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Zayed stresses education's role for peace and harmony

ABU DHABI - Education can help the world to move from conflict to cooperation and has a tremendous potential to spread global values. Particularly in these challenging times, its role is vital in bringing people together and stimulating dialogue, while dispelling stereotypes and moving towards global understanding, collaboration and peace. This was stated here yesterday by the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in a message to a three-day 'E-Education Without Borders' conference organised by the Higher Colleges of Technology at Abu Dhabi's Federal National Council (FNC) premises.

The President said that the UAE prioritised education and had invested substantially and wisely in it, having one of the world's highest rates of participation in educational opportunities. He reiterated that the UAE was committed to providing all its graduates with productive employment opportunities and pointed out that the country was now a recognised leader in regional and global initiatives in the knowledge economy. He noted that the conference celebrated international dialogue and global awareness which were at the core of UAE's present and future vision. He urged the 500 students from 70 countries attending the conference to find ways to ensure that the Internet was usedeful means and that the education it promoted helped people to learn to live together in harmony.

In the message which was read out by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the HCT, Shaikh Zayed said that the UAE took its role in fostering regional and global peace and cooperation very seriously, adding that millions of people of different nationalities, from different cultures and with diverse religious beliefs, lived in the country in freedom and friendship and made valuable contributions to society. "Like all peace-loving people, we are appalled at the violence and tension we are witnessing in the world. As both Arabs and Muslims we find aggressive wars, terrorism, and indiscriminate killing of innocent people incomprehensible and repugnant. Our faith and our traditions place a great value on justice and respect for human dignity. Our history provides ample examples of inter-religious and international relationships," the President said. He urged the participants to follow the principles enshrined in the Holy Quran - "not to fight, dominate, despise, or destroy, but to reach out towards one another with compassion and understanding."

He pointed out that "global interdependence requires tolerance, mutual understanding and cooperation across religious and cultural boundaries," citing the example of the UAE "where our people take special pride in our traditions of international and intercultural cooperation." He had glowing tribute to the UAE which he called a "country of stable and effective political, economic and social institutions... a society with solid foundations, committed to the peaceful pursuit of solutions to the conflicts and problems of humankind."

He said that through the national commitment to excellence in education the country would have "an even better educational system and a stronger society in the future."

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