Sheikh Abdullah recalls sunny walks, EU tour with his father

Sheikh Zayed met most of the European leaders of his time and developed friendships with them.

Looking back on his first European trips with his father, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, remembered basking in the sun, strolling around a picturesque city, and squinting at the shimmer of a lake.
"One of my first trips to Europe with my father, Sheikh Zayed, was to Switzerland, and one of my favourite memories from that trip is our time walking together in the beautiful city of Lausanne, with a view of the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva," the minister said.
"To this day, Lausanne reminds me of these sunny walks with my father, and Switzerland continues to enjoy an outstanding reputation in the UAE, and is a popular destination for Emiratis."
Europe was close to the founder's heart and he had learned a lot from his trips across the continent in the 1950s and the 1960s. The partnerships that bound the European Union (EU), in particular, had inspired Sheikh Zayed's vision of what he wanted the UAE and the Gulf region to become, Sheikh Abdullah  said. "From the start, the (European Union) was built on a vision of shared interests and values, shared resources, and shared commitment to peace and prosperity."
"This was a vision that greatly resonated with Sheikh Zayed's own vision for the lands that now make up the UAE. It was also the vision that was behind his drive for the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation council," he said.
Sheikh Zayed met most of the European leaders of his time and developed friendships with them, including the queen of the UK, the kings of Spain and Belgium, the chancellors of Germany and Austria, and the successive presidents of France, Sheikh Abdullah said.
"(He) laid the foundations for an active foreign policy inspired by his wisdom and moderation, based on the need to ensure an equilibrium in international relations and to stand up for truth and justice. This balanced approach has since become a hallmark of the UAE's foreign policy."
He earned the respect of foreign and Arab leaders, and had been known all over the world as a humanist and philanthropist - but at home, in the UAE, Sheikh Zayed was a father, not just of Sheikh Abdullah and his siblings but the entire nation.
He was  a man for others and he had firmly advocated for equality and dignity for all, regardless of where they come from. So among all the founder's quotes, Sheikh Abdullah would want everyone to remember one in particular: "To treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul, is a mark of Islam."
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Abu Dhabi