(Abu Dhabi) – The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) organized a lecture entitled “The World Today: A Conversation with Nicolas Sarkozy,” delivered by the former President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Hall at the ECSSR Office Complex, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The lecture was attended by a huge crowd, including Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar); Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director General of the ECSSR; the ambassadors of a number of foreign and Arab countries in the UAE; senior officers of the armed forces; and a large group of diplomats, intellectuals, academics and researchers.
Sarkozy started his speech by thanking the ECSSR and its Director General, Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, for inviting him to deliver this lecture at this critical time. He praised the prominent role of the Center as a scholarly and research institution that plays a leading role regionally and globally. He also expressed his appreciation of Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, who shares “your leaders’ vision to achieve a balance between openness to modernity and maintaining tradition, without sacrificing adherence to the tolerant teachings of Islam.” He added: “It is my great honor to be your guest. I have admired your country for a long time. I believe in this country – this is not mere words and sayings, but rather facts and evidence.”
Sarkozy talked about the experience of founding, with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (may God protect him), the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. He also discussed the establishment of a French military base in Abu Dhabi, which he considers a great achievement; this was the first French base established outside French borders since the end of World War II.
He commented on this by saying: “I took that decision because mere friendly rhetoric about strategic relations will not be enough; there must be practical and live proofs and evidence for such [rhetoric]. The UAE, under its wise leadership and the insightful vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, proved that it is the country to establish a constructive and fruitful partnership with, and that it is able to achieve what other countries had failed to; that is to reconcile identity and modernity, and to remain loyal to Islam and open to the world cultures.”
He stressed that this “represents a message of hope from the UAE not only to the Arab world, but rather to the whole world.”
Sarkozy spoke about the challenges facing the Middle East. He said the region is experiencing crucial and profound transformations, with implications for everyone, and that the major challenge lies in maintaining the diversity of the Middle East. He added: “It is true that the desire to spread democracy everywhere is important, but I think that diversity is more important; as the East is strong with its diversity.”
He cited the words of General Charles de Gaulle: “I flew with simple ideas to the complicated East; that is the wealth of diversity.” He added: “You are facing two challenges: the first is confrontation between the Sunnis and Shiites, which is a source of concern for your friends.” The second challenge to which President Sarkozy referred was that posed by terrorist and extremist groups.
(Courtesy WAM)
