Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, joined with other rulers of the United Arab Emirates on Saturday in praising the contributions of President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the modern UAE.
The Emirates’ official news agency (WAM) quoted the rulers of the country as saying that the state had achieved under Sheikh Zayed’s wise leadership great progress and prosperity in record time.
On the occasion of the 30th National Day, the leaders expressed in interviews by Dira'a Al Watan magazine their joy at the auspicious occasion and spoke about achievements of the 30 years of the country's federation march.
Sheikh Maktoum was quoted as saying that December 2, 1971, marked the emergence of the UAE Federation under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed.
Sheikh Maktoum described the federation as the most successful model of federation in the Arab and Muslim World, said the agency.
The following is the text of Sheikh Maktoum’s statement as published by WAM:
"Sheikh Zayed, with the support of my brethren, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council Rulers of the emirates, has led this country to a comprehensive development and progress, which covered all aspects of life.
"The UAE has witnessed a booming industrial development, which has contributed immensely to enriching the country's GNP and diversifying its sources. It has also attracted more foreign capital, thereby creating more job opportunities for thousands of UAE nationals and expatriates from brotherly Arab and friendly foreign countries.
"This industrial development has made a good impact on the country and its people. Now our industrial products are integrating well with the country's export of oil and other oil products, flying the UAE flag high on the international market. The industrial sector has witnessed a speedy growth, amidst promising future for the national manufacturing industry.
"Beside this industrial development, the agro industry is also making a big headway, thanks to the blessed UAE federation march, the |hitherto| desert and barren land has been transformed into green expanses. The agriculture sector has been enjoying extraordinary care and attention from the country's leadership, especially from Sheikh Zayed, who has personally attached great importance to this sector, and believes in the sector's major role in providing food security to the country.
"The UAE now boasts of high levels of self-sufficiency in various food items, 83 per cent of its vegetable needs. The number of date palm throughout the country now exceeds 40 million. The agro-industry has now taken a leading spot on the list of the country's areas of priority.
"Other areas of priority, which receive the full attention of the country's leadership are the environment and natural habitat projects which have greatly contributed to wildlife protection and preservation and brought back life to the desert, for which the country has won applauses and accolades from international environmental organizations.
"Sheikh Zayed has achieved for the UAE and its people all means of comfortable and respectable life. He has achieved for the country great and comprehensive development to which people from both far and near bear witness.
"At the AGCC level, the UAE has played and continues to play a significant role in enhancing coordination and cooperation among member countries. This is manifested in the fact that the UAE was the base from where the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council took off.
"At the Arab and Islamic levels, the UAE strongly participated in every solidarity move. The UAE continues to work for Arab and Muslim unity and for patching up differences among Arab and Muslim countries.
"As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our dear country's National Day, we hope that the coming years will bring more development for our dear nation and people.
"The federation march has brought to us uncountable achievements for which no one can pay back Sheikh Zayed for his efforts, but history has recorded in gold all that Sheikh Zayed has done for his country and people."
Sheikh Maktoum prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant Shaikh Zayed good health and long life. He also prayed to Allah to protect the UAE and its people from all evils.
Sheikh Sultan
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said in his statement to the magazine, which was cited by WAM, the UAE is moving steadily from success to success towards achieving greater development under the federation march that had led the country from strength to strength.
Sheikh Sultan expressed the hope that the younger generation would protect these gains and work hard to improve upon them by arming themselves with knowledge and faith so as to be able to live up to the demand of the challenges of time, civilization and humanity.
"Living up to responsibilities, committing oneself to protecting the gains of the nation and working to improve upon those gains are the attributes of progressive nations who seek nothing but their right places among other developed nations," Sheikh Sultan said, adding that such nations, deserved freedom and great respect.
"The federation march continues to form chains of efforts, which prevail with the efforts of our children and grand children," Sheikh Sultan said, adding "these efforts will continue so long as the next generation and generations to come continue to be loyal to our course and work for more progress and prosperity for our nation."
Sheikh Sultan praised Sheikh Zayed for his loyalty and hard work for the nation. He urged all UAE national children to emulate Sheikh Zayed's loyalty and sincerity in serving the nation. He offered greetings to Sheikh Zayed and all Supreme Council Members, Rulers of the emirates, on the happy occasion.
Sheikh Saqr
Hailing the December 2 as a new dawn in UAE modern history, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, said the UAE leaders had joined forces to create a federal modern state enjoying progress and prosperity in all walks of life.
Sheikh Saqr praised Sheikh Zayed's far-sighted vision on the Palestinian cause, Afghanistan events, and of the fight against all manifestations and forms of terrorism by addressing its causes.
On Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands, Sheikh Saqr said: "Sheikh Zayed has been and still calling upon Iran to either enter into direct dialogue to resolve the issue or to take the case to the International Court of Justice.
"We hope Iran would heed the voice of reason and return the occupied islands to their real owners so that good neighborly and brotherly relations between neighbors can prevail," he added.
Sheikh Humaid
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, said the federation was a turning point in the UAE history as it mirrored the relentless persistence of a visionary leader and strong will of his people.
"What has been achieved over the past three decades was another miracle after the creation of the federation. But, the most remarkable success was made in the development of UAE's human resources. The federal government has rallied all its sources to build the UAE citizen - the driving force of progress," Sheikh Humaid said.
"The UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed, has maintained a prominent place at regional and international forums, notably the Arab-Muslim world, acting as a peace-mediator, advocate of peace and freedom and solidarity under a united world against war, poverty and disease," he said.
"The UAE lends full backing to Arab-Muslim issues with the Palestinian cause having top priority in UAE's foreign policy. The UAE also calls for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict," he added.
Shaikh Rashid
His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, said: "We are proud the UAE federation has set an excellent example of a united modern state with development indicators that are at par with advanced countries in the world. "Islamic values and local traditions are the protective shield of our progress against the adverse consequences of globalization," he said.
"Sheikh Zayed and his fellow Rulers of the Emirates have made huge efforts to raise the UAE flag aloft, achieve progress and prosperity and secure future of next generations." The UAE, he added, had earned respect of international community thanks to Sheikh Zayed's balanced policy and far-sighted vision.
Sheikh Hamad
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, said the UAE had become an active player at regional and international levels thanks to the prudent policies adopted by Sheikh Zayed. "We have, since the creation of the federation, fulfilled many ambitions and overcome many challenges and this has led us to stand shoulder to shoulder with great nations that built their civilization and culture," he said. Locally, he said, remarkable achievements had been made in all aspects of life and the country had become an oasis of stability and peace.
On Arab-Muslim causes, he said, concerns and causes of the Arab-Muslim nation had taken center-stage in Sheikh Zayed's heart and mind. "Sheikh Zayed's frequent calls for Arab-Muslim solidarity and unity reflect the deep spirit of unity in his thought," he added – Albawaba.com
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