Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in France
3, Rue de Lota, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: + 33 1 443 40200;
Fax: + 33 1 475 56104
Email: ambassade.emirates@wanadoo.fr
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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - GOVERNMENT
Government of Dubai Media Office launches 'Think Dubai' initiative
posted on 18/05/2013
 The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) has launched its latest initiative, "Think Dubai", a platform that reflects the vision of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to bring together global experts and industry leaders from various fields to create a roadmap of new ideas and initiatives that can support Dubai and the region.
The Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, Mona Al Marri explained: "Think Dubai" is an initiative that works in tandem with Dubai's efforts to explore opportunities and identify the challenges in various sectors so as to plan out the best ways to tap into these opportunities and be well prepared to face those challenges".
Al Marri further explained that the regional and international events hosted by Dubai that attract experts and professionals from various fields, were the reason behind the launch of "Think Dubai", to create a platform on the sidelines of selected events hosted in Dubai, where experts and thought leaders come up with ideas for the future of their fields which can potentially be implemented in Dubai and the region.
Organized on the sidelines of the 12th Arab Media Forum (AMF), the inaugural "Think Dubai" workshop saw the participation of 250 Arab media professionals and experts. The workshop resulted in valuable ideas that will be reviewed for potential implementation.
Welcoming the guests, Al Marri gave a short presentation introducing the theme for the first workshop which focused on global trends that affect the future of Dubai and the region such as the global growth of the "Islamic Economy" and the opportunities it presents for the Arab region, especially since Dubai's announcement of its aim to be the international capital of Islamic economy.
Other trends include the travel and tourism sector, and the continued development of the aviation and transport sector, where the Middle East has topped estimates for growth through to 2015.
Al Marri said that the choice of these three global trends is due to the Middle East's geographical position at the heart of their development, given the projected shift of world's economic centre from the West to the East.
Al Marri also referred to the responsibility that the UAE and the region have towards Arab youth. She referred to the ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2013 where 74% of young Arabs surveyed said they look positively to the future; and given that Arab youths feel that their best days are ahead of them, ideas and initiatives must be put in place today to ensure that outcome.
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Ahmed bin Saeed receives honorary degree from City University London
posted on 16/05/2013
 H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, on Tuesday was presented with an honorary degree from City University London's Cass Business School.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed received the honour at the graduation ceremony for the University's Cass Business School Dubai Centre, which was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of DIFC.
The award was made in recognition of Sheikh Ahmed's outstanding leadership in the development of professional sectors including aviation, finance, banking and entrepreneurship among others in the UAE.
This year's ceremony, which was held at the DIFC Conference Centre, saw 45 students graduate from the Cass Dubai Executive MBA programme, a two-year course delivered in a monthly block weekend format to accommodate busy working professionals.
Abdulla Mohammed Saleh, Governor of DIFC, said: "We congratulate the Executive EMBA programme students graduating from Cass Business School today. DIFC is proud to support human capital investment as a foundation for developing the regional financial services industry. We wish the new graduates the best of luck as together we continue to build a knowledge-based economy." Professor Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor of City University London, who presented Sheikh Ahmed with the degree, said it "recognises the remarkable contribution H.H. Sheikh Ahmed has made to the development of both the region and the global economy. We are delighted that he has joined us as we congratulate our students on the completion of their EMBA course." The Cass Dubai Centre attracts students from all over the world and the 2013 graduates include representatives from the UAE, UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, KSA, Iran, Nigeria, India, USA and Australia.
The Dean of Cass Business School, Professor Steven Haberman, said: "As demonstrated earlier this month by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's highly successful visit to the UK, the ties between our two countries continue to move from strength to strength. Since its inception in 2007, the Cass Dubai EMBA has striven to meet the needs of business executives in the Middle East and surrounding regions and I would like to congratulate our students on successfully completing the 24-month course." Ehsan Razavizadeh, Regional Director, MENA and Head of the Dubai Centre said: "We were honoured to welcome His Highness Sheikh Ahmed to preside over our 2013 graduation ceremony and to bestow on him an honorary degree from City University London. The Cass Dubai EMBA continues to attract talented, multilingual students from around the world as demonstrated by the 17 nationalities represented by this year's graduates. I look forward to monitoring their progress as they embark on the next stage of their business careers".
Cass Dubai's EMBA was the first programme of its kind to offer specialist Islamic finance and energy modules and offers streams in general management and leadership, mainstream finance and entrepreneurship.
In 2012, the Financial Times ranked Cass Business School fourth in the UK and tenth in Europe. The Cass EMBA offered in Dubai is a flexible part-time course aimed at managers in the Gulf region who wish to accelerate their career development while remaining in full-time employment. Its state-of-the-art campus was opened in the DIFC in 2007 and has been home to over 300 executives and professionals studying on the internationally acclaimed Cass EMBA programme. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Violence not among the principles of Islam: VP
posted on 15/05/2013
 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received the Grand Imam of Egypt's Al Azhar Al Sharif, Sheikh Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, on the sidelines of the Arab Media Forum on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Al Tayyeb discussed media issues relating to the causes of the Arab world, ways to strengthen the role that the media can play in correcting the image of Islam in foreign countries, especially through the rejection of extremism in dealing with others, and the use of extremism as a way of expression in a political, social or other situation.
