Khalifa: Take nation to newer heights

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday called on members of the Federal National Council (FNC) to give maximum boost to development efforts and take on a positive role as well.

He also urged them to give sound opinion to further drive forward the process of developing and building the country. The President called on the members to shoulder their national responsibility, be involved in interaction, and preserve the development march established by the UAE Father and Founder, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Expressing appreciation for all FNC members of the previous house, Shaikh Khalifa stressed his support to boost the democratic experience and achieve the nation's goals. "The leadership and citizens have faith in you. You are expected to adopt the concerns of the nation and citizens as your top priority, to put public interest and common well-being above any other considerations and to advance giving and development efforts to top levels", Shaikh Khalifa told FNC members.

"Our hopes for our country have no ceiling and our aspirations for our citizens have no limits... our expectations for the future are getting stronger as we enter a new era that reflects an ambitious national vision ... a charter and a roadmap characterised with shura [consultation] and supremacy of law to enable members of the society to actively and positively take part in the making of the future of the country," Shaikh Khalifa said as he opened the first ordinary session of the 14th Legislative Chapter of the FNC yesterday.

The President, in his speech, also expressed satisfaction over the ambitious development and empowerment scheme.

This scheme, Shaikh Khalifa said, does not reduce life into economy, however important it is. It exceeds this to cultural, social and moral dimensions.

"The actual success of development is measured by its ability to enhance potentials of the people and enabling them to live a more decent and safer life, that is full of freedom and participation," Shaikh Khalifa said.

Shaikh Khalifa reiterated his call to Iran to enter into direct negotiations to settle the issue of the three occupied islands, or refer it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He said the UAE is fully prepared to accept the court's arbitration, come what may.

Israeli atrocities

He further appreciated the efforts of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia that led to Fatah-Hamas deal for forming a national unity government.

The President also called for reasonable, merciful and more open-minded approach to settle all regional and international problems, particularly the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians, and its occupation of Arab lands and its threat to Lebanon.

He called for creating a world that is committed to legitimacy and stays away from unilateral measures... a world that is founded on equality and mutual respect.