Khalifa unveils 10-point national programme

Programme places emphasis on improving quality of life and diversifying economy on occasion of 44th UAE National Day

WAM

1 December 2015

UAE President His Higness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced on Tuesday a 10-point national programme to improve quality of life and diversify the economy on occasion of 44th UAE National Day.

The national programme announced by UAE President places emphasis on citizens’ happiness and well-being, maximising federal revenues, sustaining a balanced national fiscal system, the development of a national non-oil economy, consolidation of national identity policies, improving education, development of social responsibility practices, doubling efforts to build national media, investing in youth, developing legislations and policies to sustain national security.

Confronting all threats

In his National Day statement, the President also affirmed the UAE's full partnership with the brotherly states to confront all threats to the security of Gulf and Arab countries. This, he added, forms the basis of the UAE's key participation in the Saudi-led coalition to restore the legitimacy in Yemen.

''Our Armed Forces servicemen have set wonderful examples of the ultimate heroism and sacrifice. We have lost martyrs, who offered their lives in defence of their nation and its values. All of us have a duty, which is to remain loyal to the values for which they offered their lives, to complete what they have begun, to instill in the hearts and minds of our children the values of sacrifice and loyalty and to work together to keep our nation, for which those martyrs offered their lives, ever stronger and respectable,'' the president said in his National Day statement, published by Dira'a Al Watan (The Nation Shield) magazine and carried by the WAM agency.

Shaikh Khalifa said that terrorism is a danger that threatens countries and their social fabric.

"Fighting it is a duty. There is no security and no stability without standing up to it. And it is our faith in in this message that makes us continue our role in standing up with our brothers against terrorism," the President said.

He added: "Just like we don’t compromise on the security of our country, we won’t compromise on the security of our brothers; their security is part of ours and we will strive to stand up to the greed that targets the security of our Gulf and Arab regions and work towards their stability."

Challenges, achievements

The past 12 months were full of challenges as well as achievements, Shaikh Khalifa said. The Federal National Council (FNC) elections, which took place last month, were significant achievement and an important milestone in the path of the political empowerment programme launched by the president in 2005.

Shaikh Khalifa also emphasised the ability of the UAE economy to withstand the international financial crisis, especially the turbulence in oil markets in the past year.

The president commended the “active UAE diplomacy” which has led to partnerships and understandings on many levels regionally and globally.

He called on Iran to respond positively to the UAE calls to settle the issue of the occupied UAE islands, either by direct talks or international adjudication.

“The UAE stands by the Kingdom of Bahrain to preserve its unity and rejects any interference in its internal affairs,” Shaikh Khalifa said.

The President also called on the international community to support Egypt’s efforts to improve its security and stability, adding that UAE fully supports the Palestinian people’s right to determine their destiny and establish their independent state. He condemned the recent Israeli intransigence over Al Aqsa Mosque.

Full text of the statement follows:

On the 44th anniversary of the National Day of the United Arab Emirates, we extend our warm congratulations and gratitude to you for the contributions you have made in the process of building and developing the nation, and for your considerable and sincere participation in the defence of the nation, its gains and achievements.

And on your behalf , we send our heartfelt congratulations to my brother, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his brothers Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council of the Union and Rulers of the Emirates, who are leading the development process of our nation with prudence and wisdom.

Our congratulations also go to commanders, officers, personnel and recruits of the gallant UAE Armed Forces, and to our security agencies, which are always vigilant to protect the nation and its people. We also pay gratitude to the expatriate residents from sisterly and friendly countries.

The 2nd December is a day on which we remember with full pride and reverence the insightful life of the founding father of the Union, the late Shaikh Zayed, and his brothers the late founding fathers, who, in their lifetimes became role models for us all.

We pray to Almighty God to bestow His mercy on their souls and grant good health and wellbeing to those who are still among us.

Thanks to their far-sighted vision, our nation has developed a successful development model, presenting to the world a pioneering experiment in justice, rule of law, economic diversification, judicious harnessing of resources and sustainable development. These spectacular achievements have drawn wide commendation from prominent international organisations and institutions, which have placed the UAE among the top and most advanced nations.

Furthermore, this proves and confirms the soundness and veracity of our development approach, which set priorities for federal and local governments to bring happiness to Emirati citizens, expatriate residents and visitors alike, with high quality and excellence.

