UAE gives top priority to rule of law, transparency : Khalifa

Abu Dhabi, Dec. 1, 2005 (WAM) -- President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said today enforcement of the rule of law,accountability and transparency will be among the top prioritiesof his agenda for the new reign.

''Today, we stand at a threshold of a new era, whose ultimate objective is to entrench the rule of law, accountability, transparencyand equal opportunity. In order to achieve these objectives, the yearsahead require the rebuilding, restructuring, re-arrangement and rehabilitation of all existing government bodies and structures,'' Sheikh Khalifa said in statement to mark the 34th anniversary of the UAE national day.

Sheikh Khalifa underlined that the UAE had already begun preparing for the new era by promulgating legislations, taking some regulatory measures on the existing departments, institutions, activities and relations.

''This is to tighten the lose ends, straighten the curves, putan end to wrongdoings, get rid of bad nuts, improve productionand services and guide efforts in order to develop the institutions,structures and activities, and to encourage promising cadres.

It is also to set the ground for a successful launch to the horizon ofthe 21st century,'' he stressed.

''It is high time for our political, religious, cultural, information,educational and civil society institutions to stand up to theirresponsibilities to instill in our society the values of lovefor work, to change the negative perceptions about vocationalwork. It is high time to make them understand the true meaningof work - that it means responsibility and reflects human, civiland religious values,'' he added.

Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE today enjoys political stability,strong economy, educated and trained manpower resources, progress, prosperity and security, as well as diplomatic, trade, cultural and humanitarian relations which extend to all countries of the world, thusestablishing a sound regional and international ties that are based onvision, moderation, balanced policy, support for the truth and justice,and non-interference in the internal affairs of others.

The President gave special tribute and credit for the late UAEleaders whose sacrifices and dedication, spearheaded by the late SheikhZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, led to the emergence of the UAE federation.

''The federation that we see today as a civil, political, socialand economic reality did not come as a gift or grant nor did it comeon a silver platter. It came as a result of good and strenuousefforts by our founding fathers, who translated the idea fromtheir heart and mind to the reality that we live in today,''Sheikh Khalifa acknowledged.

On the economic platform, Sheikh Khalifa noted that ''despite the fact that the oil sector is still the prime mover of our economy, we are still optimistic of our economy in terms of its performance, competitiveness and diversification of production.

''The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which had not exceeded Dh 6.5 billion at the end of the first year following the declarationof the Federation, is expected to reach Dh 424 billion at the endof the current year, a 6423 percent increase,'' he said.

''The non-oil sectors have realized great success and increasedtheir contribution in the GDP by over 67 percent to Dh 256 billionin the previous year. It is expected that their Total Productat the end of current year will climb to Dh287 billion. Now,the private sector boasts of 43 percent of accomplished investmentsin the UAE, especially in the convertible industries, commerce,real estate and others.

By the end of this year, investments are expected to climb to Dh85billion as a result of increases in industrial, real estate and tourismprojects in the UAE.

Sheikh Khalifa emphasised that the State would continue to encourage the private sector, so as to enable it to establish projects that would provide more job opportunities to everyone, push forward the wheels of production, increase exports and reduce imports, especially in consumer products which could be locally manufactured.

The UAE, he underlined, will continue to expand, diversify and upgrade its economic base, making advantage of favourable conditions in the global oil markets and the local investment climate.

It will also engage in various projects in order to activate tourismas a new source of income.

''We shall accord maximum priority to the development of the labourforce by expanding programmes of technical education and vocationaltraining and by giving the trained UAE labour force access toemployment in the various economic sectors.

'' We shall also continue to support Emiratisation efforts in alleconomic sectors, recruit qualified expatriate labour force and considerthe possibility of making the social security system compatible with thecivil pension system ,in order to make work in the private sector moreattractive to the UAE citizens,''he said.

''The rebalancing of the population structure and the reformingof the labour market set up will not be possible without a genuineauthentic reform to the systems of education and training andrehabilitation programmes. It is imperative to review their contentand purposes.

Turning to regional and international issues,the Presidentemphasised the UAE foreign policy is grounded on firm basis and clearprinciples of mutual respect, good neighbourliness,non-interference in the affairs of other countries, buildingof relations that serve mutual interests, promotion of thespirit of cooperation, resolution of conflicts through peacefulmeans, commitment to Arab, Islamic and international conventions,promotion of global peace and stability and support for justcauses. These are the values and principles that continue toguide our foreign policy in its four domains , namely the GCC,Arab, Islamic and international spheres.

On the GCC level, He said the UAE will continue its endeavorsto enhance the role of the GCC in maintaining regional peace and alsoin reinforcing socio-economic and political integration in a manner thatserves the best interests and aspirations of our peoples.

''In this respect, we look forward to a successful 26th GCC summit which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 18-19th this month. Itis our hope that the GCC leaders would be able to arrive at resolutionsthat would reinforce the inter-GCC cooperation and address currentArab and global challenges.

A common GCC vision and approach to problems will certainlyadd momentum to the role being played by the GCC within thewider regional Arab framework.

''On this occasion, we value and salute the sincere efforts of theGCC leaders to affirm the right of the UAE over its occupied islands.

In particular, we value the support rendered to us by the GCC leadersfor devising a mechanism for direct talks between us and Iran , so asto reach a just solution that would set the relations between countriesof the region on a firm basis. This approach underscores ourkeenness to achieve regional and global peace and stability.

On the Arab level, the UAE will continue to support common Arab cooperation through the Arab League and its specialised organisations.

''We are also keen to promote our bilateral relations with all Arabcountries. In this context, we would like to re-affirm our supportfor the unity of Iraq and its people. We are deeply pained and concerned by the deterioration of the security situation and the continuous bombings, violence, terrorism, kidnappings and killings ofinnocent civilians,''the President said, expressing his hope thatrecent political developments in the country would constitute the basisfor a new united Iraq that would hopefully stage a strong comeback toArab and international arena.

''A united, stable and secure Iraq is not only an asset to Arabnational security but also to global peace and stability.

On the Palestinian question, we hope that Israel's withdrawal from GazaStrip would be followed by similar withdrawals from the occupied Arabterritories so that the Palestinian people would have the opportunityto establish their own independent state with Jerusalem as its capital,as provided for in the UN resolutions and international peace initiatives.

To alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, Sheikh Khalifanoted the UAE had launched its own initiative to build a city in Rafahon the ashes of the Israeli settlement.

On Sudan, the UAE supports the constructive efforts being adoptedby Sudan which culminated in the signing of the ComprehensivePeace Agreement (CPA). We hereby re-affirm our full supportto Arab and international efforts that are underway to rebuildthe war-torn areas. We wish that peace, security and prosperitywill prevail in that sisterly country.

Sheikh Khalifa said that UAE's relations with Islamic countriesare based on mutual respect, cooperation ,unification of Muslim ranks and reaching out to those in need.

It should also be noted that our readiness to reach out to brethrenwho need our support stems from our Islamic values.

It is against this background that the UAE leadership and peoplestood by the side of their Pakistani brethren when a devastatingearthquake hit that country recently.

On the issue of terrorism, we have strongly condemned the viciousterrorist bombings that hit the sisterly and friendly countriesof Egypt, Jordan and the United Kingdom.

We have expressed our full solidarity with the governments andpeople of those countries in the face of this menace. The threatof terrorism requires a strong stand so that it is decisivelyuprooted.

It is a virulent threat that should be weeded out not only becauseit destabilises nations but also because it is inconsistent withall human values.