Sheikh Mohammed hailed the moderate stands of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Dr Al Tayyeb with relation to the causes of Islam and Muslims. He emphasised that extremism and violence are not among the principles of Islam, which is based on moderation, tolerance and mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence among all faiths and sects.
The meeting, which took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, was attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Mona Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office; and officials and members of the Al Azhar delegation.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the latest developments of the Arab-Israeli peace process by Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, in light of the recent talks in Washington between a delegation representing the Arab Peace Initiative Follow-up Committee and the US Secretary of State John Kerry. Sheikh Mohammed received Al Arabi on the sidelines of the Arab Media Forum on Tuesday. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Mohammed bin Rashid says preservation of Arabic Language is a National, Religious and Moral responsibility
posted on 14/05/2013
 The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has stressed that the Arabic language is the language of the life we live, it reflects us in various situations, it is not an extinct part of history that does not fit the present.
Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that conservation of the Arabic Language is a national, religious and moral imperative which is not confined to one country, but extends to all Arab and Islamic nations. Sheikh Mohammed made these remarks upon receiving a report from the Committee for Updating Arabic Language Teaching entitled "Arabic is the Language of life." Sheikh Mohammed noted that the Arabic Language is the language of the Holy Quran, that was sent specially to us by Allah and the preservation of Arabic is part of our responsibility to maintain our Islamic teachings and principles that delivered messages of love, peace and security for the world. Also it is a bridge that connects us to our roots and our history as well as being a key way to express our vision for the future. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE Government pursues transparency
posted on 14/05/2013
 For the first time in the region, ministers and senior government officials will attend media briefings to explain policies and comment on current issues related to their institutions.
The move, which was ordered by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance transparency and secure the flow of information, will become a regular feature from September this year,
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, announced on Monday that the government briefing will offer first-hand information about issues relating to the daily lives of people in the UAE.
"The new channel of information aims to develop a clear periodical mechanism that allows direct and transparent dialogue between government and local media organisations,” he said.
There will be a concrete schedule for the media briefings sector by sector and on a weekly basis.
"The media plays a very important role in reflecting the social, political and economic situation of the country and we are seeking to create a distinguished relationship with media organisations,” said Al Gergawi.
He said Sheikh Mohammad believes in the media and its role as partners in success and building the future as well as enhancing the development process and social services.
The first media briefing was held on Monday at the General Secretariat of the Cabinet in Dubai and attended by representatives from different local media organisations in the UAE.
Through this new channel, journalists and government officials will discuss matters of public importance in a transparent and engaging way, he added.
According to Al Gergawi, ministers, undersecretaries and directors-general of different ministries will meet representatives from the local media to discuss the latest developments, projects and services taking place in the country as well as respond to all comments and inquiries raised by the public.
Strong partnerships
"Ministers and top government officials across all government entities will be meeting media professionals on a regular basis to strengthen the relationship between the two partners and eliminate all barriers and clarify vagueness by answering all questions,” Al Gergawi said.
Pointing to the significant role of the media in the UAE, Al Gergawi said that according to a recent survey 87 per cent of the UAE public said that their main sources of information were from the television and the newspaper.
The UAE has become an important country on a regional and global level and people from all over the world would like to learn more about it.
"We need to build strong partnerships with local media to convey the message of the government and highlight the development taking place in the UAE,” he said.
He added he wanted media institutions to play a role in listing the achievements of the UAE.
He said the new system was a development of the current media spokesperson system introduced in various ministries three years ago.
"It aims to give people fresh and credible news,” he said
Recently, the government trained almost 160 spokespeople to represent the government entities in the media.
He said Sheikh Mohammad, the chief government spokesperson, has always proved that he spares no efforts in letting people know about developments and decisions taking place in the country.
"Through a social media connection with more than 2.7 million people, Sheikh Mohammad is dispensing information to the public whenever he sees this is useful for the people and the work of the government.” – Gulf News
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Vice President emphasises UAE's desire to develop tourism and travel sector
posted on 11/05/2013
 The Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has emphasised the desire of the UAE to develop the Tourism and Travel sector of the economy, in line with its strategy to stimulate key sectors and to provide them with all that they need, thus ensuring the best results for the country.
He added that the sector is of great importance not just due to its status as a principal driver of economic development but also because of the role it plays at a cultural and social level, thanks to the opportunities of promoting the country in new markets abroad.
Commenting on the Annual Report of the Emirates Group, the Vice President expressed his pride at the achievements of the UAE's leading national organisations and their role in transmitting the UAE's vision to a future full of these achievements. They provide a motivation, he said, to continue the hard work and a source of positive energy that everyone, at all levels, should seek to maintain, so as to continue the process of the country's development.
"The Emirates Group," he said, "has had a notable positive role in transforming our country into an important international travel hub, a bridge between all corners of the world, all through this national organisation's presence in over 70 countries and its multi-national crew. It has succeeded in keeping the strategic view that values competition and respects free trade regulations, and balances the aspirations of growth and maintaining profitability. This makes it an example for aspiring companies that reach for new skies of excellence and innovation." – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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President receives a copy of book from Mohammed bin Rashid
posted on 11/05/2013
 President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was presented with a copy of book entitled: "Flashes of Inspiration" by the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at Al Rowda Palace.