On this glorious National Day, we pay a glowing tribute to our people for the valuable confidence they have placed in our march, and to our young generations, who rushed enthusiastically to join national military service. It is this confidence and enthusiasm that makes us feel more proud of our citizens' capabilities, more optimistic and reassured about the future of the UAE and more resolved to carry out our national responsibility.

Building our security capabilities, sustaining social peace, advancing initiatives for GCC joint security and integration, contributing effectively to safeguarding Arab unity and preserving regional security, are not only well-established priorities in our national policy, but also form the essence of the trust and responsibility our fathers passed on to us. To that end, we will forge ahead in full partnership with fellow leaders to confront any threats to the security, peace and stability of the GCC and Arab countries.

To advance this declared policy, we have been among the founders of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to restore right and legitimacy in Yemen. We actively participated in Operation Decisive Storm, and today we are participating in Operation Restoring Hope, which aims to preserve the independence, security, sovereignty and unity of sisterly Yemen and help its people launch a process for building, development and progress of their country.

Based on the same values and principles, our country is actively participating in the international counter-terrorism coalition as part of our efforts to deter extremism and violence. We mobilise all our capabilities and resources to stand with our brothers and friends and support their efforts to combat extremism and its cells and work, at the same time, to promote and spread the culture of moderation and tolerance, to abhor violence.

Terrorism is a menace that poses an existential threat to our states and their social fabric, and participation in the global anti-terror fight is an imperative and must-do act as the world will not see security or stability, or development, without eradicating it. Our state will continue to play its role in supporting brothers in this respect. We will neither compromise our state's security nor that of our brothers. Their security is also ours and we will strongly stand against plots that target the security and stability of our GCC and Arab neighbours.

For the sake of this duty, our Armed Forces servicemen have set wonderful examples of the ultimate heroism and sacrifice. We have lost martyrs, who offered their lives in defence of their nation and its values. Their valuable sacrifices will only stiffen our resolve, enhance our strength and solidify our cohesion and solidarity.

Our martyrs will always remain a symbol of dignity and glory and an example of sacrifice and dedication. All of us have a duty, which is to remain loyal to the values for which they offered their lives, to complete what they have begun, to instill in the hearts and minds of our children the values of sacrifice and loyalty and to work together to keep our nation, for which those martyrs offered their lives, ever stronger and respectable.

To achieve these noble goals, today we call on the government and people to rally around a national programme in tribute to our martyrs to achieve the following goals:

1. Happiness of UAE citizens remains a top priority and permanent target of our federal and local governments, for which they work diligently in order to provide world class housing, first-rate learning systems and high quality, modern healthcare services to citizens. In this respect, our initiatives will continue, in full partnership and coordination with other federal and local authorities, to deliver all these goals.

2. Increasing federal financial allocations dedicated to improve the quality of life, support family stability, and continue government spending on major infrastructure and development projects with the aim of stimulating economic growth, generating more job opportunities and enhancing social stability.

3. Maintaining the balanced policy of our national economy which is driven by diversification of sources of income, expansion of the product base and opening up to the world to spur growth and ensure and enhance sustainable development to build and strengthen our national resilience to respond promptly to foreign economic and financial setbacks.

4. Pursuing diligent government efforts to build a national economy far removed from dependence on oil revenue by investing in human development, technology and innovation. To that end, we have recently adopted the Emirates Higher Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation. The AED 300 billion plan features new national policies and initiatives in legislation, investment, technology, education and finance. Its goal is to build a vibrant knowledge-based economy in the UAE.

5. Making more focused efforts to develop practices that promote and deepen national identity and loyalty. The high sense of happiness, justice and equality that prevails among us should not prevent us from participation in national work, which is a right and duty of every Emirati man and woman.

6. Paying more care and attention to the teaching profession in a bid to make teaching one of the most attractive and competitive jobs. Improving teachers' conditions will contribute to developing education and upgrading the learning process. It is a profitable investment in the future we aspire to for our nation.

7. Mobilising and directing efforts to promote the social responsibility concept, so it can become an officially sanctioned approach, culture and practice in our lives. Bringing happiness to people, which we have taken as a strategic objective to our federal and local government, is itself a joint responsibility involving the government, society and public and private companies in the state.

8. Intensifying efforts to build a national responsible media which is capable of assuming its responsibilities, well qualified to convey our voice and present our auspicious image to the world, to defend our national policies and highlight the prominent standing the UAE has gained internationally.

