Mohamed bin Zayed honours Zayed Book Award winners 1st add

(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said he was extremely proud of being named the Cultural Personality of the Award in its ninth session 2014/2015 which, he said, carried the name of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a name that left an enduring legacy in the history, a stature that time will also remember and an increasingly embedded place in the hearts.

H.H. said, ''Our words, poems and achievements speak one language, which is the language of the UAE and is based on the deeply-rooted principles of the late founding fathers: Zayed bin Sultan and Rashid bin Saeed. In fact, this honouring today is a recognition of their school and celebration of the eloquent UAE language through which we address the world.'' ''I escorted Sheikh Zayed for years and my story with him started before and after the birth of the Union. I witnessed a meeting that brought Zayed with Rashid in a tent to lay the foundation of the Union. There, history wrote down the first page of the evolution of the UAE state,'' he recalled.

''We have learned from Zayed how to address the world; how to shape our identity and culture; how to chronicle our own history. We have also learned that history writes only what is worth to be written and that there is no respect, glory and prestige without achievements that speak volumes. Otherwise, the world will never listen to our poem which is perfectly written with the rhymes and meter of prominence, excellence and leadership,'' he added.

''This award has special significance as it carries the name of Zayed who held us in his heart and mind and we became his concern and dream.

His people deeply loved him, held him in a high regard and his name was a synonym for great words and deeds.'' Sheikh Mohammed paid profound tribute to his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, for his noble, fraternal feelings, the warm hospitality and his initiative to launch and sponsor this annual award and for launching cultural initiatives that promoted the cultural personality of the UAE internationally, thus transforming the country into an attractive destination for smart minds in thought, science and knowledge.