Sheikh Khalifa thanked Sheikh Mohammed for issuing the book, expressing his pleasure with the publication, which illustrates ideas presented by Sheikh Mohammed at the Government Summit held in February 2013.
Introducing the book, Sheikh Khalifa said: "I have enjoyed reading the first draft of the book," noting that Sheikh Mohammed added to this book new ideas, views and topics not raised during his speech.
He added: "Our vision for Government Excellence and new generations of future governments, and the real role of any government in any society, matches and corresponds with the vision of my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, my brothers Rulers of the Emirates, and with what we have learned from our founding fathers." The UAE President stressed that the function of government is to bring happiness to the community through services as penned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in his book.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the Government Summit, which gathered over 30 states to discuss excellence and delivery of services to people, noting that "We always seek to learn from experiences of others, and exchange expertise with other countries as well".
Sheikh Khalifa urged officials and Emirati youth to benefit from this book: "It is an opportunity to learn from a seasoned successful Arab leader. The book includes life experiences and ideas".
Following is the full text of speech of the UAE President: "I am pleased to present the new book of my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 'Flashes of Inspiration' which summarises a range of views and ideas put forward by Sheikh Mohammed during the Government Summit, held in February 2013.
I enjoyed the speech of Mohammed bin Rashid, and also enjoyed reading the first draft of the book, which has added new ideas and put forward views and topics not raised during the speech. And I wish everyone benefit from this book.
Our vision of excellence for the government and for new generations of future governments, and the role played by any government in any society, matches and corresponds with the vision of my brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and with the visions of my brothers the Rulers of the Emirates, and with what we have learned from our founding fathers. The function of government is to achieve happiness and serve people and not to lord over them, as penned by my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
I was pleased about the gathering of more than 30 countries in the UAE to discuss how best to achieve excellence and delivery of government services to citizens. We need to learn from the experiences of others, share knowledge with them and transfer our expertise to other countries.
Stability and development are reflected in the provision of decent living conditions to the people. This is the basis of our strategy in the UAE for more than 41 years.
Finally, I say to my young sons, brothers, government officials: this book in your hands affords a chance for you to learn from a seasoned successful Arab leader. With a rich experience, the book combines diverse life experiences, ideas and humane leadership experiences." His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had earlier introduced his book: "Flashes of Inspiration". He noted that the book documents the most important ideas put forward during the Government Summit, which was held last February. The book also reflects Sheikh Mohammed's visions about some of the themes and experiences mentioned at the summit.
He described his book "as a quick illumination on a variety of topics in leadership and management", in addition to referencing some of the topics that were not accommodated by the summit due to the time factor. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Jawaher appointed as UNHCR Eminent Advocate
posted on 08/05/2013
 The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has appointed Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, as an Eminent Advocate for refugee children around the globe.
The appointment was announced at a special ceremony in Sharjah that was also attended by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the Supreme Council.
This is one of the most distinguished positions in international humanitarianism, which the UNHCR gives to the most respected humanitarians who have established an exceptional track record worldwide.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan stated, "It is a great occasion when Sheikha Jawaher has been honoured by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for her efforts to uplift the under privileged during her career. Through UNHCR it is possible to reach suffering refugees throughout the world. The commissioner has the best interests of refugees. Sheikha Jawahar's past work led to her being chosen for this position. We wish her success, and I will keep supporting her efforts and the efforts of others who work for the needy and the underprivileged here and in the rest of the world.”
This appointment is the culmination of the tireless humanitarian efforts of Sheikha Jawaher, in which she has devoted herself to helping victims of wars and conflict — especially children, as they are the most vulnerable.
Commenting on her appointment, Sheikha Jawaher said, "I wish to express my immense appreciation to the UNHCR for bestowing upon me this honour. I also wish to congratulate the High Commissioner and his hardworking personnel in the UNHCR for their tireless humanitarian efforts, which have made a life-saving and life-changing difference to the victims of war and crisis around the globe. To our long-suffering Syrian brothers and sisters, I would like to say hope is on the way and we will not let you walk alone.”
She also said, "I have always believed that charity knows no borders, and in our humanitarian efforts we are one: there is no ‘me' or ‘you', only ‘us'. That means religion, race, culture and nationality will all be invisible to us — what we only see is the suffering of today and the hope of a brighter tomorrow.” – The Gulf Today
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German President awards Order of Merit on Presidential Affairs Ministry's advisor
posted on 08/05/2013
 The Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany has been awarded to the Cultural Advisor at the UAE Presidential Affairs Ministry, Zaki Nusseibeh, by the President of Germany Joachim Gauck, in recognition of his efforts to cement relations between the UAE and Germany, in particular in education and culture.
On behalf of President Gauck, the Ambassador of Germany, Nikolai von Schoepff, presented Nusseibeh with the honour a special ceremony in presence of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, German diplomats and members of the German community. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE newspaper: UAE is home to peaceful coexistence
posted on 07/05/2013
Choosing the heading "Home of Coexistence", Al Ro'ya daily praised in its editorial yesterday the cosmopolitan status the UAE enjoys.
