In pictures: French president at the Birth of a Museum in Louvre, Paris

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  France and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement in 2007 to establish a universal museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, that is due to open in 2015. Alain Jocard/EPA

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  French President Francois Hollande, left, welcomes Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon, centre right, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority as he arrived for a visit of the exhibition “Birth of a museum” at the Louvre museum in Paris. Alain Jocard/EPA

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  Guests viewing the exhibits of the ‘Birth of a Museum’ at the Louvre in Paris, France. Wam

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  “Today we are celebrating an important stage in the development of Louvre Abu Dhabi”, Sheikh Sultan said, adding that the exhibition, being held in the Hall Napoleon, the largest temporary exhibition space in the museum, “marked a defining moment in the history of the museum”. Wam

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  The French President, centre left, clarified the relationship between The Louvre and Louvre Abu Dhabi saying: “Louvre Abu Dhabi is not an imitation of the Louvre, because we all know the Louvre is inimitable and not transportable,” he said. Alain Jocard/EPA

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  “What links these museums is a universal idea of culture and Abu Dhabi has displayed that will to be universal,” said president Francois Hollande. Wam

At the official ceremony held at the Louvre Museum, French President Francois Hollande was joined by Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, for the opening of Birth of a Museum.