The Centre of Information Affairs in Abu Dhabi has organized a symposium on "Leader Khalifa Bin Zayed: March of a Nation", to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the accession of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to presidency of the UAE country and rulership of the Abu Dhabi emirate.
Among the participants were Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); H.E. Mohammed Sobeih, Representative of the Arab League Secretary-General; Professor Frederick C. Dubee, Representative of the UN Secretary-General; Viktor Oskar Kocher, former delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Middle East; in addition to an elite of politicians, thinkers, and representatives of international organizations in the country.
In the opening session, Mohammed Khalifa Al Murar, Information Advisor to Deputy Prime Minister, said it is great to celebrate today this blessed occasion, the fourth anniversary of the accession of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates.
He pointed out that the event is an expression of loyalty and allegiance to H.H. President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of the march, and the symbol of identity, achievements, and prosperity achieved under Sheikh Khalifa’s wise leadership.
He Added that this occasion is held dear by the citizens, as the leader has managed, through his wisdom and prudent policy, to lead the nation to a more prosperous and secure future.
The Centre of Information Affairs presented a paper entitled: "Leader Khalifa Bin Zayed: March of a Nation", which said that the fourth anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Highness the UAE President has been crowned with great accomplishments and full of hope and promising future.
The paper indicated that the prosperity and stability that have characterized the UAE reawakening from the foundational stages down to the era of empowerment and development could have not come to fruition without a wise leadership capable of understanding the realities of the present and of predicting the horizons of the future.
It noted that the UAE reawakening has been built on two main underpinnings: the effective partnership between the public and private sector, and the creation of a strategic corporate integration, with a view to producing goods and services that are able to compete in regional and global markets.
His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa affirmed, on the 36th anniversary of the UAE Union, the continued commitment of the state to the principles and rules of its economic policy, indicated the paper. It quoted His Highness as saying, "the continued efforts by the government to modernize labor and trade legislations, to implement free trade policies, to enhance the climate of investment and openness toward the world economic experience, and to support partnership between the public and private sectors have all worked to strengthen the economy and to push the indicators of the economic growth to higher levels." Healthcare also figures prominently in Sheikh Khalifa’s strategy and vision for social and human development, said the paper, citing the tremendous achievements realized in this field.
Concerning international relations, the paper stated that the UAE enjoys distinctive relations with different nations in the world, due to His Highness’ orientations and directives to achieve the highest levels of cooperation with all brotherly and friendly countries over the world.
The paper displayed His Highness’ meetings with the Arab and the world leaders during this year.
Humanitarian issues are embedded in the UAE policy, under its wise leadership, said the paper. The country provides aids and assistance to troubled regions and countries everywhere in times of crises, in line with its moral obligations and responsibilities as a civilized country, becoming thus a model for other to follow, noted the paper.
On his part, Mohammed Sobeih, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League in charge of the Palestinian issue, conveyed the good wishes and congratulations of the Arab League and its Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, to President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the UAE and Arab people, on this occasion.
He said that one cannot enumerate the virtues of Sheikh Khalifa nor fully depict his wisdom and perception in the field of governance and leadership, but one can display some of his pioneering achievements in building his loved country, and in contributing to building the Arab and Islamic nation, mentioning Sheikh Khalifa’s institution (Khalifa Project) which gives loan facilitations to families in times of difficulties.
He pointed out that Sheikh Khalifa led his country on the road of reawakening in all economic, social, political, and security fields, which qualify the country to occupy a prominent position in the international community and the world politics. He indicated that the UAE march under Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership is a good example, as it bases its political strategy on honesty, frankness, and respect for all countries, as well as its observance of humanitarian international law and the rules of human rights.
Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) sent a paper read on his behalf by Najib Abdullah Al Shamsi, Director of Studies and Research Unit, GCC General Secretariat. He said, through his paper, that the UAE celebrates on this glorious day the fourth anniversary of the accession of H.H. President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the Presidency of the UAE. Our participation in this celebration reflects our keen interest to be present today to show our common feelings and attitudes towards one of the leaders who has actively contributed in the enhancement of human development and nation building at the regional, Arab and international levels, stated the GCC Secretary-General.
He added that Sheikh Khalifa is a leader who enjoys all characteristics of leadership, and who follows in the footsteps of late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE. He said that Sheikh Khalifa learned from his father the arts of leadership and management, and inherited patience and wisdom from him while dealing with different issues and situations. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa was the companion of his father throughout different stages of the march and he has contributed in laying down the pillars and foundations of the UAE and its comprehensive development march, Al-Attiah said.
He pointed out that upon his election as UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa has added more impetus to the march of progress, as the UAE President has been continuing the civilizational project laid down by his late father which is not confined to the UAE only but is extended to the whole Arab and Islamic region.
He said that Sheikh Khalifa pays all attention to human development and nation building; therefore, it is natural for the UAE to rank among the top positions in the international human development reports. He mentioned that the UAE has achieved, thanks to its wise leadership, remarkable accomplishments in terms of human development, as it ranked third among the Arab countries and thirty-ninth globally in 2007. Moreover, the UAE has witnessed a quantum leap in the fields of socio-economic, political and educational development as reflected in the huge projects being carried out in all fields.
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