'Home to a large number of nationalities, races, religions and creeds, this harmony must be protected from all turmoil to keep the engine of development running,' the daily stressed.
The editorial added that each individual holds and enjoys their own conviction , so long as it does not affect the stability, they are not to be harmed.
'Anything that would upset the balance and jeopardise the widely celebrated diversity will not be welcomed,' the paper concluded. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Humaid Al Nuaimi conferred First Ajman Order of Honour on Mohamed bin Zayed
posted on 06/05/2013
 H. H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Ajman has conferred the First Ajman Order of Honour on His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in recognition to his distinguished efforts in serving the homeland and citizens.
This came when Sheikh Humaid received yesterday at the Ajman Ruler's Court Sheikh Mohamed in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.
Ruler of Ajman hailed the contributions of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, his national and developmental initiatives, and his efforts in translating the directives by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on progress and prosperity of the homeland.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi thanked the Ajman Ruler for his generous gesture, noting that " We all work to serve this dear country led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and support of Their Highnesses Rulers of the Emirates.
Sheikh Al Nuaimi and Sheikh Mohammed discussed the initiatives and projects that aim to enhance the living standards of the citizens. .
Among those in attendance were H. H Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, other Sheikhs, senior officials, a number of heads of federal and local departments in Ajman. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Mohamed bin Zayed tours flood-hit Eastern region
posted on 05/05/2013
 His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday conducted tour of a number of areas in the Eastern region to enquire about conditions of citizens, and to inspect services provided to them and projects being implemented to cater for their needs.
Sheikh Mohamed got assured of the well being of citizens living at villages near valleys and mountains, which experienced rains last Week.
Sheikh Mohamed's tour took him to Shouka valley dam and Al Qour valley. The 13- metre high and 107-metre long dam, with a capacity of 275,000 cubic metre, was over flooded several times due to torrential rains last Week.
At Manaiei, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi visited the place of residence of Ali bin Saeed Al Dahmani, where he was welcomed by family members as well as by citizens of Manaiei and surrounding areas.
As he shook hands with citizens, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his extreme pleasure for meeting the citizens and listening to their needs for basic services.
For their part, the citizens welcomed Sheikh Mohamed while poets recited poems showing their love and loyalty to the nation and lauded achievements the UAE has made under the leadership of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Sheikh Mohammed creates #ShkMohdJournal on Twitter
posted on 28/04/2013
 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, created a new hashtag on Twitter; #ShkMohdJournal.
On the hashtag #ShkMohdJournal, Sheikh Mohammed writes tweets that sum up his experience as a leader and offer valuable lessons in life. – Khaleej Times
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Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority issues the Accountability Report 2013
posted on 28/04/2013
 The Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA), an independent body mandated to oversee transparency and accountability across Abu Dhabi Government, issued yesterday its "Accountability Report 2013" which includes its strategic plan, objectives and outcomes in addition to the 2012 audited financial statements.
Riyad Al Mubarak, Chairman of ADAA mentioned in the Report foreword that ADAA's ambitions to achieve its vision and continue to enhance its services is based on the UAE's vision and ambition, "The United Arab Emirates' nation is very ambitious and difficult to dissuade from moving forward no matter what obstacles lie ahead and our history attests to that; as we still reap today at various international forums what the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan planted and we see the world eagerly watching us work harder to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE." Al Mubarak added, "Each year ADAA generously receives more guidance and support from His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council that nurtures our ambitions and drives us to increase our efforts to persistently achieve more.
The report said that since ADAAs' establishment in 2008, it had developed three key output groups enabling it from executing its mandate and achieving its objectives. These are the "Financial Audit and Examination Group", the "Performance and Risk Assurance Group", and the "Supporting Accountability Group" whereby ADAA developed methodologies for all its outputs based on global best practices and international standards issued by renowned international institutions such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
The report added that ADAA issued 647 reports during the past 4 years across its two groups; the Financial Audit and Examination group and the Performance and Risk Assurance group of which 166 reports were issued in 2012 (80 Financial Audit '&' Examination reports and 86 Performance '&' Risk Assurance reports).
It announced that ADAA - under the Financial Audit '&' Examination Group - has audited the consolidated financial statements of Abu Dhabi Government and conducted 70 Financial Examinations of the audited financial statements at Subject Entities that resulted in 1,149 comments related to the quality of audit work. These included 293 comments related to the "Statutory Auditor Appointment Rules - SAAR" established according to Law No. (14) for 2008 on the establishment of ADAA.
The report also showed that ADAA - under the Performance '&' Risk Assurance Group - issued 50 reports on Internal Audit Assessment that resulted in providing 1,774 recommendations with the objective of improving the internal audit work quality at Subject Entities due to their impact on developing performance, enhancing the control environment and reinforcing the governance structure at subject Entities.
ADAA issued a number of reports related to government services and outputs reviews that included the Abu Dhabi Government Contact Centre (ADGCC), labourer accommodation, building permits, food safety, education licensing, municipal system support, commercial licensing, Future Schools Program, medical licensing and the Emiratisation Program and presented its findings and recommendations in relation to the efficiency, effectiveness and economy of these services and outputs.
