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The first batch of graduates of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) met His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at Qasr al Bahr, in the presence of High Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, on Monday.

High Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed congratulated the EDA graduates, the Board of Trustees and the teaching and administrative staff of the academy, and wished the graduates further success in serving their country through the diplomatic corps.

He was confident that the sons of the UAE will be capable of sustaining UAE's excellent image and emphasised the importance of specialist academic centres in building highly qualified, experienced and capable national personnel, he said.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed also underlined the important role of the graduates in propagating the UAE's message of tolerance, peace, development, friendship, co-operation and peaceful co-existence.

"It is important that we do not lose our smile and good manners when dealing with others. Working positively and optimistically is key for success and excellence," he said.

"As you represent the UAE in the international arena, we are confident that you will work hard to enhance the reputation the UAE has achieved by building bridges of friendship and positive ties with other nations, by perpetuating the approach of tolerance, co-existence and openness, upon which, our country is founded, and by realising our prudent leadership's vision for balanced and effective relations with all countries. Thanks to those factors, the UAE has earned the respect and trust of the world, and has become a leading destination for visitors and tourists from all over the world," Sheikh Mohamed said.

A batch of 50 students received their post-graduate diplomas in international relations from EDA during the graduation ceremony, held on Sunday.

In attendance were H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region; H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the EDA's Board of Trustees; H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO); Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Sheikhs and senior officials.

Also present were Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Member of the EDA Board of Trustees, Bernardino Leon, Director General of the EDA, and Omar Al Bitar, Deputy Director-General.