'Three-level strategy in place to maintain stability'

Lt General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, has said the unification of the Armed Forces was an imperative step towards enhancing the UAE Federation.

In a statement to Al Difaa Al Khaleeji magazine, Sheikh Mohammed described the Unification Day of the UAE Armed Forces as a "landmark in the history of our people and army".

He felicitated President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates who, with their far-sighted vision, he said, had realised the significance of having a modern and unified armed forces.

Lt. General Sheikh Mohammed told the magazine that an essential principle of the UAE defence policy is that it maintains national sovereignty and threatens no country.

"The state strategy is based on defence, deterrence from any threat from whatever source, abidance by the non-aggression policy, helping friendly countries ward off aggression and contribution to peace and stability in the region and the world through participation in UN peace-keeping operations." On terrorism, Sheikh Moham-med said, to fight off such a phenomenon the UAE has drawn a three-level strategy: local, regional and international.

He said at the local level, government authorities are doing their utmost to provide the opportune atmosphere to prevent violence and curb the spread of fanaticism.

As for the regional level, he said UAE has signed the Arab Convention on fighting terrorism and was cooperating with other GCC states. "The UAE is taking part in an aggressive media campaign, heralded by the GCC, against terrorism and violence," Lt. General Sheikh Mohammed said.

The international level of the UAE strategy, he said, is that it has signed a number of agreements to orchestrate international efforts to fight terrorism, exchange information and extradite criminals.

He said the UAE adopts a policy of diversifying sources of armament that serves its objectives and vision.

"The sagacious foreign policy espoused by our country has helped us acquire the required defensive weaponry and equipment in accordance with our terms and conditions," Lt. General Sheikh Mohammed said.