The report indicated - under the Supporting Accountability Group - that ADAA encouraged Subject Entities to recognise the importance of developing documented and approved regulations at each Subject Entity relating to complaints on Financial Violations as well as appointing a Compliance Officer within the internal audit function at every entity to assume the responsibility of receiving complaints, logging and examining them and making recommendations to the competent authority within the Entity to either dismiss the matter or refer it to investigation.
The compliance Officer should also notify ADAA immediately upon discovering any violation and send a copy of the investigation documents once completed supported by the investigation records and actions taken as mandated by Law No. (14) for 2008. The report declared that ADAA received 18 complaints during last year that were generally related to abuse of power and conflict of interest, violation of procurement laws, regulations and procedures, negligence in managing public money and breaching code of conduct.
The report stated that ADAA developed specialised training programs with the objective of contributing to the training and development of Emirati Auditors and assisting them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to advance and excel in their careers.
ADAA developed the "Emirati Auditor Development Program" which was designed to give young Emirati graduates the opportunity to develop their careers and move from entry level Assistant Auditor to a Chief Auditor over a period of 7 years.
It recruited 37 Emirati graduates in the program that includes on-the-job training, secondments to the big 4 audit firms as well as simultaneously offering the necessary professional training to acquire certifications in the accounting and audit profession such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification. ADAA also obliged Statutory Auditors of Subject Entities to ensure that the audit team includes at least one UAE National.
The Accountability Report covered ADAA's most important achievements during 2012 whereby ADAA hosted the 6th International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) Inspection Workshop with the participation of more than 120 audit inspectors from 33 countries, noting that ADAA became a member of IFIAR within one year of its establishment and was the first organisation in the Middle East and North Africa to become a member and was then elected by fellow members to sit on the IFIAR Advisory Council alongside Germany, Japan, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands marking the UAE as the first Arab country to become a member in the Council and within two years of its membership of IFIAR.
ADAA also succeeded in obtaining the approval of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) to host the IPSAS Board meeting in 2013.
The report concluded with a brief presentation on the 2013 work plan followed by the 2012 audited financial statements prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards - IPSAS. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Sharjah Ruler underlines the importance of surveys
posted on 17/04/2013
 His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, stressed the importance of conducting surveys in order to create initiatives and make decisions that will serve the needs of UAE citizens in Sharjah.
Sheikh Sultan made the statement in an exclusive TV interview with Sharjah Television, which will be aired on Tuesday (yesterday) via the Sharjah TV and Radio Direct Line programme.
The 30-minute interview was conducted with Dr Sheikh Sultan as he attended the opening of the London Book Fair 2013.
"A recent demographic survey showed that there are 6,500 job applicants and 16,500 job seekers in the emirate of Sharjah. This got me thinking about the status of these applicants and job seekers. We have instructed the Department of Human Resources to immediately review the applications and provide us with information for emergency cases. As such, we have looked into a total of 116 cases,” said Dr Sheikh Sultan.
"The survey also indicated that there are 158,000 Emiratis in Sharjah. A total of 18,000 of these Emiratis do not have a Sharjah-issued family register, but those of other emirates. This means that Sharjah is attracting work forces,” added Dr Sheikh Sultan.
Dr Sheikh Sultan also spoke about statistics collected in the Eastern Region of the emirate.
"The survey shows that around 53,000 Emiratis are living in the Eastern Region of the emirate. It is imperative that we address the issue of employment in that area in order to ease the hardship facing these citizens when they commute on a daily basis to their jobs in the cities and Central Region.”
He said that these statistics will help in making decisions and coming up with initiatives and solutions to issues.
Dr Sheikh Sultan also pointed out during the interview that the third book in his autobiographical series will begin with the time period of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and will come to an end with his death.
"God bless the late Sheikh Zayed. His generosity can be felt in the UAE, as well as the Arab and Islamic world. He has left a positive impression for our generation as well as future generations.” – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE government is the first government in the world to launch national standard for its distinguished services
posted on 15/04/2013
 In a move designed to improve the government services, develop, enhance customer satisfaction and standardise the quality of the procedures in government agencies, the Cabinet Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs has launched in conjunction with Emirates Metrology and Standards Authority (ESMA), UAE standards for distinguished government service.
The government standard service, the first of its kind worldwide, includes a number of measures and guidelines based on practical studies and comparative criteria for the best world practices in the area of development and provision of the government practices through the service centres at the federal agencies.
Ohood Al Roumi, Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs said the launch of this project aims to consolidate service performance quality and ensure provision of services that even exceed expectations of customers, noting that these are the outstanding practices to further develop and upgrade the government services in line with the UAE Vision 2012.
She added that the government standard service was designed to serve the citizen in line with the directives by the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which were chalked out at the Government Summit, noting that by doing so the UAE government has become the first government to launch the standard for the distinguished government services. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Mohammed bin Rashid’s youngest son debuts on Instagram
posted on 14/04/2013
 His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has posted the photo of Shaikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum through his Instagram account, marking his son's debut in the media.
Shaikh Mohammed has chosen his official page on the online photo-sharing and social networking service, to post the very first photos which show the one-year child with his father.
