Source1, Source2, Source3, Source4, translated via Google
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Ismaili Imamat sign today an agreement for international cooperation within the framework of the visit to Portugal of institutional and spiritual leader of Muslims Ismailis, Karim Aga Khan.
The cooperation, through the Aga Khan Network for Development, may occur in states and regions of Asia and Africa considered to be of interest to the Portuguese government and where that network is deployed.
In addition to regular consultations on matters related to the sites concerned, the agreement to be signed today after a meeting with the prime minister, José Sócrates, stipulates that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese diplomatic services can benefit from the resources of the Network countries there is a wave diplomatic or consular representation Portuguese.
Over the past 50 years, the Aga Khan has led the growth of one of the largest private networks worldwide development aid, giving up the Network for the Aga Khan Development (AKDN) to a large number of activities in education, health and rural development, cultural and economic.
In 2005 the Portuguese government and the Aga Khan Network signed a protocol of cooperation and in the same year the Network has signed a partnership agreement with the Patriarchate of Lisbon for the urban community development for the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
The Aga Khan ends Monday for a five day visit to Portugal at the invitation of the Portuguese government, which fits into a series of journeys made in various parts of the world to mark the year of its golden jubilee of – the 50 anniversary since it is became the Imam, spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, an ethnically diverse community that resides in about 25 countries.
Karim Aga Khan was with the President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, and with the chairman of the Assembly of the Republic, Jaime Gama, and with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Luis Amado, and Justice, Alberto Costa. It was also attended by the High Commissioner of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio.
The Aga Khan is 49 of the hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismailis Muslims and directs a community of 15 million Muslims, eight thousand of which reside in Portugal.
For his followers, Karim Aga Khan, who acceded to the throne of the Ismaili Imamat July 11, 1957, is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, daughter of the Prophet.
Daily Digital / Lusa
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