UAE | Government
Khalifa hopes US will play greater role in region
President says washington under obama will strive for just and comprehensive Middle East peace.
- WAM
- Published: 23:36 December 22, 2008
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday expressed hope that the United States under President-elect Barack Obama's leadership would play a greater role in achieving just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and security and stability in the Gulf region.
"The US, with its capabilities and the key role it plays in preserving global peace and security, holds responsibilities towards areas of conflict and tension in the world," Shaikh Khalifa said in a wide-ranging interview with the London-based Al Hayat newspaper.
Commenting on recent constitutional amendments, Shaikh Khalifa said they were aimed at enhancing the role of the Federal National Council (FNC) as part of the UAE's quest to develop democratic institutions.
Shaikh Khalifa said the UAE was dealing with the demographic issue in a civilised way without violating its humanitarian and international commitments, while preserving its national identity.
Nuclear programme
As the UAE prepares to join the nuclear club, Shaikh Khalifa reiterated that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
"We are satisfied with the steps taken in this regard, which include signing agreements with leading countries in the field of peaceful nuclear energy," he said.
The President called on Iran to reassure the international community that its nuclear programme is peaceful, He stressed that the setting up of a Gulf security system that involves Iran must be preceded by an agreement on the security and stability of the Gulf region.
Shaikh Khalifa said a military confrontation between the US and Iran is rejected in principle.
"We believe in peaceful solutions to conflicts, but the Iranian nuclear dossier is not a regional issue but has become international," he added.
With regard to UAE-Iran ties, Shaikh Khalifa said: "The UAE's demand to reclaim its right over its three islands occupied by Iran does not rule out the possibility of having relations of co-operation and openness between both sides."
Meltdown
Concerning the global financial crisis, the President said the UAE was not excluded from the econ-omic meltdown and its repercussions.
"Yet, the UAE with its strong economic and fin-ancial base can contain the effects of the financial downturn on its economy," he said.
Commenting on falling oil prices, Shaikh Khalifa said: "We must realise that this crisis is temporary, no matter how long it lasts, and producing countries must prepare for a stage of high global oil demand after global markets resume momentum."
On Iraq, Shaikh Khalifa expressed satisfaction at the decline in violence and stressed that countries of the region should be more open towards Iraq and refrain from interfering in its domestic issues, while providing all form of support to the Iraqi people and government to help them overcome crises.
"This development," he said, "should encourage countries of the region to open up to Iraq, not to interfere in its domestic affairs but rather to help its government to overcome its problems."
Shaikh Khalifa said he was pleased with the recent developments in Lebanon, particularly the election of the head of state and the subsequent formation of a government of national unity.
On Palestine, Shaikh Khalifa renewed the UAE's call for the unification of the ranks as the only means for Palestinains to achieve their national unity and regain their rights, including the establishment of an independent state.
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