Abu Dhabi, Jan 18th, 2010 (WAM) -- Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the presence of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Saad Al Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon and the accompanying delegation.
At the meeting held at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, they held talks about the fraternal relations between the UAE and the Lebanese Republic and discussed ways for widening the channels of communication between the two leaderships and governments in both countries to serve the common interests of their peoples. Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the Head of the Lebanese government for his participation in the inauguration of the World Future Energy Summit hosted by the UAE in its capital Abu Dhabi. He also congratulated Al-Hariri for taking office after the agreement that joined all the Lebanese political factions under the umbrella of the national government. He said that the formation of the Lebanese government under the leadership of Saad Hariri is the crowning of the good efforts in this regard and wished Lebanon lasting prosperity, progress and stability. The Lebanese Premier held in high esteem the stance of the UAE President, its Government and people towards Lebanon and its people, stressing that the UAE and its leadership as well as its people are highly regarded as dear brothers of the Lebanese. Later Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed received at the Al Mushrif Palace Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the accompanying delegation, and welcomed his participation in the World Future Energy Summit. This high level participation by Turkey will give the summit the power to reach positive decisions in the search of UAE and several other countries for alternative sources of energy, Sheikh Mohammed said. The Turkish Premier hailed the penchant of UAE for alternative sources of energy even being an oil producing country. This, he said, highlights UAE's commitment to protect human health and environment and to produce renewable energy at lower costs than the world has to incur for its energy needs. Erdogan praised the good organization and management of Summit and thanked for hospitality enjoyed by delegations participating in the summit. The Turkish Prime Minister also said that UAE's hosting of the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) is a success for an Arab and Islamic country and it reassures of the smooth operation of the agency's activities in the future. Erdogan also expressed hope that his country's relations with the UAE will grow in the areas of culture, tourism and investment, energy and others. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also received President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives and his delegation. He expressed hope that the visit will open channels of cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of tourism, trade and investment as well as other sectors. Welcoming the Maldivian President Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the UAE under the leadership of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will continue to extend assistance to all fraternal and friendly countries and will always look forward to others to learn their cultures and civilizations for creating a world of peace and justice. The meetings were attended by HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works along with a number of sheikhs, ministers and other senior officials.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
