Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to pushing ahead with its democratic experiment to ensure greater participation of UAE citizens and enhance the role of the Federal National Council (FNC) as a legislative and monitoring authority.
"The last year witnessed a turning point with regard to political empowerment and the practice of democracy, as the FNC held its first session of the 14th legislative chapter with half of its members elected and women representing 22 per cent of the house," the President said in his address to the nation on the 36th anniversary of the UAE National Day.
"We remain committed to continuing our democratic change until we achieve all planned goals by paving the way for and offering the chance for more participation, and by enhancing the role of the FNC as a legislative and monitoring power.
To continue on the same course, "We call for implementing a national programme that aims to enhance our identity and firmly establish the values of loyalty and citizenship in society to project the image of the UAE as an example of an open modern society based on our historic roots, beliefs and heritage," Shaikh Khalifa noted.
Clear programme
Yet the programme must be a clear one that sets a clear vision for the objectives of the country's experiment of elections and its associated mechanisms and for expansion the powers of the FNC.
The President made it clear that shedding light on future strategies and visions does not mean that: "We should overlook the present with its challenges and problems.
Though notable achievements have been made in the health services, educational feedback, the labour market, the policies of Emiratisation, Shaikh Khalifa admitted that "Our population policies, the effectiveness of our media and support for our young people, yet they are still below our expectations and our UAE standards.
"That is to say: the achievements do not match the money that has been spent, or our aspirations.
"What we are facing is not a lack of resources because these are abundant, or a lack of vision because this exists, but, rather, some negative points of weakness, which have been recognised by the federal and local governments.
He emphasised there will be no compromise with whatever that threatens values, traditions and language, which are the heart of the UAE's national identity and the soul of the nation and its heritage.
Shaikh Khalifa stressed the need to face the negative impacts of globalisation and the demographic imbalance of the UAE population, underlining that "any infringement of our identity is an infringement of the country itself.
Simply, it is a violation of the country's sanctity. "In this connection, we have instructed that the new year that lies ahead for the Federation shall be the year of National Identity, to strengthen the national elements and components of our society and to specify the threats to them.
"Anyone lacking understanding of their identity is destined to remain in obscurity, whether now or in the future."
Speaking about achievements, the President noted: "Our people have been able, within a space of thirty-six years, to achieve what is beyond imagination - a model of federal government, stimulating human development, a modern infrastructure, high-quality basic services, a good economy, an educated people, welfare and security.
"Our country is at the top, both at a regional level and at the level of the Arab world, with regards to welfare, social development, economic competitiveness, tourism promotion, attractiveness for investment, the use of IT technology and other fields.
In regard to economy, the President said, "All of these factors have worked together towards reviving our economy, and our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to economic indicators, will increase by the end of this year to reach a record level.
"Maintaining our economic growth in the light of the population reality that we all know requires prudent investment policies, serious follow-up by the government, and the enacting of laws and their mechanisms for implementation in a way that preserves the sovereignty of the country and the identity of its citizens and their security.
To achieve these objectives, the government has established a permanent national population committee and has planned for providing more job opportunities for UAE nationals, particularly women.
Shaikh Khalifa noted that the nation was on the threshold of a new era, an era in which the UAE's human capital would take the centre stage.
The key to the success of this strategy, he underscored, lies not in the ideas or financial resources that will be used but rather in the degree of commitment and dedication of those who will implement it. Ideas in themselves can never be realised if we lack competent and committed human resources.
"The objectives of the strategy will not be achieved without the introduction of true programmes for the development of young national leaders who are capable of shouldering the responsibilities and its ends will also not be reached unless the private sector works pro-actively as a true, full partner in national development.
"We in the institutions of the state aspire for a clearer and more effective role to be played by the private sector. A role whose framework is responsibility towards the community, and whose final goal is the creation of more attractive and encouraging job opportunities for our young people, the introduction of modern technology, the creation of a safe, healthy working environment, the guarantee of workers' rights and the improvement of the quality of products and services.
Islands issue
On the issue of Iran's occupation of the UAE's three islands, the President said: "The islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa and their continental shelves and regional waters are a dear part and parcel of our country. We will spare no effort to have them restored to us and demand their return to our national sovereignty."
On Iran's nuclear programme, the President said: "We support the right of any country to seek access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We call on Iran to operate its nuclear programme in accordance with the needs of international peace and security.
In his address, Shaikha Khalifa also spoke of a wide-range of issues concerning Arab and Islamic world, including Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan.
