2011-07-22

The Heritage Society
Timeline 2011

2011, December 5: Bonn, Germany - Germany's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Michael Steiner (C) speaks with Prince Aga Khan (R) during the 10th annual international Afghanistan conference on December 5, 2011 in Bonn, Germany. Representatives from a variety of countries are meeting to discuss the future of Afghanistan, despite the absence of delegates from Pakistan following an incident in which NATO forces killed 24 Pakistani border guards recently. In a recent interview Karzai stated that his country will need foreign assistance for at least another decade once NATO troops leave. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)

2011, December 2: In 2005, the Aga Khan created the Foundation for the protection and development of the Domaine de Chantilly, the objective of which is restoring the estate by the year 2025. According to the ICOMOS web site, "Evening receptions are planned among other at the Cité de l’architecture and His Highness the Aga Khan makes us the honour of welcoming the ICOMOS membership at the Domaine de Chantilly, owned by the Institut de France, for a private visit. " [More]

2011, December 1: By Apolinari Tairo, eTN Tanzania | TANZANIA (eTN) - East Africa’s leading tourist hotel chain, Serena Hotels, has officially taken over Tanzania’s biggest hotel, the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel, in the Indian Ocean city of Dar es Salaam. Previously managed by Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel has been rebranded to the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel effective December 1, 2011 with a new management team. The 230-room, five-star hotel located at the central business district in Tanzania's commercial city is now under the ownership and management of the Serena Hotels chain which has a leading stake in the East African hospitality sector, operating hotels, lodges, and luxury tourist camps in key wildlife parks in East Africa.

2011, December 1: Bishkek, Kirgyzstan / Kabar NEWS/. H.H. The Aga Khan has arrived in Kyrgyzstan to attend the inauguration of the President-elect of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambaev at the official invitation of President Roza Otunbaeva. During the visit the Aga Khan will meet President Atambaev, former President Otunbaeva, and Speaker Keldibekov to discuss AKDN’s current and future partnerships with the Kyrgyz Republic supporting institution building, creating economic opportunities and enhancing regional stability. The meetings will also focus on AKDN’s expanding presence in Kyrgyzstan including in the areas of high-quality education and critical infrastructure development. [More from AKDN]

2011, November 24: BUILDING THE FUTURE: The Aga Khan Museum - The first of its kind in the Western world - Construction is underway on the future site of the Ismaili Centre Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum on Wynford Drive. Come 2013, a $300-million Ismaili project will come to life on Wynford Drive. Ground was broken on the project during a May 2010 ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Aga Khan. The 17-acre development in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area will be made up of the Ismaili Centre Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and a park. [ More]

2011, November 6: TANZANIA (eTN) - East Africa's leading hotel chain, Serena Hotels, has taken over the business of the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel Dar es Salaam. Acquisition of Movepick Hotel brings to 10 Serena luxury hotels, lodges, and camps in Tanzania. The Serena chain entered Tanzania in mid-1996 when former Tanzania President Mr. Benjamin Mkapa and His Highness The Aga Khan cut a ribbon to open two lodges and a hotel in northern Tanzania wildlife parks, the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge, and Lake Manyara Serena Hotel. [More]

2011, November 5: LOUISVILLE, KY - Churchill Downs: this weekend, The Aga Khan's owned horse Sarafina is favourite at the annual Breeders Cup meeting. The Grade I contest is run over a mile and a half, and features a prize pool of $3million. Sarafina went off as favourite for the Arc de Triomphe last month though did not win that race.

2011, November 4: In Chicago at the invitation of Illinois State Governor Patrick Quinn, The Aga Khan signed an Agreement of Cooperation. The Agreement of Cooperation establishes a basis for long term collaborative programmes in the fields of education, environmental stewardship and management, health sciences, library and information sciences, infrastructure development, agricultural sustainability, and culture.

2001, November 2: Ottawa, Canada - H.H. The Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrived Wednesday night for a 2 days visit in Ottawa. On Thursday H.H. the Aga Khan had meetings the whole day at the prestigious Delegation of Ismaili Imamat building with various people including International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda. Thursday night The Aga Khan hosted a dinner for a dozen high profile guests including previous United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Annan (who was also Nobel Peace Prize 2001) and ex Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson. The registration for the Multiculturalism meeting was held during the day at Chateau Laurier Wednesday where most of the delegates are staying. The Aga Khan and Princess Zahra's flights may both leave Ottawa early afternoon Friday.

