UAE Minister of Defence: We are not after building offensive military forces

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, today praised the wise leadership of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, saying that the country is marching full steam ahead towards achieving national goals.
In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Sheikh Mohammed paid homage to late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, under whose leadership, the UAE managed to get a prominent place in the map of the free world and succeeded to embrace global digital economy.
"We are confident that our beloved country will stride towards achieving national goals, drawn up by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and being keenly pursued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and closely followed up and supported by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and Their Highnesses the Ruler of the Emirates." Sheikh Mohammed underlined the global prominence attained by the UAE in the exhibitions industry, be it commercial, industrial or business.
"The achievements made by the UAE in the fields of tourism and exhibition have attracted world's attention and proved viable for the ongoing tourist, cultural and investment promotions and for the efforts aimed at diversifying sources of income," Sheikh Mohammed said.
He added that major exhibitions organised in the UAE such as IDEX, Dubai Air Show, GITEX and INDEX, were a proof of success for the clear vision of the country's leadership.
"Year after year, these events attract more visitors and exhibitors, thanks to the clear vision of our leadership, the world-class infrastructure, the elements of security and stability and above all, the capable and highly qualified national human resources." "All in all," Sheikh Mohammed added "presence of a shrewd leadership ,ability to make the right decision at the right time and the highly competitive national human resources are key to any success. It is important that you achieve success once, twice or thrice but what is more important is to maintain that success and invest it in a manner that could lead to further great successes." On the importance of the forthcoming IDEX 2005, to be held between 12 and 17 February in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed said that all ingredients of success were made available for this event to become what it is today.
"IDEX has the full backing of our wise leaders, besides all means necessary for its continuity, including excellent organisation, well-studies promotion and the confidence the world has put on the UAE exhibitions industry." He added that global industrial circles were keen on taking part in IDEX, which proves its importance and the exhibitors' desire to use it as a platform for showcasing their latest products is yet another proof of success.
"IDEX helped in wooing thousands of tourists, exhibitors and buyers to our country. It represents a unique opportunity for nationals to gain new experience, to bridge the cultural gap between the east and west and to perpetuate cordiality, justice and peace among different communities of the globe," Sheikh Mohammed noted.
On the preparations for holding the next edition of Dubai International Aerospace Exhibition (Dubai2005), he said the show which is organised by the Dubai Civil Aviation Department, in association with other UAE organisations, he said that such a major event that attracts more than 500 world leader companies requires detailed preparation.
"This international 5-day event, hosted every two years, is a cause for rallying all efforts, whether at the top levels or below, to make it a success. The air show has become a world event, therefore, requires a special attention by all to make sure that a positive image about the country and its tradition of hospitality among the visitors, to promote tourism and to win more friends across the world." Asked whether he was satisfied with the level of military cooperation and coordination among the GCC countries, Sheikh Mohammed said that such cooperation was limited, yet quite enough.
"We are contented with the level of intra-GCC military and defence cooperation despite the fact that it is modest and limited. Nevertheless, we in the GCC, do not intend to build huge armies or acquire latest assault weapon technology that may give the impression that we are preparing for an offensive. We are peace-loving countries seeking peaceable co-existence.
"We are not after building offensive military forces and at the same time, we do not wish to see enemies attacking us and destabilizing the security we enjoy," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"The level of military and security coordination among the GCC countries comes within the context of bilateral and joint accords signed by the GCC leaders which provide for cooperation when any member country is attacked. The GCC countries are bound together by the common strategy, goal and destiny and we are assured of the region's bright future as long as there is a keenness for security, peace and stability in the region and the whole world," he added.
On the possibility of reviving the old Arab dream of establishing joint defence industries that would help meet defence requirements and lessen dependence on foreign sources, Sheikh Mohammed that dream was shattered in the seventies due to financial and marketing differences.
"For decades, talks about setting up a base for joint Arab defence were rife. In the seventies, a modest plant was set up in Cairo by the Arab League as a precursor for a massive defence industry in the Arab world. Despite the enthusiasm shown by all League members, the project succumbed to teething troubles of finance and marketing," he recalled.
"Nevertheless," Sheikh Mohammed added, "we in the UAE, always support any keen and serious joint Arab action of benefit to our Arab nation. We have always called for establishing a common Arab market that would achieve intra-Arab economic unity to compensate the disappointment from failure of political unity. Trade is the shortest possible way for our (Arab) countries to fulfill the dreams of our peoples for social, political and economic integration." On the challenges posed by terrorism in the world, Middle East and Central Asia, Sheikh Mohammed spelled out the country's stance on terrorism, calling on the United Nations and the superpowers to seriously work towards solving current disputes in different spots of the world.
"Terrorism begets nothing but terrorism. This is a natural outcome for the unjust practices by the occupying forces in many countries," He commented.
"We, in the UAE, have always called for implementing the UN resolutions without maintaining a double standard as with Israeli killing and destruction in the Palestinian occupied territories and against the Palestinian people who have the right of defending their land, resisting the occupation and striving for the freedom of their lands, independence and sovereignty." Sheikh Mohammed added, "The United Nations and the world superpowers should be serious and keen enough to work on settling conflicts in different areas of the world so peoples of the world can live in peace and achieve economic development which has become a key for resolving many issues." "Time and again, we emphasizes that terrorism is not an identity as some try to associate it with the Arabs and Muslims. Islam, with its tolerant teachings and Arabs with their genuine values and traditions would never endorse any form of terrorism," he concluded.