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SPEECH BY H.H. THE AGA KHAN
OPENING CEREMONY OF NEW PARKLANDS FLATS, NAIROBI, KENYA
3:45 pm, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1961.

SPEECH BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
OPENING CEREMONY OF SPECIAL SCHOOL, NAIROBI, KENYA
5:30 PM, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1961

Ladies and Gentlemen, My Spiritual Children,

For a number of hours earlier today I has wondering whether I would arrive in Kenya in time to be present here to open this new School. My worries were all the more sharpened by the fact that I attach special. importance to this afternoon's ceremony.

Speech By His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan
Lisbon, Portugal
Institutional Dinner

July 13, 2008

Darbar with the Jamat was held earlier the same day.

After a variety show presented by the youth of the Portugal Jamat and presentation of gifts by the leaders – a silver filigree piece depicting a16th century caravel (sailing ship), Hazar Imam made the following remarks.

I would like to tell you how immensely happy I am to have been here tonight and to have celebrated with you this Jubilee visit to Portugal.

Burnaby will be marking the golden jubilee of the Aga Khan with a new 13-acre park in the Central Valley.

The “contemplative nature park” will be built on city-owned land but funded, designed and constructed by the Aga Khan Development Network, said city parks director Dave Ellenwood.

“Right now we’re just very excited at the prospect of working with such a prominent organization.”

Aga Khan IV is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. The Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, to become the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He has spent his life working to strengthen the Muslim community through his belief that the ethic of Islam “requires members of the faith to contribute to improving the quality of all human life.”

Early Days

As part of his official Golden Jubilee visit to France, Mawlana Hazar Imam spent the day meeting with senior government leaders.

Mawlana Hazar Imam visited the French Ministry of the Interior at Place Beauvau, where he met Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of the Interior, Overseas France and Local Authorities. Afterwards, Hazar Imam and Prince Rahim were welcomed by Prime Minister François Fillon at the Hôtel Matignon, the Prime Minister's official residence.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - 12 déc. 2008) - L'honorable Jason Kenney, ministre de la Citoyenneté, de l'Immigration et du Multiculturalisme, a formulé la déclaration suivante pour l'anniversaire de Son Altesse, le Prince Karim Aga Khan, le 13 décembre :

Je voudrais présenter mes meilleurs voeux d'anniversaire à Son Altesse, le Prince Karim Aga Khan.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 12, 2008) - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement on the birthday of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, which is on December 13:

"I would like to extend warm birthday wishes to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan.

A full hour before he showed up, a throng of more than 100 of his followers waited patiently on Sussex Drive Saturday afternoon, enduring the cold for the chance of a mere glimpse of their spiritual leader.

When the Aga Khan arrived at the opening ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, accompanied by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, a great cheer arose from the crowd outside.

This in turn set off a round of excited giggling from the throngs of dignitaries inside the dramatic main atrium of the delegation.

SINGAPORE: The visiting hereditary spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili community, the Aga Khan, called on President S R Nathan at the Istana on Tuesday.

The Aga Khan, who is on a three—day visit from December 1—3, is also celebrating his Golden Jubilee.

He will be celebrating it with the Ismaili community from the Asia Pacific region, to commemorate the 50th year of his accession to the Imamat.

On Tuesday, the Aga Khan was also hosted to lunch by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

This is Aga Khan’s third visit to Singapore.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismailis, arrived here on Sunday night on a short visit to Pakistan, Dawn has learnt.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik received him at Chaklala Air Base. The prince’s prominent followers were also present at the base.

During his stay in Pakistan, Prince Karim Aga Khan will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday, the source said. He will leave Islamabad on Monday afternoon. —Staff Reporter

Six years ago, the Aga Khan presented architects with an unusual challenge: create for him a headquarters in Ottawa that was both transparent and translucent, pleasing and confusing, mysterious, esoteric and ethereal. The budget was impressive, and the demands were exacting. The stunning $54-million structure that resulted officially opens today. Here, according to Maria Cook, who has spoken with the designers and builders and toured the building, is how it came to be.

The Aga Khan, the Ismaili Muslim spiritual leader who ended an eight-day Canadian tour in Vancouver less than two weeks ago, is back in Ottawa today to open a new architectural landmark on Sussex Drive.

The $50-million building is to be the permanent home of the Ismaili Imamat delegation - in effect, an embassy for representatives of his 15 million followers who are scattered in 25 or 30 countries around the globe.

It's the first such Ismaili delegation anywhere, though another is planned for Portugal, and the Aga Khan says more will be eventually built in other places.

I learnt much from my meeting with the Aga Khan yesterday. The present Aga Khan is the 49th Imam of the 15 million Nizari Ismaili Shias living in different parts of the world. Through his foundation, the Aga Khan Development Network, he funds all kinds of philanthropic activities in many countries serving Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Once discriminated against in Iran where the Aga Khan's family was from, the Ismaili community there now lives in harmony with the other Shias.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRESS STATEMENT

VISIT BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
2 DECEMBER 2008

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili community, is currently in Singapore on a visit from 1 to 3 December 2008. His Highness called on President S R Nathan this morning and was hosted to lunch by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo also met with His Highness this afternoon.

OTTAWA — The Aga Khan, the Ismaili Muslim spiritual leader, opened a new $50-million architectural landmark on Ottawa’s famed Sussex Drive on Saturday.

The new building will be a link between the spiritual dimensions of Islam and the cultures of the West, the Aga Khan said.

“It affirms our intent to share, within a western setting, the best of Islamic life and heritage,” he said. “It will be a site for robust dialogue, intellectual exchange and the forging of new partnerships” with the Canadian government, academics and international organizations.

We members of the Citizen editorial board had the pleasure of meeting the Aga Khan a few years ago. I'm thrilled to see his new delegation open on Sussex Drive, for many reasons. One of them is that Canada's capital should contain nodes of international networks, and the Aga Khan's network is one of the most effective I know.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs. Harper
Chief Justice Beverly McLaughlin and Mr. McCardle
Madame Adrienne Clarkson and Mr. John Ralston Saul
Your Excellencies
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Je voudrais commencer mes commentaires aujourd'hui en vous souhaitant la bienvenue dans le nouveau bâtiment de la Délégation de l'imamat ismaili à Ottawa. Nous sommes ravis que vous participiez à cette journée importante pour nous.

Ottawa, Canada: The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat building, situated at 199 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, is established by His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam, or spiritual leader, of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, and founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). This new building was officially inaugurated on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

A secular facility, the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat will serve a representational role for the activities of the Imamat including its development agencies which constitute the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Unlike his father, a notorious playboy who had an eye for racehorses and Hollywood starlets, his highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV--the highness part was bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth--has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes, including the empowerment of women in Muslim society.