30 October 2011 — Dushanbe, Tajikistan - H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in Tajikistan today accompagnied with Prince Rahim and Prince Amyn for the inauguration of the Dushanbe Serena Hotel. On October 31, His Highness the Aga Khan and President Emomali Rahmon will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new Tajik-Afghan bridge over the Panj River in Shouroobod district.

2011, October 30 Kabul — Leaving India for Tajikistan, H.H. The Aga Khan made a stop in Kabul, where he met with His Excellency President Hamid Karzai to discuss the progress of AKDN activities in Afghanistan. The Government of Aghanistan accorded His Highness a full state welcome, including a guard of honour.LPresident Hamid Karzai and Prince Karim Aga Khan in their meeting emphasized on acceleration of the infrastructure projects ater in the day, H.H. The Aga Khan departed Kabul for Dushanbe. [More]

2011, October 29: Delhi, India — H.H. The Aga Khan arrived in India to review progress on the restoration of Humayun's Tomb and the work at Sunder Nursery in the capital region of Delhi. The projects are part of a larger initiative that also aims to preserve and rehabilitate landmark buildings in Nizamuddin Basti, while improving the quality of life for inhabitants of the area. [More to come]

2011, October 27: LOS ANGELES / PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- An unparalleled leader in development, cultural preservation and philanthropy, largely benefiting poor and marginalized communities in Asia and Africa, is being honored with the 2011 Urban Land Institute (ULI) J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development. His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and leader of the nondenominational Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was named the 2011 Nichols Laureate today at ULI's Annual Fall Meeting and Urban Land Expo in Los Angeles. [More]

2011, October 25 DUSHANBE/KULOB, October 25, 2011 Asia-Plus -- His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is expected to arrive in Tajikistan on October 30 for a two-day visit. On October 31, His Highness the Aga Khan and President Emomali Rahmon will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new Tajik-Afghan bridge over the Panj River in Shouroobod district, Khatlon province. We will recall that the Vanj Bridge, the fourth in a series of bridges funded by the Aga Khan Development Network, was inaugurated on August 16. The bridge connects Tajikistan’s Vanj District with Mohi-May Vulusvoli in Afghanistan and is expected to enhance cross-border humanitarian assistance delivery, infrastructure development, socio-economic exchange, tourism and trade between the two countries. [More]

2011, October 19: Nairobi, Kenya - Speech by Prince Hussain Aga Khan at the Launch of Lions Clubs International-AKDN Tree Planting Initiative in Nairobi City Park [Speech] [Photos]

2011, October 17: HERAT, Afghanistan - Hundreds of Afghan craftsmen worked to restore the ruins' past glory with help from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and about $2.4 million from the U.S. and German governments. The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, was among the tourists drawn to Herat decades ago, and on Sunday he celebrated the citadel's restoration and the opening of a new museum of Afghan artifacts at the site. [Herat Citadel - more]

2011, October 3: Le Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe n'a pas usurpé, dimanche 2 octobre 2011, sa renommée d'épreuve reine du plat, offrant sur l'hippodrome de Longchamp un scénario à grand frisson au dénouement sensationnel. L'Aga Khan avec sa fille Zahra et en famille lors de l'édition 2011 du Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, qui a vu dimanche 2 octobre le sacre inattendu de la pouliche allemande Danedream, auteure du nouveau record de l'épreuve. Un scénario explosif auquel célébrités et turfistes ont assisté à Longchamp. Source: animal - people france - people international - sport - actu people [Superb photos here!] [More-1] [More-2] [More-3] [Many more photos here]

2011, September 19 (The Citizen Reporter) Zanzibar. The Ismailia community in Tanzania has extended assistance totalling Sh40 million to survivors of the recent ferry disaster in Zanzibar.The Aga Khan institutions which contributed the funds included Serena Hotel, Diamond Trust Bank Tanzania Limited, Jubilee Insurance Company, Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), Industrial Promotion Services, Aga Khan Health Service Tanzania and Air Uganda. [More]

