The Scottish Parliament met in Aberdeen this week as a result of a partnership between the University of Aberdeen and the City Council. It sat in Aberdeen from 28-30 May 2002 when the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met on the Mound, the Parliament's usual home in Edinburgh.
The University and the City were deeply proud to have been able to work in partnership. Combined with the Golden Jubilee visit of Her Majesty The Queen, it has been an historic event for the City and the North East of Scotland.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer, Sir David Steel, yesterday praised Aberdeen for hosting The Scottish Parliament. First Minister, Jack McConnell, also thanked the people of Aberdeen for hosting The Scottish Parliament. Principal C Duncan Rice and Councillor Len Ironside welcomed Sir David's and Jack McConnell's comments.
Principal Rice said: "It has been a wonderful week, with a real buzz of excitement around the campus. The University is delighted to have been able to play a major part in making the visit of The Scottish Parliament such a success.
"Together with the City Council we have clearly shown that Aberdeen is not just able to accommodate The Scottish Parliament but that we also have the capacity to do it with some style.
"We very much hope that The Scottish Parliament will give us an opportunity to welcome it back to King's College once again in the future.
"It has been a pleasure for my colleagues to work with the City executive, under the splendid leadership of Douglas Paterson. The week has been a triumph for Aberdeen and I can't imagine a city management team we would have found it easier to work with. I am also deeply proud of the University's staff.
"The impact of the visit on our North East community has been superb, and we would love to repeat it."
Lord Provost Margaret Smith said: "This has been an historic week for Aberdeen with both a Royal visit by Her Majesty the Queen and the sitting of The Scottish Parliament in the City. The City and its people rose to the occasion with style and I am sure that the many visitors to Aberdeen will have left with a marvellous impression of the City and the work of both the Council and the University of Aberdeen to ensure that their stay was both enjoyable and informative.
"This has been a prime example of partnership working which I am sure will play an ever more important part in the development of the City through the community planning process.
"I am sure that our guests will leave the City as ambassadors for Aberdeen and spread the good word of their visit far and wide. Congratulations must go to all those who have contributed to making this such a memorable week for all concerned that I hope will result in long term benefits for this area."
Council Leader Len Ironside said: "The visit by The Scottish Parliament to Aberdeen has been an excellent opportunity to highlight many of the important issues facing the City and the North East. We have been able to show Ministers and MSPs from across Scotland at first hand the pioneering work being done in the City, in both the public and private sectors, and where assistance from The Scottish Parliament and the Executive can make the most significant difference to the future life of the City and its people.
"We hope that they will return to Edinburgh inspired by what they have seen and with a greater understanding of the needs of this area which plays a crucial role in the ongoing success of Scotland's economy as a whole.
"We also hope that they will act on what they have learned and await future announcements concerning Aberdeen and the North East with great interest."
Full details of the visit of The Scottish Parliament to Aberdeen this week and photographs taken of the historic day when Her Majesty The Queen visited Aberdeen are available on the web: www.abdn.ac.uk/scottishparliament and http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acc/default.asp