UN General Assembly pays tribute to Sheikh Khalifa

UN flag lowered to half-staff as mark of respect

Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of the Rotana Hotel Group, with the late President, Sheikh Khalifa. 'He cared about the well-being of people not only in the UAE, but all over the world,' says Mr Al Nowais. Photo: Nasser Al Nowais

Sheikh Khalifa in Dubai in 1971. Magnum Photos

An undated photo of Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

A young Sheikh Khalifa (seated). Wam

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his son Sheikh Khalifa watch a military parade in 1978. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed, centre, and Sheikh Khalifa seated to his right. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed inspects plans for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with his sons Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Sultan. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Khalifa, left, greets Jordan's King Abdullah in Abu Dhabi on May 16, 2000. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa performs Umrah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Wam

An image of Sheikh Khalifa is projected on to a building in Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

President, Sheikh Mohamed, left, with Sheikh Khalifa in 2009. Philip Cheung / The National

Sheikh Khalifa watches the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 1, 2009, with Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ryan Carter / The National

Sheikh Khalifa attends National Day celebrations at Zayed Sports Stadium on December 2, 2011. Philip Cheung / Crown Prince Court

The UAE football team meet with Sheikh Khalifa on Saturday, January 19, 2012, after their 2-1 victory over Iraq in the Gulf Cup final in Bahrain. Wam

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle, England, on April 30, 2013. Reuters

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa at Al Bateen Palace, Abu Dhabi. Wam

The 193 member states of the UN General Assembly have honoured Sheikh Khalifa.

Tributes were paid before the UN body convened a meeting, state news agency Wam said on Tuesday.

“At this time of mourning, let us take inspiration from the prudence and patience His Highness demonstrated throughout his life,” said UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.

“Let us recall his advice that preparing for the future — near or far — starts today, not tomorrow.”

The meeting was chaired by Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives.

“With the late president’s strategic foresight and political wisdom, complemented by a healthy ambition and genuine desire to achieve socio-economic progress, the UAE has today evolved into an aviation, finance, education, renewable energy, technology, culture and tourism hub,” Mr Shahid said.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, permanent representative of the US to the UN, and representatives of Mauritius, Peru, Denmark, Oman, the Czech Republic, Kuwait, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also expressed their condolences and spoke highly about Sheikh Khalifa, especially his humanitarian work.

At the meeting, Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN, expressed her gratitude to those who offered their condolences to the government and the people of the Emirates.

“Sheikh Khalifa was a wise leader and a symbol of peace. He was a role model for our generation with his humility and humanity,” she said.

“His achievements will serve as a foundation for generations to build upon as we continue our journey under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the leader who will guide the UAE on its ambitious journey of development and prosperity, with the support of the rulers of the Emirates.”

Before the meeting, the UN flag was lowered to half-staff in tribute to Sheikh Khalifa.

On May 18, the UN Security Council opened its meeting by honouring Sheikh Khalifa with a moment of silence.

Sheikh Khalifa died on May 13, aged 73.

Dozens of leaders and senior officials travelled to Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to the leader, who had served as president since 2004.