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THE largest and most diverse Edinburgh international culture summit begins today with more than 40 ministerial delegations and over 60 speakers taking part.

Running over three days, the event will see some 42 countries represented, including America, Spain, Singapore, Rwanda, New Zealand, Italy, Bangladesh, Slovenia and Ukraine.

The theme of this year’s summit, the third, is “Culture: Building Resilient Communities” and has three distinct, interlinking strands; culture and heritage, economics and participation.

Presiding OfficerFirst Minister
My Lords and Ladies
Fellow Recipients
Ladies and Gentlemen

My sincere thanks to the Scottish Parliament for welcoming us here today in this magnificent building, in the homeland of Andrew Carnegie.

Dr. Robinson, thank you for your most generous remarks. It is especially humbling to hear these kind words from an individual of such great accomplishment, who has served not only her own country with distinction, but also the global cause of human rights.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was today among six recipients of the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
At a ceremony held in the Debating Chamber of Scotland?s Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and now Director of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative, presented the Medal to the Aga Khan..

Medal recipients pose for a group photograph with the Presiding Officer, Rt. Hon George Reid MSP, and Chair of the Carnegie Medal Committee, William Thomson.

Billionaire racehorse owner the Aga Khan holds his trophy after being presented with a prestigious award for philanthropy, at the Scottish parliament, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Tuesday Oct. 4, 2005. The Aga Khan recieved the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, an accolade widely regarded as the philanthropy world's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. The ceremony was the first time the event, inaugurated in 2001 and held every two years, had taken place outside the United States.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Sir Tom Farmer, Scottish recipient, and the Rt. Hon. Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland, hold discussions before the Award Ceremony.

His Highness the Aga Khan gives his acceptance speech upon receiving the Andrew Carnegie Medal, as Sally Magnusson, BBC presenter, and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights look on.

His Highness the Aga Khan, one of the six recipients of the 2005 Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.