Abu Dhabi: The UAE's leaders yesterday said the Union has made great progress in its march towards democracy, a march which has gained momentum with the recent Federal National Council (FNC) parliamentary elections. They also urged the youth to contribute towards turning the wheels of progress.
Marking the 40th National Day, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday hailed the nation's remarkable achievements that have catapulted it to the ranks of advanced nations. He praised the sincere and tireless efforts of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the other founding fathers, who toiled to create a Union with genuine national values and principles.
"We assert that broadening popular participation is a firm national trend and an irrevocable option which we have chosen with our full will. We will continue to take it forward gradually and steadily in response to the aspirations of our people for a homeland in which they can come forward together to serve and develop society," Shaikh Khalifa said.
He added that the UAE has successfully completed the second phase of this gradual approach.
"We adopted a method to expand popular participation in elections and to empower the Federal National Council and increase its powers and enhance its role.
"This phase was crowned with the election of a new FNC which has commenced its sessions as a more vocal organ of national will.
"We hope that the Council will perform its role in complete cooperation with the executive authority as a responsible platform for national issues and with a positive impact in decision-making," he said.
Addressing the nation in a statement to Diraa Al Watan (Shield of The Nation) magazine, Shaikh Khalifa greeted His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the emirates, for their support, and for the care they give to the march of the Union, protecting the country, defending its gains and meeting the aspirations of its people.
He said: "Your country has earned a prominent place in the international community thanks to what has been achieved over the past four decades in all walks of life. We have succeeded in building a robust federal government and active local governments.
"Our nation today is ranked as one of the best countries in the world in terms of the efficiency of its services, its general policies and the credibility of the government with regard to the local community."
Top priority
Shaikh Khalifa said the UAE is progressing confidently towards a decade that will be spearheaded by the sons and daughters of the nation.
He urged world leaders to heed the voices of the people, take them into consideration while planning, setting goals and making decisions.
"In a world that has diverse organs of mass communication and platforms for social contacts, it is necessary for governments to seek the best and most effective tools of communication with the citizen everywhere, to listen to his voice, to learn about his trends and to respond to his aspirations. This requires that we should pay attention and that we should listen," Shaikh Khalifa said.
He said keeping the Union's spirit alive is something that can be achieved through the empowerment of the UAE citizens who are the top national priority and the focus of the vision for the future that guides all strategies and policies that the government will adopt, in all sectors, over the next 10 years.
"Empowerment of the citizen is our project for the next 10 years of the Union — a project through which we will lay the ground for a more confident and strong national personality and whose driving force and cornerstone will be an active Emirati who is proud of his stable and coherent family and of his well-founded, dynamic community where security and justice prevail, where the values of voluntary work and of initiative are highly recognised, with a forward-thinking, modern learning system, advanced, high quality health services, a knowledge-based sustainable and diversified economy, an integrated infrastructure, a sustainable environment, well-conserved natural resources and, finally, an eminent status on the international stage," Shaikh Khalifa said.
Building bridges
Shaikh Mohammad said that sound vision, long-term determination and indomitable will have helped the UAE to attain the excellence and leadership in various fields.
In a statement to Diraa Al Watan magazine, he said that since the dawn of December 2, 1971, the wheel of development outlined by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the UAE people had not stopped, and is being continued and sustained by Shaikh Khalifa and the UAE people.
Shaikh Mohammad stressed that as the UAE exhibits its success story that has impressed the world in terms of the achievements, the UAE people are working to build bridges with other peoples worldwide, out of their conviction in the importance of human relations among states and peoples, and their collective roles in the achievement of peace, justice and equality for all peoples worldwide.
"Under the guidance and support of the UAE President, we have managed to move our national institutions to the stage of transparency, functionality, openness, and application of technology.
"We can now say that it has reached 90 per cent of the international standard. And we look forward to achieving 100 per cent through the cooperation of everyone in the light of their enthusiasm for the country and national identity," he said.
Shaikh Mohammad reiterated that the National Day cherishes the noble national themes, notably, allegiance to the country and to its leadership that has delivered in the past and still works to provide security, stability and decent life for all citizens.
Democracy
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said the UAE has accomplished several achievements, but the greatest achievements of all are still to come.
"The Union has witnessed great progress towards a true democracy, a march which began with the recent Federal National Council (FNC) parliamentary elections in which Emiratis took part. It is a new experience that tested the country's will under the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
He said that such an experience also saw the participation of Emirati women, who have merited their participation in all aspects of vocational life by striving for education and preserving their national identity by building their character on sound foundations.
"It is time for all UAE citizens to work with greater effort and dedication, especially the youth, in whom we fully place our faith and belief as the future of our nation and producers of development.
"All opportunities are available for the youth to push forward the wheels of progress in the march of the Union.
"The new generation must strengthen their will to fulfil our hope in them handling this responsibility with the dedication and awareness of what the Union has achieved for the UAE, in addition to enhancing their strength to preserve the Union's achievements."
He called on the UAE people to sustain the Union, indicating that there is no room for the small entities. "United we stand, divided we fall."
