The UAE has stood for principled relations ever since the country was founded. Its leaders have been outspoken in their support for tolerance and respect for all its neighbours. The UAE has rejected any narrow or xenophobic approach and has insisted that working with people and governments that respect each other is fundamental to building a new Middle East in which people have the chance to grow and prosper.
It is in this overarching context that His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was definite in his support for ending sanctions on Iran and using the on-going talks on Iran’s nuclear programme to start a new chapter in relations based on transparency. “Iran is our neighbour and we don’t want any problems ... lift the sanctions and everyone will benefit ... I think that they’re telling the truth when they say [it is] just for civilian power,” Shaikh Mohammad told the BBC in a wide-ranging interview yesterday.
Shaikh Mohammad also condemned embattled Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s remaining in power with the words: “If you kill your people you can’t stay ... eventually he will go.” He was also clear that the UAE had not been able to provide military support to the Syrian opposition because it included extremists and “you don’t know how many groups there are”. This lack of clarity about who was who in the Free Syrian Army meant that the UAE has focused its effort on the vast humanitarian crisis and has supported refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey.
Shaikh Mohammad was certain that Egypt was better off without the Islamist government of Mohammad Mursi and bluntly told the BBC that “it’s better for Egypt” that there had been a change. He also suggested that General Abdul Fatah Al Sissi, Egypt’s Minister of Defence and head of the armed forces, would be better off not to stand for president in the forthcoming elections in Egypt. “I hope he stays in the army and someone else [stands] for the presidency”, said Shaikh Mohammad.