Shaikh Mohammed is known to be one of the most social media-savvy world leaders, as he is interested in broadening the scope of communication with the community using the social media which offer instant interaction with people within the UAE and abroad. This is based on the fact that Shaikh Mohammed believes that social media is a very valuable tool of interaction that must be given maximum attention by leaders and decision makers.
Shaikh Mohammed's official Instagram profile, @HHSHKMOHD, features a number of never-published-before private photos which document significant moments in his life. Shaikh Mohammed's official twitter account has gathered more than 1.7 million followers, while his Youtube Channel now has 1.8 million subscribers. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Khalifa Award for Education names Mohamed bin Zayed Education Personality of the Year
posted on 28/03/2013
 The Khalifa Award for Education has announced selection of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces as a winner of the 'Educational Personality of the Year' category of the award for 2012/2013.
Sheikh Mohammed was awarded the title in recognition of his efforts and forward looking vision for advancing education as per international standards and best practices and for his continuous support to educational fields.
This during a press conference held yesterday after this year's award selections were approved by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the award's Board of Trustees.
The award's Secretary General Amal Abdul Qadir Al Afifi expressed pride at selecting Sheikh Mohamed for this category of the award, introduced for the first time this year.
"The selection of Sheikh Mohamed as the first winner of this category is the least we could do to bring to light his efforts and continuous support to education and knowledge," she said.
She added that 34 out of 500 nominees won the award in different categories this year.
An official award distribution ceremony will be held on April 15 at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The award's total cash prize is Dh2.6 million. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE introduced raft of anti-corruption measures: Al Awadi
posted on 17/03/2013
Riyadh: The UAE has introduced a set of legislative, judicial and executive measures and ratified a number of Arab and international anti-corruption conventions within its efforts to fight corruption, Dr. Abdul Rahim Al Awadi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, has said.
He told the first GCC meeting of heads of anti-corruption and integrity agencies in Riyadh that the UAE had ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the International Convention against Corruption and the Arab Anti-corruption Convention out of its firm belief in creating a mechanism to criminalize corrupt practices.
He added that anti-corruption efforts under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan had earned the country top rankings in key Arab and international indexes against corruption.
Transparency International, which monitors and publicises corruption around the world, last year placed the UAE as the world's 27th cleanest nation and the highest place in the Arab world. The UAE has scooped the first place globally in the field of efficiency of governmental fiscal policy. It has also achieved the seventh place in the efficiency of financial management in the public sector within the Global Competitiveness Report 2012 issued by the International Institute of Management Development in Switzerland.
'We believe that corruption fighting is only possible through an integrated raft of measures including prevention, training, criminalization, technical assistance and international collective collaboration... though the UAE has gained leading rankings in international indexes, but it is more determined and resolve to pursue its efforts to further develop and refine its measures and mechanisms to fill gaps so as to reach the optimum compliance with international and regional standards,' he added. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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President approves new formation of the cabinet
posted on 13/03/2013
 President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has approved the formation of the new Cabinet, presented by the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The President wished the new ministers good luck and success, expressing his thanks and appreciation to the ministers for the efforts they exerted in serving their homeland.
The following is the new list of ministers, headed by the Vice President and Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
•His Highness Lt.-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior
•His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs
•His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance
•His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
•Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development
•Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
•Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation
•Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs
•Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy
•Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs
•Humaid Mohammed Obeid Al Qattami, Minister of Education
•Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health
•Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour
•Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs ( Minister of Federal National Council of Affairs )
•Dr. Hadef Jowan Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice
•Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water
•Suhail bin Mohamed Faraj Fares Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy
•Abdullah bin Mohamed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works
•Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs
•Dr. Maytha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State
•Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State
•Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State
•Abdullah bin Mohammed Ghobash, Minister of State
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Mohammed bin Rashid announces the 10th Cabinet on Twitter
posted on 13/03/2013
 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has confirmed, in a message on Twitter, the approval of the list of members of the new Cabinet by His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Cabinet includes four new members, while a new Ministry of Development and International Co-operation has been created. The Ministries of Foreign Trade and Economy have been merged.
Among the changes, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan becomes Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi Minister of Development and International Co-operation. New entrant Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi becomes Minister of Public Works.
HH Sheikh Mohammed said that the new Cabinet has been formed "in alignment with our preparations for the new phase of government action, during which we seek to accelerate development in our country and achieve the aspirations of our people, as well as expanding our relations with the world around us".
The introduction of new faces to the government team, he said, would introduce fresh ideas, enabling the government to keep up to date and to deal with the national issues that are considered a priority for all the people of the UAE.
The formation of the new Ministry of Development and International Co-operation, headed by Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, is intended to enable the country to handle the crucial role in development that it plays around the world, with the aim of broadening the scope of such activities, whether on a country-to-country basis or through the various international organisations active in this field. It will also help to consolidate the status of the UAE as an important donor and key player in the process of global human development, as well as its relations with nations undergoing development.
The Office for Co-ordination of Foreign Aid will become part of the new ministry which will begin to perform its functions immediately with regards to a variety of issues, including the development of public policy on overseas development aid. It will also propose areas of priority in terms of development assistance, will document foreign aid to other countries by both the UAE's governmental and non-governmental sectors, will assess the impact of foreign aid programmes on recipient countries, and will handle co-ordination with local and international authorities in the humanitarian aid sector.
