Your Royal Highness, Sheikh Hamad, Prime Minister Mahathir, Majesties, Excellencies,
Unhappily, grave issues concerning a region that is of central concern to all of you prevent me from joining you in person for this important Summit. I greatly regret this –not least because I was looking forward to visiting Malaysia –a country that has made such remarkable economic and social progress, and where different ethnicities, cultures and faiths live together in peace.