Interviews with His Highness - 17 February, 2005
WAM interviews Mohammed
A translation of the interview follows:
Q: The UAE has gained a reputation in the international exhibition industry for successfully hosting and organising IDEX and Dubai's air show. What has made it possible for the UAE to do this?
A: Internationally, our beloved country has a great reputation for commercial, industrial and travel-related exhibitions, which has had a positive influence on culture, tourism and investment, helping to diversify the national economy, boosting trade and bringing prosperity to our people. In the past two decades, our country has successfully hosted and organised several exhibitions, the most significant of which are IDEX, Dubai's air show, GITEX, INDEX and other exhibitions for the media, healthcare, service and science-related sectors.
These exhibitions have been remarkably successful, both regionally and internationally. This great success is due to several factors that attract increasing numbers of new investors, exhibitors and visitors each year.
The most important factors are a clear vision, wise leadership, world-class infrastructure, security, stability, strong will and the qualified, creative people who manage the festivals, commercial events, promotions and cultural events in our country.
In conclusion, the presence of a wise leadership that is capable of taking the right decision at the right time, strong will, determination and creative people who are capable of achieving their objectives will lead to ongoing success and development. As you know, it does not matter whether you achieve success once, twice or three times, what matters is that you continue to be successful and to invest in a way that leads to greater success.
Q: In your opinion, Your Highness, how important is IDEX 2005, which will be held in Abu Dhabi between February 12th and 17th, 12 years after it was launched?
A: IDEX is fully supported by our wise leadership and everything - namely exceptional organisation, excellent promotion at the Arab and international levels and the trust that international manufacturers have in the UAE - has been made available to ensure its success. The number of participants is an indicator of this show's importance and reputation and a measure of the exhibitors' desire to find markets and clients for their latest military and defence products.
IDEX has accomplished a great deal for our people by bringing thousands of visitors, exhibitors and buyers to our country. This, of course, provides our people with valuable opportunities to become familiar with new cultures and to develop means for our authentic Arab culture to cooperate and communicate with foreign cultures that want to promote friendship, justice and peace among communities of different ethnic origins, races and colours.
Q: What preparations are being made for Dubai's international aerospace exhibition (Dubai 2005)?
A: Dubai international aerospace exhibition - which is organised by the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and specialised organisations in the country - attracts the interest of a broad range of Arab and international companies, manufacturers and individuals involved in civil and military aviation.
In order to ensure the success of this 5-day international biennial event, all of us - leaders, organisations, officials and citizens - have to prepare for it. This event attracts over 500 companies and this number increases every time the event is held, which means that the exhibition is well known internationally. It follows that everyone involved must work hard to host the largest possible number of visitors in a way that reflects the genuine nature of our country - which is known for its generosity and hospitality - a way that promotes our culture, tourism and economy and that wins us friends from around the world.
Q: Are you satisfied with the GCC countries' co-ordination and co-operation in terms of defence?
A: Yes, we are satisfied with the GCC countries' defence and security co-ordination and co-operation although it is modest and limited. We in the GCC countries do not seek to build huge armies or to acquire weapons that will make us seem aggressive. We are peace-loving countries seeking peaceful coexistence. We do not want an aggressive military force. At the same time, we will not allow anyone to attack our countries and people or to disturb the security enjoyed by our people and the peoples of the region.
The level of military and security coordination among GCC countries comes within the context of the GCC leaders' agreements, which stipulate that member countries will cooperate and coordinate their efforts if a member country is exposed to outside danger. A clear understanding, a common strategy and goals unite the GCC countries and their peoples. We, the leaders and the people, are content and optimistic about the future of the region as long as there is willingness, regionally and worldwide, to establish the foundation for security, stability and peace.
Q: The UAE has become a regional hub for the new economy and a base for technology and media companies. How do you plan to attract more such companies to Dubai Media City?
A: We want our country to be at the forefront of all industries, especially economy, investment, technology, healthcare and media, therefore we have specific goals that we have been working hard to achieve in a systematic way. As I mentioned earlier, in order to reach these goals, there must be a clear and feasible strategy, sound decision-making, wise leadership, strong resolve and a means of achieving these goals, the most important element of which is people.
With these factors in place and integrated infrastructure for communication, ports, services, government facilities and creative ideas, the UAE has been able to set an example for other nations and to make its mark on the map of the new free world, the world of digital economy, thanks to the directions and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace.
We are confident that our beloved country will continue to make progress and to achieve the late Sheikh Zayed's goals under UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with the support of his brother Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and their brothers the Supreme Council members.
Q: Do you think that Arab countries are prepared to establish a joint defence industry to fill their defence needs and to lessen their dependence on foreigners?
A: Talk of a joint Arab defence industry is hollow after decades of discussion and hopes related to establishing such an industry, which initially took the form of a modest factory established by the Arab Organization for Industrialization, which the Arab League founded in Cairo. In the seventies, the Arabs were optimistic and enthusiastic but disagreements about financing and marketing destroyed this dream before the least of the ambitions of the Arab countries and their leaders could be realised.
In the UAE, however, we support any serious joint Arab effort that will benefit the Arab people and their countries. We have called for a common Arab market that will unite Arabs economically and commercially after the disappointment of failing to achieve political unity because intra-Arab trade is the fastest way for our people and countries to achieve political, economic and social unity.
Q: What is your stance on resolving the problems of terrorism, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia?
A: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, which confirms our position that violence begets violence and terrorism. It is a natural outcome of occupying forces' unjust and inhumane practices in many countries.
The UN and human rights regulations that civilised countries are calling for do not accept any military occupation of a country or a nation regardless of that country's geographical location, race or religion. We in the UAE have always called for compliance with international legitimacy and the implementation of UN resolutions without the double standard that exists with the Israeli-Arab conflict and Israel's killing and destruction in the Palestinian territories as well as their aggression against the Palestinian people, who have the right to defend their land, resist occupation and work for the freedom of their land, sovereignty and independence so that they can live in security, peace and freedom just as other people in the world do, within the borders of an independent state on their own land.
Therefore, we emphasise that solving political, economic and social issues in the Arab region and many other areas of the world is the best way to prevent violence or so called terrorism, which we oppose vehemently; we cooperate with all involved countries and with the United Nations to eliminate terrorism and to protect the world against its evil and its destructive effect on communities.
The confusion between terrorism and legitimate resistance is what causes controversy among countries, especially in the UN, which gives occupied nations the right to resist occupation for their freedom, independence and national dignity.
The superpowers and the United Nations should be eager to solve the unresolved issues throughout the world so that all peoples can live in freedom, security and peace and devote their efforts to economic development, which has become the key to resolving many problems. The world should admit that terrorism is a serious epidemic that must be dealt with properly and peacefully and that should be stamped out without using arms and starting wars that result in the loss of innocent lives. The world should also embrace transparency when it comes to justice, equality and human rights without discriminating between nations so that all can live under the umbrella of legitimacy, freedom, dignity and security in the Middle East and the world in general.
In conclusion, we stress that terrorism is not part of the Arab and Muslim identity. Islam, with its teachings of tolerance, has nothing to do with terrorism and so the Arabs, with their traditions and values, support the oppressed and help the weak. Terrorism is not an Arab trait, nor is it part of the culture or the national and pan-Arab identity.
Al Bayan