Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said that what the region is witnessing in conflict, turmoil and wars, is a result of a growth in terrorist movements and foreign interventions, which are causing destruction and devastation, and "are placing upon us a historical responsibility that requires a show of resolve and readiness to defend the nation."
Speaking to the military and strategic journal, Nation Shield, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Unification of the UAE Armed Forces, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa reiterated his commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism, and the forces of obscurantism.
He said: "Our fixed stance expresses our conviction in the need to continue the rescue of our brothers in Yemen, to stand by them until they regain the legitimate sovereignty of Yemeni soil, enable them to rebuild their homeland and return to normal life in dignity, within the framework of the Saudi-led Arab and Islamic alliance."
Shaikh Khalifa also called on intellectuals and clerics to intensify their efforts in spreading the values and principles of tolerance of the Islamic religion.
Unification
Commenting on the occasion of the Unification of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikh Khalifa said: "We, on this occasion which has strengthened the pillars of our union and guaranteed its continuity, recall with all reverence the lives of the founding leaders who made the decision to unite our armed forces forty years ago."
Sheikh Khalifa went on to assert that, "It was a wise and insightful decision which foresaw the future, and of which we are now reaping the benefits. We are now working to strengthen and develop these visions — which have preceded their time — by providing all that is needed to increase the efficiency and capacity of our armed forces by supplying the latest weaponry and military technologies, providing educational and training programmes, upgrading military and national values, and strengthening the spirit of loyalty to the leadership and country."
His Highness said: "On this historic anniversary, we remember the UAE martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting for the principles of truth, defending the legitimacy in Yemen, and defending our national security against foreign interventions, protecting our country's unity, achievements, history, and its present and future."
He added: "The lives of these brave soldiers stand in tribute and honour of martyrdom and we reinforce our full support for their families, and comprehensive care for their children."
In his speech, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa greeted the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the armed forces, hailing their efforts for developing their combat skills and pursuing their military studies to prepare themselves to defend their country, save its security, stability and sovereignty, and maintain the national gains.
Shaikh Khalifa also thanked the loyal people of the UAE for being role models, rallying around the leadership and standing by the brave soldiers by pulling their resolve and raising their morale.
The President went on to express his appreciation to the people for their unwavering support of the families of the martyrs of the nation, and for spreading the spirit of synergy, empathy and altruism.
The statement in full follows:
"My sons and daughters, leaders, officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Armed Forces... Sallamu Alaikum..
We greet you on the fortieth anniversary of the unification of the armed forces and we appreciate your efforts to develop your abilities and combat skills and military education to be fully prepared to defend your country, save the security, stability and sovereignty of the nation and maintain its gains.
So on this occasion, which has strengthened the pillars of our union and guaranteed its sustainability, we remember the lives of the founding leaders who made the decision to unify the armed forces forty years ago, which was a wise decision that foresaw the future through insight and we are now reaping the fruit of those visions and are working to strengthen and develop them, and provide everything needed to increase the efficiency and capacity of our armed forces through supplying the latest weapons and military technologies, providing educational and training programmes, upgrading military and national values, and strengthening the spirit of loyalty to the leadership and belonging to the country so as to ensure the continuity of excellence.
On this historic anniversary, we remember the UAE martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of truth, and in defence of the legality in Yemen, and for our national security against foreign intervention in order to safeguard the unity of the country and protect its achievements, its history, and present and future.
We stand in tribute and honour to the lives of these brave soldiers and we reinforce our full support for their families, and comprehensive care for their children.
My sons and daughters in the armed forces ...
What our region is witnessing in conflicts, wars and unrest is a result of the growth in terrorist movements and foreign interventions, which are causing destruction and devastation, and are placing upon us a historical responsibility that requires a show of resolve and readiness to defend the nation and its core values.
On this occasion, we emphasise our fixed position and express our convictions in the need to continue the rescue of our brothers in Yemen, to stand by them until they regain the legitimate sovereignty of Yemeni soil, to enable them to rebuild their homeland and return to normal life in dignity within the framework of the Saudi-led Arab and Islamic alliance.
We also reiterate our commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism, and the forces of obscurantism. We call on intellectuals and clerics to intensify their efforts in spreading the values and principles of tolerance of our Islamic religion.
Brothers and sisters ...
We thank you for showing high spirits on the field of duty and righteousness. We affirm our support to you. We also thank the loyal people of the UAE for being role models, rallying round the leadership, and standing by the brave soldiers by pulling their resolve and raising their morale.
We applaud the people for their unwavering support of the families of the martyrs of the nation, and for spreading the spirit of synergy, empathy and altruism.
We congratulate our sons and daughters, leaders, officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the armed forces and congratulate them on this occasion and pray to God to preserve the UAE and its people."
