Khalifa: Palestinians must regain their national rights

Abu Dhabi: The UAE reiterated its support for Palestinian people in their bid to regain their national rights, including the establishment of an independent state.

The statement was made by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Dr Salam Fayyad in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

During the meeting, attended by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Palestinian Prime Minister briefed Shaikh Khalifa on the latest developments in the region in light of the ongoing events in the Occupied Territories.

"The UAE government and its people are concerned about the plight of Palestinians, who suffer under a cruel occupation and siege, which affect their humanitarian and living conditions," Shaikh Khalifa said.

International support

The President stressed that the UAE stands by the Palestinian people to alleviate their suffering and enabling them to regain their national rights including the establishment of their independent state on their national soil.

Fayyad expressed his appreciation and thanks to the UAE President and people for their supportive stands towards the Palestinian people and their just cause. "The help that our brothers in the UAE have been extending to the Palestinians over the years has had a great impact on the lives of the Palestinian people, providing them with means of a decent life," he said.

He referred to the political support by the UAE government to the Palestinian people, which kept the Palestinian cause alive at all international arenas and gave a boost to the peace process. Present at the meeting were Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister; Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs; Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and other senior officials.