2011, September 2: Paris, France - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird meets with His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, in Paris on September 2, 2011. They met to discuss the issue of combating religious intolerance and Canada’s commitment to create the Office of Religious Freedom. Minister Baird and the Aga Khan also took the opportunity to discuss the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

2011, August 26: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, is arriving in Tajikistan on August 27 for a three-day visit, according to the Tajik MFA information department, Asia-Plus reported. During his stay in Dushanbe, His Highness will hold talks with a number of high-ranking Tajik state officials and will review some programs of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Tajikistan, the source said. [Full Article]

2011, August 10: The Texas governor has had surprisingly warm, constructive relations with at least one group of Muslims over the years. Perry is a friend of the Aga Khan, the religious leader of the Ismailis, a sect of Shia Islam that claims a reported 15 to 20 million adherents worldwide. Sprouting from that friendship are at least two cooperation agreements between the state of Texas and Ismaili institutions, including a far-reaching program to educate Texas schoolchildren about Islam. [Full article here]

2011, July 30: EAC for closer ties with Aga Khan Development Network (IPP Media) - East African Community secretary general Dr. Richard Sezibera has called on the Community to work closely with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the areas of education, research and health care. Dr. Sezibera hailed the Aga Khan for conceptualizing the University of East Africa campus in Arusha which, he said, would contribute to the creation of an East African identity. “Your vision is very exciting and compelling and we [the East African Community] support these noble objectives meant to develop the region as a unit,” he said. [Photos and article here]

2011, July 27: A new graduate school that will offer postgraduate media and communication training was launched in Nairobi on Wednesday. The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications seeks to provide quality journalism training and promote media research and entrepreneurship. The first batch of students will be admitted in 2014. Prime Minister Raila Odinga presided over the foundation ceremony in Westlands, Nairobi’, on Wednesday. He was with the The Aga Khan, the chancellor of the university. The media school will lay emphasis on multi-media integration and innovation, media management, specialised reporting and research. It will also have a centre for media entrepreneurship. The courses will focus on ethics and independence, professionalism and social responsibility. The Aga Khan said the school will offer journalists skills to project stories correctly and reflect the true image of Africa. [This story from The Nation and more on the School of Media, click here] (New Photos added!)

2011, July 25: Aga Khan opens cancer treatment centre (Business daily, Nairobi) - Heart and cancer patients can now access quality treatment locally at reduced cost after Nairobi’s Aga Khan University Hospital opened Monday a state-of-the-art centre for both diseases. Built at a cost Sh4.25 billion ($50 million), the Heart and Cancer Treatment Centre is also hiring Kenyan specialists working elsewhere in the world to help reverse the migration of medical professionals abroad. “With this facility, we are offering a solid foundation for building an expanded corps of accomplished medical professionals in East Africa,” said His Highness the Aga Khan, during yesterday’s official opening of the unit. “Let us put behind us the days when young Africans had to go to other parts of the world for quality medical education - and too often stayed there,” he said. “Similarly, let us also forget the days when African patients had to travel to other parts of the world for quality medical care.” [ all Articles on Aga Khan Heart and Cancer Center] (new photos just added)

2011-07-22 - Nairobi, Kenya: [Photo: Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki meets His Highness the Aga Khan at Harambee House office, Nairobi July 22, 2011. PHOTO | PPS] The second part of the Kenya Visit of H.H. has started - Speaking Friday at his Harambee House office during a meeting with His Highness the Aga Khan, President Kibaki noted that no significant development could be achieved without adequate education and proper healthcare. In regard, the Head of State welcomed the Aga Khan University Hospital's move to establish an ultra-modern Heart and Cancer ( H&C) Centre in Nairobi. The $50 Million H&C is forecasted to open on Monday 25th July 2011 and though attended by a small number of guests, the ceremony will be broadcasted live to the Community at the Parklands Complex.

