aga Khan, in 1982.

The owner of Zarkava his highness Aga Khan, his daughter Zahra Aga Khan and French jockey Christophe Soumillon after winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse race at Longchamp race track in Paris , Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008.

Simply the best: Rivals are left trailing as Zarkava scoots clear to land the race

For one dramatic moment at the start of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the fabulous French filly Zarkava looked in danger of ducking out of the biggest challenge in her short career. But jockey Christophe Soumillon's quick reflexes and brilliant horsemanship saved the day.

The Aga Khan spoke of history and heritage after Zarkava's outstanding victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe here yesterday, of the five generations of his family, in India and Europe, who had worked towards this moment of triumph. The course announcer was more direct. "Quelle pouliche!", he shouted, as the crowd streamed back towards the winner's enclosure. "Quelle pouliche! Extraordinaire!"

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Super filly Zarkava, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, stormed to victory in the $5.58 million Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, the world's richest race on turf.

The hot favourite, overcoming fears about the softish ground, took up the running with 300 metres to go and quickly put the issue beyond doubt. She has now won all her seven races.

Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre for the Aga Khan, Zarkava became the first filly to win the Arc since Urban Sea in 1993.

Winning Filly Zarkava

Unbeaten filly proves her class in Longchamp romp

The Aga Khan's sensational filly Zarkava lived up to expectations by storming to victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The hot favourite came with a sweeping run under a confident Christophe Soumillon to retain her unbeaten record and become the first filly since Urban Sea in 1993 to land the Longchamp feature.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan celebrates the win at Longchamp.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan (L) and the Aga Kahn owner of French horse Zarkava wave at the crowd after his horse won the 87th Arc de Triomphe horsing race ,the world's richest race on turf, at Longchamp Racecourse near Paris October 5, 2008. mbdartz

Zarkava's owner-breeder Karim The Aga Khan poses with a trophy after his three-year-old filly ridden by Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon won the 87th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe race on October 5, 2008 at Longchamp racetrack in Paris . Zarkava produced one of the greatest performances in racing history here as she became the first winner to come from stall one since Prince Royale II in 1964 to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The owner of Zarkava his highness Aga Khan, center, his daughter Zahra Aga Khan and French jockey Christophe Soumillon hold their trophies after winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe horse race at Longchamp race track in Paris , Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008.

Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon after capturing the 87th Arc de Triomphe horsing race, the world's richest race on turf, at Longchamp Racecourse near Paris October 5, 2008.

Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon (2dR) poses with his trophy after winning the 87th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe race riding favorite filly Zarkava, flanked by Zarkava's trainer Alain de Royer Dupre (R), owner of the horse the Aga Khan and his daughter Princess Zahra on October 5, 2008 at Longchamp racetrack in Paris . Zarkava produced one of the greatest performances in racing history here at Longchamp as she became the first winner to come from stall one since Prince Royale II in 1964 to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.