In other appointments, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais becomes Minister of Health, new entrant Suhail Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei becomes Minister of Energy and new entrants Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and Abdullah Mohammed Saeed Ghobash become Minister of State.
The new appointments are intended to inject new blood, particularly from those who have previously demonstrated efficiency and professionalism in either the private or public sectors. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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UAE's Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed second most powerful Arab in Gulf Business list
posted on 05/03/2013
 Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group was named the second most powerful Arab in Gulf Business Magazine's list of Top 100 Powerful Arabs for 2013 which was topped by Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KSA).
Also from the UAE, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, came sixth place while Dr. Abdalla Alnajjar, President of the Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF), who was fourth most influential Arab figure in science and technology, came in the 42nd place this year.
Al Najjar was recognised for his work and support to exceptional research activities conducted by scientists from the Arab region by attracting investments from around the world.
In the third place this year, came Khalid Al Falih (KSA) CEO of Aramco, followed in the fourth place by Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi (KSA) Petroleum and mineral resources minister, and in the fifth Moahmmed Al-Mady (KSA), CEO of SABIC.
In the seventh place came Mohammed El Erian (American of Egyptian descent) CEO of PIMCO, followed by Ahmad Mohamed Al-Sayed (Qatar) CEO of Qatar holding, Carlos Ghosn (Brazilian of Lebanese descent) CEO of Renault Nissan and finally Reem Asaad (KSA) women's rights advocate.
Last year, the young Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi, seen as a symbol of the revolution of Tunisia, ranked first in the list of Top 100 Powerful Arabs for 2012. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Khalifa issues law regarding Abu Dhabi logo
posted on 03/03/2013
 President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi law No. (1) of 2013 amending provisions of law No. (5) of 2010 regarding the emblem of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
According to the law, the emblem will take the shape of a falcon which will have two crossing daggers under it. It will have in each side a white-red flag with a rectangle banner carrying the name Abu Dhabi. Three domes top the emblem. The law says that the emblem may have a red or silver or black frame.
The Secretariat General of Abu Dhabi Executive Council is currently supervising the design, development and use of the emblem to reflect the cultural legacy and value and historical importance of the emirate.
A world prominent artist was selected to envisage the prototype design of the falcon, inspired by a valuable collection of daggers belonged to the Al Nahyan family.
Inspired by heritage and history of the Arabia, the emblem of the emirate was designed by Bahraini artist Abdullah Al Mahrouqi and was first published in postal stamps in 1968.
The Abu Dhabi Executive Council will release the guidelines for using the emblem by government departments in official publications, gifts and promotional materials. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Government Communication Forum highlights unique challenges faced by Arab governments in adopting open dialogue
posted on 26/02/2013
 Day two of the Government Communication Forum 2013 featured a debate addressing the viability of establishing a perfect model for government communication in Arab countries. Titled "Communication in Arab governments: Between Real World Challenges and Promising Structure", the panel highlighted the need for regional governments to transition to more effective, inclusive and strategic communication methods.
Panelists included Octavia Nasr, Former Executive Producer of CNN World Report, former Anchor of CNN International's World News; Jihad Al Khazen, writer and journalist at Al Hayat newspaper; Ali Jaber, Dean of Mohammad Bin Rashid School for Media at the American University in Dubai and Director General of MBC, and Ziyad Baroud, lawyer and former Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities. Zeina Al Yazeji, a Dubai-based journalist and presenter of Al Share'e' program on Dubai TV, moderated the session.
Addressing the regional desire for effective communication between government and its people, Baroud said: "The lack of a solid structure as well as limited sustainable and systematic processes has resulted in difficulty to institutionalise communications within Arab governments. It is important to take into consideration that each government department is different and there is a need to customise responses according to public demand to effectively meet their needs. This stability can be achieved only through a political decision.
"Unfortunately, the Arab world is lagging behind in updating information. With the increased use of new media and channels, the people are compelling governments to react instantly. The authorities have been forced to adopt these channels to avoid missing the dialogue and compromising on the ability to respond to its citizens." Jaber echoed Baroud's thoughts and spoke of the need to eradicate the top-down approach in communications. He said: "In my opinion, it is essential to rethink on the tools, language and design of the message or idea on which communication is built. A more creative approach or an innovative framework for communication needs to be adopted to break down the wall between the government and its people.
"Unfortunately, the media in this part of the world is very cautious - and caution is the very restriction in open communication. The change needs to come from the top. The nation needs to have one effective body that is oriented by the genuine wish of the ruler or government to understand what the people want. An analysis of the general public sentiment, which can now be assessed through new media tools in real-time, will enable governments to design their message to be more coordinated, consistent and unified." Commenting on the role of the government in taking the lead in channelling the flow of communication, Al Khazen said: "Government discourse ought to be properly thought out and channelled. Communication is a prerequisite; but there is a red line. The people should be able to trust their government. There is much truth in the legal statement "the burden of proof lies with the prosecutor" - it is the governments' job to prove its credibility.