9. Maximising government efforts to invest in the youth so as to unleash their skills and talents, nurture the spirit of innovation, harness energies for work, giving and innovation. Persistent efforts for empowering women should continue so that they may participate, as a full partner, in sustainable development.

10. Developing and introducing national legislations, policies and priorities to enable the state to always remain an oasis of security and stability, a thriving, attractive investment destination, a regional and international trade, business and tourism centre and a favourite destination for living and working.

This national programme we present today answers and fulfills the noble aspirations for which our martyrs offered the ultimate sacrifice. These ambitions aim to raise the nation's profile and prestige and protect its security in order to advance our intensified national initiatives to become one of the best countries in the world by the time of the Golden Jubilee in December 2021 in areas of housing, infrastructure and government services, which is the ultimate goal of our national agenda.

Dear people of the UAE,

Last year was eventful and fraught with challenges as well as with spectacular achievements, which our state accomplished thanks to diligent work by UAE citizens, their deep loyalty to their nation and continued government work towards further growth, renaissance and progress. The Federal National Council election of 2015 was at the forefront of these achievements, and it represented an important milestone and a step forward on the path towards the national empowerment programme, which we launched in 2005, for increasing political participation with the ultimate goal of enhancing the role of the house. The electoral process has proven the high sense of awareness among the UAE people and their firm commitment to engage in the process of developing the state institutions.

Internationally, the economic crises the world experienced last year proved once again the soundness and resilience of the economic policies we have adopted. In the face of a decline in world oil prices and global financial uncertainty and fluctuations, our state has averted the ensuing negative impact of these crises, thanks to God and to our good, vibrant economic policies, which were built on diversification of sources of income and broadening the productive base to ensure sustained development and strengthen our resilience, enabling us to respond to global economic crises.

Our active diplomacy last year made resounding successes and remarkable achievements, including joint partnerships and understandings and coordination at regional and international levels. This shows once again how our foreign policy is insightful and prudent and is always seeking to maintain collective action.

Our foreign policy is based on principles of good neighbourliness, mutual respect, non-intervention in the internal affairs of states and commitment to dialogue to settle disputes and differences.

In consideration of these established principles, we repeat our call to the Islamic Republic of Iran to deal positively with the issue of our three occupied islands (Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa) and respond to our repeated initiatives to settle the case, either through direct bilateral negotiations or by recourse to international arbitration. A peaceful settlement of the case will bolster bilateral relations and enhance security in the Arabian Gulf, a top goal of our foreign policy which we pursue through sincere efforts to develop mechanisms of joint action so as to leverage our capabilities to respond to regional and international changes, and defend our interests.

We hereby voice our unwavering stance with the Kingdom of Bahrain in whatever actions it takes in defence of unity, and our rejection of any foreign intervention in its internal affairs. We are also closely monitoring the positive developments taking place in sisterly Egypt and urging the international community to back these efforts aimed at cementing pillars of security and stability. A safe Egypt is the gateway for Arab peace and moderation. We also call for intensified efforts by the international community to back legitimacy and its institutions in both Libya and Somalia. We call on political factions in Iraq and Lebanon to exert more efforts to achieve national accord and consensus on national principles in order to stop squandering of resources and potentials.

While fully supporting the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and establishment of its independent state, we strongly condemn the recent Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and against Al Aqsa Mosque. We also express our concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria as a direct result of the failure and inability of the UN mechanisms to address the root causes of the crisis, leading to aggravating and worsening the scourge of war and causing unprecedented humanitarian tragedies. From here, we call for concerted regional and international efforts to secure humanitarian needs for, and protection of, displaced people and refugees.

We will also work with other brotherly leaders to develop and upgrade work mechanisms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the League of Arab States. We also strongly call for developing structures in the UN and for reforming the UN Security Council.

Dear people of the UAE,

We will stay on the same course that our founding fathers charted for us and laid its building blocks and features, motivated by pride to defend our nation's interests and glory. Our ambitions and aspirations for the welfare and wellbeing of our people are unlimited. Our steps are guided by unequivocal commitment to safeguarding and protecting the present and future of our state. We are also determined to make a promising future that is full of qualitative achievements and safe, prosperous living.

We supplicate to God to sustain our security and peace, to give us the strength to achieve more progress and glory, to let peace and stability prevail in our Arab-Islamic Nation and other countries of the world, to bestow mercy on our martyrs and to protect the UAE and its people from any harm.

May God guide our steps to success and welfare."