UAE 'committed to democracy'

Abu Dhabi (WAM) President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called for the framing of an ambitious national programme to boost the national identity and ensure greater public participation in the UAE's democratic march.

Addressing the nation on the eve of its 36th anniversary, Shaikh Khalifa said: "We affirm our pledge to push forward the democratic experiment by widening the scope of public participation and enhancing the role of the FNC as a legislative and monitoring power.

"The last year witnessed a major turning point as the FNC held its first session of the 14th legislative chapter with half of its members elected and women representing 21 per cent of the house," the President said.

The UAE is steadily pursuing its national action programme unveiled two years ago, and the federal strategy to lay the foundations of a new stage - developing human capabilities and improving services for the welfare of UAE citizens, the President said.

Shaikh Khalifa called for implementation of a national programme that projects the image of the UAE as a model of an open society based on its historic roots, beliefs and heritage.

"As we celebrate our country's National Day, we remember the founding father of the federation, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and reaffirm our commitment to following in his footsteps," he said. The President gave instructions that the year ahead would be dubbed "The Year of National Identity" to strengthen national components of society and specify the threats to them. "One who has no identity has no present, and will have no future," he said.

The President also reiterated the UAE's right to regain its islands occupied by Iran by peaceful means or international arbitration. "Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Mousa are an integral part of our state. We will spare no effort in retrieving them and we demand that they be returned to our national sovereignty," Shaikh Khalifa said.