ABU DHABI // The first group of students graduated from the Emirates Diplomatic Academy on Sunday with a tribute to Saif Ghobash, the UAE’s first Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, named the group in memory of Ghobash, who was assassinated in 1977.
Fifty students received their post-graduate diploma in international relations during the commencement ceremony, while 18 received special recognition for completing research projects on UAE foreign relations.
Sheikh Abdullah thanked the President, Sheikh Khalifa, for efforts to build on the legacy of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed. He urged students to use Ghobash’s generosity, sacrifice and love of the nation as an inspiration.
“I also hope that you honour your families with the knowledge that whatever we give to our nation will always fall short,” said Sheikh Abdullah.
“But what is important is that we continue to try which is where your journey begins, and I hope through you, we will have a stronger Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Bernardino Leon, the academy’s director general, said its establishment is a reflection of the UAE’s approach to addressing world challenges.
“The UAE leadership has a unique approach to diplomacy that is cosmopolitan and Arab, international and local, traditional and innovative,” said Mr Leon, a Spanish former diplomat who served as special representative of the UN secretary general to Libya.
Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to Russia and a member of the academy’s board of trustees, said his family was honoured by the tribute to his father.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and other officials attended the ceremony.
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