2011-07-14 - Nairobi, Kenya: The Aga Khan was welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and senior government officials. During his visit, the Aga Khan will preside over the opening of the Aga Khan University Hospital’s state-of the-art Heart and Cancer Centre. The unit, built at a cost of $50 million, is one of the best cancer and heart treatment centres in the region and comparable to any in developed countries. He will also preside over the ground-breaking ceremony of the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media. [More on this]

2011-07-14 - Nairobi, Kenya: TPS Serena has announced a Sh4 billion plan to upgrade the Nairobi Serena hotel as competition intensifies in Kenya’s hospitality industry The revamp will see the hotel chain establish a separate wing adjacent to the Nairobi hotel that will have a 300-seat conference centre, a car park, 40 new rooms and refurbished public areas. The annex will be built on a piece of land that is currently used as a car park by hotel guests. [More]

2011-07-13 - New Vision, Kampala - President Yoweri Museveni has held talks with The Aga Khan during a meeting at State House, Entebbe yesterday.The Aga Khan is on a two-day private visit to Uganda to review projects undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network.During his stay, The Aga Khan will meet members of the Ismaili community and inspect the construction works of the Bujagali hydro-electric power dam. [More]

2011, July 09: H.H. The Aga Khan or his representative attended in Juba to the ceremony of signing of the New Constitution of Southern Sudan which was held in the presence of international Heads of States and dignitaries. Photo: The Aga Khan's plane at the Juba Airport.

East Africa Visit Has Started!: H.H. The Aga Khan has arrived on 4th July in Dar es Salam for a 4 days of religious ceremonies with his community starting 5th July 2011 and culminating in a grand Darbar on 8th July 2011. The Tanzanian visit ended today 8 July with the departure of Mowlana Hazar Imam for Arusha. The Uganda visit is for 12 and 13 July and will be followed by similar visit to Kenya where His Highness will also attend to official functions which are expected to cover various development projects, either at the stage of foundation or completion such as the AKU Heart and Cancer centre, the Faculty of Media, the new AKDN building in Nairobi on General Mathenge Road, the City Park project etc...
CONFIRMED DIDAR DATES ARE: Dar es Salaam from 5 to 8 July, Kampala: 12 and 13 July - NAIROBI: 23 July Darbar, NAIROBI (in JK for local Jamats) : July 14,15 and 16 July - MOMBASA: July 21 For details of the visits, messages, celebrations, anecdotes etc [ click here!]

PHOTO: 2011, July 1st; Prince Aga Khan arrives for the wedding mass of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene in the Main Courtyard of the Prince's Palace in Monaco, 02 July 2011. Some 850 guests will attend the mass in the Main Courtyard. The ceremony will be broadcasted on giant screens in the Palace Square for about 3,500 Monegasques. EPA/EMMA FOSTER/POOL POOL AP REUTERS EPA [More]

2011, June 2: H.H. The Aga Khan at Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. [Photo]

2008, June 23, 2011 (by Edward Skira) The Aga Khan has been in Toronto the past few days. Yesterday he spent part of the afternoon touring the new Aga Khan Museum + Ismaili Centre. [More

2011, June 18: Princess Zahra Aga Khan accepted the Ashden Sustainable Energy Award on behalf of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS) at a VIP ceremony here at the Royal Geographical Society. [More on this]

2011, May 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Prince Hussain Aga Khan, second son of His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Isamili Muslims, will pay a visit to Tajikistan from June 2 to June 5, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

2011, May 26: A Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education will be launched at a high level forum to be held at UNESCO Headquarters on Thursday 26 May (13:30h Room I). UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will welcome participants to the event, followed by opening remarks from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The keynote speech for the Forum will be made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikha Hasina. Prime Minister of Mali Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé, the Aga Khan, founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network Foundation, and representatives of several corporate giants participating in the partnership including Nokia, Procter and Gamble, GEMS Education, Microsoft and the Packard Foundation, will also participate. (Source: Unesco)

2011, May 19: Ireland - The Aga Khan has flown to Ireland with members of his family to meet the Queen and will host a a private lunch in her honour after a tour of the stud farm. The Queen has taken a detour from her official itinerary to meet Sea The Stars at the Aga Khan's Gilltown stud in Kilcullen, Co Kildare this Thursday 19th May 2011 [Various news-clips for the Aga Khan's meeting with Queen Elizabeth II]