"In many countries, governments tend to make promises that exceed their capacity. Governments, as a must, ought to meet the minimum requirement of credibility. Moreover, media channels must be able to portray all sides of the government, not just the positives. Transparency is critical, and, in my opinion, this is not an impossible feat." In agreement with Jaber, Octavia Nasr stressed the need to abolish the "we" and "them" concepts and distinction in the pursuit of more effective communication. She said: "Governments need to find a way to reach out to the public as an authority that is genuinely interested in resolving problems. When media channels are obligated to paint a positive picture and convey only certain facts, for instance, an opinion is being forced onto the public. Clearly, there is a gap between the government and its people that needs to be bridged. Perhaps the first steps in the right direction is discussing the issues through forums such as these and arriving at sustainable solutions to break that barrier." "Setting targets to establish the purpose of communication - be it to inform, convince, propagate or market - is critical. One may be a politician or an artist or even a company, but each has its own way of communication, with different agendas." Octavia Nasr is a veteran of the news industry with more than 27 years of experience, she has served CNN as Senior Editor of Mideast Affairs and Co-Creator of the network's digital international news-gathering strategy. During her 20-year tenure at CNN, Nasr held several high profile positions including Executive Producer of Ted Turner's brainchild CNN World Report and anchor of CNN International's World News.
Ziad Baroud is a legal adviser to several United Nations agencies in Lebanon. In addition to serving as a member of the committee responsible for updating laws in the Ministry of Justice, Baroud is President of Special Commission for administrative decentralisation in the country. He was invited by the French Foreign Ministry to participate in the meetings of the Lebanese dialogue in France. Baroud has also observed the municipal elections in 2004 and the parliamentary elections in 2005, leading a group of 1,350 observers. A lecturer at the University of Saint Joseph, Baroud has authored legal publications, articles and lectures.
Ali M. Jaber concurrently serves on the board of Young Arab Leaders (YAL) and the American University of Beirut, School of Architecture and Design, in Beirut, Lebanon. Earlier, he was mandated to set up the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Communication (MBRSC). Previously, he was tasked to lead Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) and re-launch the group's four national pan-Arab satellite channels. He eventually took over as DMI's Managing Editor.
Jihad Al Khazen is a member of the Board of Directors of the Arab Thought Foundation and the Abdulaziz Al Babtain Prize Foundation for Poetic Creativity. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies at the Georgetown University, and Media Leaders at the World Economic Forum (Davos). Al Khazen has served as the editor of leading news publications including Reuters and Daily Star in Beirut, and the Arab News in Jeddah. The first editor-in-chief of Asharq Al Awsat newspaper in London, he held the same position at the Al-Hayat newspaper for more than 10 years. He has also authored a large body of work, which includes his latest book The Neo-Conservatives and Christian Zionists'.
Sharjah Media Centre launched the inaugural Government Communication Forum in 2012. A first-of-its-kind event, the forum articulates Sharjah Media Centre's efforts to develop government communication mechanisms for the benefit of government institutions in the UAE and the region. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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Ruler of Sharjah opens the second Government Communication Forum 2013
posted on 25/02/2013
 H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah has stressed the importance of preserving the cultural identity as it protects human being from unlimited unruly chaos.
Sheikh Sultan was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the second Government Communication Forum (GCF 2013) held under the theme Effective Communication- Unified Message.
Present were Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, other Sheikhs, Former UN secretary General Kofi Anan, Former Arab League secretary General Amro Mousa and former US Ambassador to UN Andrew Young, senior officials and dignitaries.
"The cultural particularities cannot fade forever as they resort to living in hibernation like plants in the depths of unconsciousness. They wait for revival, " he said, noting that "We should tackle this chaos. If it is allowed to triumph, it will have destructive effects. The cultural Identity is the protective shield that ensures survival." The Ruler of Sharjah welcomed the presence of decision makers, who took the decisive decisions in their respective posts.
He noted that Sharjah had embarked on the cultural communication since 1976 when the African- Arab Symposium was held- and a number of resolutions were adopted to revamp the cultural communication between the Arab and African countries.
The Turkish Prime Minister said the communication has impact on the world, especially on the social, political and economic ties, as well as on the policies and governments.
He underlined that politicians who could exploit the communication correctly would win votes in the elections, stressing the need for developing the methods of government communication with the citizens amid the fundamental changes being experienced by the region and world.
Erdogan said Turkey has 81 cities and the distance between the farthest points is 2, 500 km. "In accordance with my responsibilities, I frequently visit these cities. I visited 70 cities over 45 days during the elections campaign. I delivered a speech in each city as I met the voters." For his part, the Former UN secretary general shed light on his tenure as the UN secretary general. He added that the world is experiencing the fundamental changes, but noted that what "is worrying is the scale of the complications." Annan underlined that the political leaders have failed to understand their peoples, and hence adopted myopic attitudes that had led to exacerbation of the situation, and as a result the uprisings.
The Former Arab League secretary general said the Middle East is witnessing the fundamental changes due to the lack of communication between the governments and peoples on one hand, and among the peoples on the other hand. He said the approach of totalitarian governments had bad impact on the communication, noting that the whole issue ended in the repetitive and similar uprisings.
Mousa said the communication has become easier unlike the past, adding that the modern communication has become easier among people because of the technology as no government can control it. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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