Abu Dhabi: Ministers and senior officials yesterday praised the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan after he was re-elected President of the UAE for a second five-year term in keeping with the Constitution.
The Federal Supreme Council, made up of the Rulers of the seven emirates in the UAE, renewed their confidence in Shaikh Khalifa, WAM reported.
The ministers and senior officials said the country has been making rapid and significant progress under the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa.
Shaikh Khalifa first rose to the Presidency as Abu Dhabi's Ruler in 2004 after the death of his father, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who founded the UAE in 1971.
Senior officials paid rich tribute to Shaikh Khalifa, who successfully led the country.
"The UAE continues to thrive and witness unabated growth in all areas, thanks to the visionary leadership of ... Shaikh Khalifa..." said Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the Red Crescent Authority (RCA).
Economic crisis
Shaikh Hamdan stressed the country has successfully weathered the global economic crisis due to the wise and visionary leadership of Shaikh Khalifa and their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.
"The UAE is making rapid and significant progress under the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa. The holistic development that is going on in all emirates simultaneously underlines Shaikh Khalifa's sincere determination to secure a decent life for both Emiratis and residents,'' Shaikh Hamdan said.
"The unity and cohesion we see in the UAE today was, no doubt, a fruit of tireless efforts and confident steps" that Shaikh Zayed took and are now being followed by Shaikh Khalifa "in an effort to leverage the federal experiment to new heights".
The UAE federal state has left its mark at local, regional and international levels and become a role model that merits following by those searching for unity, peace, security and accord.
Shaikh Hamdan said Shaikh Khalifa's humanitarian initiatives lend support to human development across the world and are viewed as one of the most important defence lines to preserve human dignity against poverty and hunger.
Assistance
"The RCA is following his steps in meeting the needs of the underprivileged and improving the condition of disaster-hit areas,'' he added.
"We will remain loyal to his principles and values for the best interests of all humanity," Shaikh Hamdan said.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, emphasised that re-electing President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for another five years reflects the solid basis of the UAE's beliefs as a country that is able to stand firmly in the face of crisis and to deal with problems with wisdom, through wise leadership that understands the needs of the times.
He added that this ambitious step also emphasises the great trust of the UAE's people in its leadership and the continuation of the economic process and development.
Dr Hadef Bin Jua'an Al Daheri, Minister of Justice, said Shaikh Khalifa helped move the UAE into a new era of empowerment.
Al Daheri added as Shaikh Zayed succeeded in laying down the foundation for the modern union, Shaikh Khalifa excelled in strengthening the country through strategies and policies.
"Shaikh Khalifa contributed significantly to developing infrastructure across the UAE, improving services and is looking forward to a promising future through a steady increase in the budget's spending especially in education, health, economy and culture."
Major General Talib Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said in a statement: "We all stand today proudly for re-electing Shaikh Khalifa as the president of the UAE for an additional 5 years." He added that loyal and heartfelt congratulations are presented to Shaikh Khalifa's brilliant personality.
Guiding the nation to high growth
Abu Dhabi (WAM) In 1969, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan became the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Commander-in-Chief of the Emirate's Defence Force, and in 1971, he assumed an executive position when he chaired the first local Cabinet in Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Khalifa has been involved in the running of the UAE since its establishment almost 40 years ago. He was Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince when Shaikh Zayed died on November 2, 2004.
Two years after becoming President, Shaikh Khalifa organised the UAE's first elections, when electoral colleges chose half of the 40 members of the Federal National Council, while the other 20 were nominated by the rulers.
Shaikh Khalifa was born in the oasis of Al Ain, his father's hometown, in 1948. His mother was Shaikha Hassa Bint Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a cousin of Shaikh Zayed.
Shaikh Khalifa at the age of 21 was named Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on February 1, 1969. He became Abu Dhabi's prime minister in 1971 and also held the defence and finance portfolios in the local government.
He became deputy prime minister of the federal government after the UAE's establishment on December 2, 1971.
Message: Yemen President calls
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received a telephone call from President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, who congratulated him on his re-election as President of the United Arab Emirates.
Shaikh Khalifa thanked the Yemeni leader for his noble feelings. Shaikh Khalifa also received a telephone call from Khalid Mesha'al, Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Movement, who also extended his congratulations to Shaikh Khalifa.
