Abu Dhabi: British Prime Minister David Cameron has urged the Emirati students to join the UK universities to further strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries.
“With nearly 100,000 Britons residing in the UAE, I am here today to encourage Emirati students as well to join universities in UK with no limits on number. Our country is extra open for welcoming education, industry, and investment,” Cameron said while speaking at the Zayed University in Abu Dhabi as part of his tour to the UAE.
Camaron visited the Zayed University campus along with Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of ZU, and interacted with students.
Speaking about the university, Cameron said, “It is a fantastic university where different cultures and experience can meet to build intellectuals.
“The main point of the university is to encourage and face fresh ideas and challenges as we are now living in a very competitive globe. By education, individuals will be able to speak out loud and make their own decisions,” he added.
Cameron, who will be visiting Jordan next Wednesday as part of his overseas trips, shared his views on the Arab Spring with Emirati students.
He said that the United Nations (UN) has failed in Syria and that there must be a resolution condemning atrocities against the Syrian people.
“The UN must help countries and peoples in order to get rid of dictator regimes,” Cameron said.
He hailed the historical and deep-rooted relations between the UK and the UAE, and said that his visit is aimed at developing the relations in the best interests of both nations and people..
“I totally support the Arab Spring in a great movement towards freedom and more open societies. And Libya is an example of a country that needed an essential change in order to remove its dictatorship, eliminate extremism and make democratic steps following continued mass killings,” Cameron said.
“Ups and downs will not cease to exist in the path of the Arab Spring; however, it considers the great awakening step,” he added.
The British prime minister also pointed out that students at ZU have enormous activities and opportunities to be an extraordinary individuals.
Cameron also insisted on raising and addressing different concerns related to human rights saying that, “I strongly believe that given jobs and voices to people within any country, can create better societies.
“We have a relationship of respect and we should discuss easy and difficult issues,” he added.
Speaking about the mission of the United Nations, Cameron said that, “UN has always played a vital role in laying down rules and resolution; yet it has failed to do so in the case of Syria. “We have to push for tougher laws and solutions against Syria dictatorship, as thousands are dying every day,” he added.
When asked about sustaining energy and seeking alternative sources, he answered saying that, “Electricity demands grow every day and we should make sure that we can meet such demands by seeking and providing alternative renewable sources such as, nuclear energy.”
Commenting on the European financial crisis that has resulted from euro-zone, the prime minister said that, “All countries will be affected by the euro-zone whether they are a euro users or not.
“Additionally, the financial crisis will take time to resolve simply because if you put 17 diverse countries with their different cultures in the same currency, it will generate more tension, pressure and problems,” he added.
“I hope we have the chance to freely express and address our opinions,” Shereena Aref Al Zaabi, a 22-year-old senior students at ZU, told Gulf News.
“The British Prime Minister was very clear and straight to the point. He was really honest in answering many UAE and global related questions,” Al Zaabi, who is majoring in International Affairs, told Gulf News.
