16 April 2008
Abu Dhabi: The UAE will remain open to the world as a confluence of cultures, while holding on to its traditions and values of tolerance and coexistence, top officials told a conference on national identity.
"Our commitment to the indigenous traditions which are embedded in Islamic and Arab values and traditions does not, in any way, mean that the UAE is parting with the values and constructive interactions with the modern world," Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, said in his keynote speech at the conference, "The National Identity ... Prospects and Challenges".
Shaikh Mansour opened the conference on behalf of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
"We endeavour to further consolidate integration between our national identity and our connection and belonging to our Arab and international character. The co-existence of a large number of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities does contribute to the process of building. This has to be utilised to further enrich our national Emirati character through interaction which should preserve our established values and convictions," Shaikh Mansour said.
The conference is held in response to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's call to make 2008 the UAE national identity year.
Shaikh Mansour stressed that effective patriotism entails huge challenges that mandate a certain system of values and principles based on dedication to the homeland as well as making efforts to attain knowledge and achieve development.
Positive interaction
Addressing the two-day conference, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, said the UAE needs to interact positively with new international realities as "we can not and we don't accept to live in an isolated island on the pretext of preserving our values and identity ... On the contrary, we are proud of our national identity which maintains high profile at international scenes and we should boost this presence through positive interaction with the world."
Shaikh Abdullah said tolerance and openness of the UAE's foreign policy have enhanced its speciality and helped turn the country into a model for an Arab, Muslim nation confident of its identity.
"This policy has enabled the country to extend cultural, social and economic bridges with other nations. The peaceful co-existence prevailing among the diverse mix of Arab and foreign nationalities living and working in the UAE is one of the salient outcome of this policy."
However, Shaikh Abdullah warned: "While we are fostering the principles of tolerance and openness, we have zero tolerance towards whoever tampers with our national interests and rights."
"Based on this, we are sticking to our right to our three islands - Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa as one of foreign policy priorities. Our historic adherence to these islands doesn't only reflect our commitment to national right but also to international legitimacy," he said.
Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE has set a good development model and is proud of its human rights record.
"Our country welcomes diverse opinions and ideas which express themselves without fear or restrictions," he said.
Warning: Demographic disaster
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, warned of a disastrous situation unless firm and swift action is taken to restore balance to the demographic structure.
"The situation is truly disastrous with foreign workers destroying and looting public and private properties in the name of demanding rights," Dahi said.
He said the UAE must admit that the imbalance in the population structure is a huge challenge that requires long term, medium term and short term strategies to reduce foreign workers from any single country to not more than 25 per cent of the UAE population.
"We are at a crossroads and unless drastic actions are taken, we would dissipate in the waves of foreign workers," Dahi said.
He suggested that a Gulf Union be set up with other Gulf countries and that people of the Gulf countries be granted citizenship. "Opening ownership of properties mostly for Emiratis and Arabs and making increased childbearing a national strategy are other solutions to the problem of the demographic structure," he said.
Dahi regarded as treason the illegal practice of some Emiratis who deal in visas and bring in foreign workers who do not have real jobs.
"These people are traitors ... they cannot be called Emiratis ... They are worse than the brothers of the Prophet Joseph (PBUH), who cast him in the well.
By Samir Salama
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