2011, May 16: Princess Zahra Aga Khan christens the new Azzurra – Jrenedo, Azzurra pic. Monday 16th May an important day for the team which represents the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), as the official naming ceremony of the new TP52 Azzurra takes place. Princess Zahra Aga Khan, President of the Board of Directors of the YCCS, will be present to act as godmother. From Tuesday 17th to Sunday 22nd May these grand prix racing yachts will do battle on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean before returning to the Mediterranean for a further four legs of the Audi MedCup circuit, currently the top professional circuit in existence. Azzurra will close the season on her home ground at the Audi TP52 World Championship, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo from second to October 8th. [Article here]

2011,May 4: Paris, France (APP) - Prince Karim hosts dinner for PM Gilani in Paris Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday attended a dinner hosted by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Aga Khan community.The Prime Minister arrived at Aiglemont - the estate of Prince Aga Khan, which is situated in the north of Paris.The dinner was also attended by Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Advisor to PM on Minorities Affairs Dr. Paul Jacob Bhatti.

2011, April 29: Prince Karim Aga Khan who was amongst the Queen's list for the wedding attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. [Photo of The Aga Khan at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton]

NEW! 2011, April 28: H.H. The Aga Khan has been awarded UCSF Medal 2011, University of California, San Francisco. Awarded annually, the UCSF Medal replaces the granting of honorary degrees and is bestowed on individuals who have attained preeminence in an area that is in support of UCSF's mission. “In developing civil society, education and health care are absolutely critical,” said the Aga Khan as he accepted the UCSF Medal. “And in developing civil society, we are not trying to bring mediocrity to the developing world. “We are trying to do exactly what UCSF is doing, which is to bring quality and excellence. And we cannot do that without partners. At the same time, UCSF needs to reach out to the world at large. I hope that the Aga Khan Development Network will be one of your partners.” [AKDN article and photos] [UCS articles and more]

Copyright Lawsuit- : 2,200+ Comments on Aga Khan Copyright Lawsuit are available here: [Comments from visitors of ismaili.net.]

2011, April 5: DUSHANBE, Asia-Plus -- Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan—founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), arrived in Dushanbe today. According to AKDN Tajikistan, during his one-day visit, Prince Amyn is reviewing progress of AKDN projects in the country, including the Dushanbe Serena Hotel. [Prince Amyn - More]

2011, March 30: Nairobi, Kenya - Needy pupils at 800 non-formal schools will benefit from a four-year multi-million shilling project to boost the quality of learning. The scheme, part of an Sh800 million project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) and the Aga Khan Foundation, will be launched on Friday. More than 200,000 pupils in slum areas in Nairobi, Mombasa and other areas will benefit annually. [USAid/AKF more]

2011, March 26: After a visit to Bishkek, Prince Rahim, along with her sister Princess Zahra visit Tajikistan. Prince Rahim's car had a minor accident in Bishkek but he came out safetly and was able to carry out normally all the meetings of the day. [More on AKFED and Humanitarian work of Prince Rahim and Princess Zahra in Central Asia here]

2011 March 13th: Kampala, Uganda - When one talks about philanthropy, our minds might run straight to Hollywood celebrities, but the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims has a special niche in that category, writes Edwin Nuwagaba of the Daily Mirror. "His other investments in Uganda include Industrial Promotion Services, Kampala Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd, Leather Industries of Uganda Ltd, Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers Ltd, West Nile rural Electrification Co., Diamond Jubilee Investment Trust, Diamond Trust Bank, The Jubilee Insurance Company, The Monitor Publications Ltd, Aga Han Hospital Kampala, Aga Khan schools, and Tourism Promotion Services (Uganda) Ltd (Serena hotels and resorts) among others. Yes, all this may sound like straight business, but the Aga Khan does it differently from popular tycoons. He makes money, but it is not his topmost priority." [Uganda Aga Khan projects - more on this article here]

2011 February 20: ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan has decided to grant financial support of $203,671 (Rs17 million) to the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP) for two projects in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. The agreements for the projects were signed on Thursday by Chihiro Atsumi, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, and Akbarali Pesnani, Chairman of the AKCSP, at Atsumi’s residence. [More on AKRSP & Japan Grant]




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