This was one of the poorest, most marginalised areas in the world. We were looking for ways to improve income. First we brought 33,000 hectares of land back into production with irrigation projects, improving livestock and productivity. We decided to make an inventory of all the assets of the area and to decide how they could be used. Interviewer: Marcus Binney ...

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I have had a feeling that in Europe, but also in Asia and Africa, many, many of the conflicts have been driven by peoples or faiths or tribes who do not accept the existence of others, who want power or who want to normatise religious attitudes or things of this sort. I don't believe these societies are born into the acceptance ...

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I don't believe that societies are born pluralist. Pluralism has to be omnipresent in civil society ... it's got to be part of the way a society is constituted. Interviewers: Chris Mikula and Hayley Mick The Aga Khan says the Muslim world has been late to join the West in the debate over the most pressing ethical issues of our time, ...

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The Delegation will serve a representational role for the Imamat and its non-denominational, philanthropic and development agencies which constitute the Aga Khan Development Network -- the AKDN. An open, secular facility, the Delegation will be a sanctuary for peaceful, quiet diplomacy, informed by the Imamat's outlook of global convergence and the development of civil society. It will be an enabling venue ...

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29 May 2005 (Islamabad): Luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.29 May 2005 (Islamabad): Dinner hosted in honour of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.30 May 2005 (Skardu): Shigar Fort Opening Ceremony (postponed?) SOURCESismaili.net POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...

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There is one other front on which the battle must be waged, however, and it has to do with media owners and managers. Too often, those who set the media agenda see it primarily as a business agenda. Too often the measure of media success is simply financial profit. I think this attitude is wrong -- it often makes for manipulative ...

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We have seen, in the last quarter of a century, many pluralistic nations pay a horrible price because they were unable to manage conflicts between different communities. (Canada, on the other hand) has a long and highly successful track record of pluralism. It is a sophisticated democracy where people of different backgrounds feel they have an equitable voice in the country ...

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Canada has for many years been a beacon to the rest of the world for its commitment to pluralism and for its support for the multicultural richness and diversity of its peoples. Canada has embraced pluralism as a foundation for strength and growth. Therefore, I am extremely pleased that the Government of Canada under Prime Minister Paul Martin's leadership has joined ...

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Just as we read about the supposed clash of civilisations, we read about so-called "failed states." In fact, at least in my definition of a state, it cannot fail. What we are observing in reality is the massive failure of democracy around the world. I estimate that some 40% of the states of the United Nations are failed democracies. Depending upon ...

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I am very pleased about the partnership that this agreement furthers -- a partnership grounded in common principles of human security, conflict prevention, cultural promotion and community development. This agreement builds on a 20-year long relationship and sets in place a framework for future growth. Hilde F. Johnson, Minister of International Development, and His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) ...

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A fundamental lesson, which reinforced our experience in other countries, is that public-private partnerships can be effective mechanisms for enhancing the value of underused, unappreciated or even unknown social, cultural and economic assets.... A second fundamental lesson is that when embarking on a project of this complexity we must be prepared for the unpredictability of discovery. There will be delays and ...

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The existence of the Park is proof of brotherhood, proof of aspiration towards moving towards a common goal which is to create in Cairo a place which is beautiful where all generations could find happiness and peace, where all people from different economic levels could feel comfortable as they perambulate throughout this space.... And I want to assure you that until ...

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The message of [Cairo's] skyline is the question of whether the inherited institutions and the presence of places of worship are important, or whether it is the urban growth that is going to dominate people's perception of city life? The Western world has gone through the same process: church towers became insignificant buildings. That may not be a healthy way of ...

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