Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Monday received Dr Arif Ali Al Nayedh, Libya's new ambassador to the UAE. Dr Al Nayedh, the first National Transitional Council's Ambassador to the UAE, following the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi's regime last month, presented his credentials to Shaikh Khalifa.
Shaikh Khalifa also received the credentials of 12 other new ambassadors to the UAE, according to WAM.
He reiterated the UAE's keenness to extend bridges of friendship and cooperation, build balanced relations and develop economic, cultural and tourism relations with other countries.
General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was also present.
The UAE has been a strong supporter of the Libyan people in their revolution against Gaddafi and took part in international efforts to protect civilians against attacks of his forces. It was also engaged in humanitarian efforts to help the Libyan people and foreign workers fleeing the country and played a crucial role supplying aid in its camp on the Tunisian border.
Important role
The UAE pledged to take part in rebuilding Libya and said that the frozen Libyan assets in the UAE — estimated at about $500 million (Dh1.83 billion) to $700 million — would be unfrozen only with a UN resolution.
Abu Dhabi hosted a number of international conferences on Libya in the past four months, including the International Contact Group which was held in May to gather support for the transitional council.
Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa also swore in three new UAE ambassadors and a new judge, Mohammad Abdul Rahman Ali Bin Jarrah Al Tunaiji, in the Federal Supreme Court, WAM said.
Shaikh Khalifa urged the new UAE ambassadors to do their utmost to enhance the UAE's position in the international arena.
The ambassadors sworn in were Salem Al Gafli, UAE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohammad Atiq Al Rumaithi, UAE Ambassador to Switzerland, and Hamad Hareb Al Habshi, UAE Ambassador to South Africa.
Shaikh Khalifa stressed the important role played by diplomatic missions in assisting Emirati citizens abroad as the UAE puts the welfare of its citizens at the top of its priorities.
