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January 21, 2005 |
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THE SECOND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND THE EMIRATE PRESIDENT STRESS ON STRENGTHENING AND DEVELOPING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. THEY CONDEMNED ISRAEL FOR ITS CONTINUED AGGRESSION AND CONFIRMED THE COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE OF NOT INTERFERING IN THE AFFAIRS OF IRAQ. The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have confirmed the importance of pushing forward and support the cooperation and integration march among member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in all fields in order to serve the interests of the peoples of the Council's members and fulfil their hopes. This was announced in a joint communiqué issued in Abu Dhabi at the end of a four-day state visit to the UAE by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector-General. The communiqué said that in embodying of the distinguished brotherly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and ik strengthening the close ties between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples under the leadership the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard and under the leadership of their brother Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector-General has paid a state visit to the UAE from the 12th to the 15th of January 2005. Upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, was received, at Abu Dhabi International Airport, by Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, President of the United Arab Emirates; Sheikh Sultan Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, Deputy Prime Minister; General Mohammed Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, Heir Apparent of Abu-Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; Sheikh Tahnoon Ibn Mohammed, Representative of the Ruler in the Eastern Region; Lieutenant General Saif Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, the Minister of Interior; Sheikh Hazza'a Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan; Sheikh Mansour Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, Minister of Presidency Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance; Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Zayed, Minister of Information and Culture; a number of sheikhs and senior armed forces officers. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz was also received by Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Mua'mmar, the Saudi Ambassador to the UAE, embassy staff members and Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Mohayya, the embassy's Liaison officer. The Second Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by an official delegation comprising Prince Khaled Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Rahman Al Saud, Prince Khaled Ibn Fahd Ibn Khaled Al Saud, Prince Faisal Ibn Saud Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Dr Musaed Ibn Mohammed Al Aiban, Minister of State and Cabinet Member and Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Mua'mmar , the Saudi Ambassador to the UAE. During his visit, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General held talks with Sheikh Khalifah Ibn Zayed Al Nehyan, President of United Arab Emirates and General Mohammed Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, Heir Apparent of Abu-Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, during which they exchanged cordial talks and views on issues of common interest. In the communiqué, they expressed their satisfaction at the close joint security cooperation between the countries in maintaining peace, stability and fighting terrorism. The communiqué expressed the support of the two countries to the elected Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) in his effort to establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The two countries condemned Israel for its continued aggression against the defenceless Palestinian people and its cold shouldering of the Arab peace initiative launched by Crown Prince Abdullah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard. The communiqué also voiced the United Arab Emirates' and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's solidarity with Iraqi people in their current ordeal, and hoped that the Iraqi people would achieve national unity and reconciliation in order to rebuild the country. "The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are eager to see Iraq live in peace, security and stability," the communiqué said. The communiqué also confirmed the two countries' commitment to the principle of not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq. On the UAE Islands occupied by Iran, the communiqué reiterated the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands and called on Iran to respond to UAE's initiative to settle the issue through peaceful means or take it to the International Court of Justice. Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan received Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, and they reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on a host of issues of mutual concern in light of the current regional and international developments. Later Sheikh Khalifa hosted a luncheon in honour of Prince Sultan and his delegation. The banquet was attended by Sheikh Sultan Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister; General Sheikh Mohammad Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Deputy Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Saeed Mohammad Al Gandi, Speaker of Federal National Council; Sheikh Tahnoun Ibn Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region; Sheikh Saeed Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Seaports Department; Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior; Sheikh Tahnoun Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the President's Private Department; Sheikh Ahmad Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Finance and Industry; Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture; Sheikh Khalid Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr Sheikh Sultan Ibn Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; Sheikh Sultan Ibn Hamdan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Guesthouse and Protocol Department; Sheikh Hamdan Ibn Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works; Sheikh Fahim Ibn Sultan Al Qasimi, Minister of Supreme Council and GCC Affairs and Head of the Honorary Delegation accompanying Prince Sultan and Abdullah Al Masoud, Speaker of National Consultative Council. In a statement upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz said he is pleased to convey the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, to Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahayan, the President of the UAE and the people and government of the Emirates. The visit comes within the continuing contacts and fraternal visits between the two sisterly countries to enhance the ties of amicability and cooperation for their benefit and the benefit of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Prince Sultan said. He added that he is also pleased to extend thanks to Sheikh Khalifa for his warm reception and generous hospitality. During his visit, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, received General Sheikh Mohammad Ibn Zayed Al Nehyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Heir Apparent of Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and views on issues of common interest. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz also received Saudi Ambassador to United Arab Emirates Dr. Abdullah Ibn Moamar and members of the embassy. The Second Deputy Prime Minister urged them all to work hard to serve their country and represent it well. At the end of the visit, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz left United Arab Emirates. At Abu Dhabi International Airport, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz was seen off by Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, Prince Sultan was also seen off by Sheikh Sultan Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister; Shaikh Tahnoun Ibn Mohammad Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region; Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior; Major General Sheikh Nahyan Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Commander of Emiri Guards; Sheikh Nasser Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mansour Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Hamed Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Planning and Economy Department; Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture; and a number of Sheikhs, ministers and senior officials. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz was also seen off by Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Mua'mmar, the Saudi Ambassador to the UAE, embassy staff members and Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Mohayya, the embassy's Liaison officer. Upon departure, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General sent a cable of thanks to Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates for the hospitality he received during his visit to the UAE. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz wished Sheikh Khalifa Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan good heath and the UAE people more progress and prosperity. |
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