1997 11 22 Saturday No. :26797
An official source at the Foreign Ministry expressed the UAE's satisfaction at the success of the diplomatic efforts which had been exerted to end the conflict which broke out between Iraq and the United Nations in connection with the UN Weapons Inspection Commission. The source said that ending the crisis averted the region from the dangers of new military confrontation and further suffering of the Iraqi people.
The source expressed hope that the Iraqi decision, and the diplomatic efforts, would remove all causes behind the imposition of the embargo and sanctions on Iraq and open a new page in Baghdad's relations with the international community. It also praised the role of Russian diplomacy in reaching the agreement which paved the way for the endorsement of a political solution to the crisis instead of military action. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan met in Rabat yesterday with King Hassan II of Morocco and discussed with him ways of boosting brotherly relations and of enhancing Arab unity. An official source said that the meeting came within the framework of the two leaders' continuous co-operation and consultation to serve Arab causes, confront challenges and achieve Arab unity.
The source said that the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Arab world and ways to enhance Arab disputes and achieve Arab reconciliation as a foundation for establishing Arab ties on the basis of clarity, unanimity and mutual trust.
The source reported that Sheikh Zayed said during the meeting that "it is not a secret that the Arab nation is at present passing through critical circumstances but this does not mean that we have to remain silent. The Arabs should consider such circumstances as ephemeral and should make up their mind to surpass them all."
The source added that the two leaders also discussed the faltering Middle East peace process and the obstacles facing it and stressed the need for exerting all efforts to save the process so as to achieve a just and permanent peace in the region.
Present at the meeting were the President's Military Escort Sheikh Omar bin Zayed al Nahyan, the President's Special Advisers Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad and Dr Mana Saeed al Otaiba, Director of the President's Office Khamis Butti al Rumaithi and UAE Ambassador to Morocco Eissa Hamad bu Shihab. The meeting was also attended by King Hassan's son Prince Moulai Rasheed. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM, reporting from Rabat, Morocco)
UAE EDITORIALS: 'RESTORATION OF ARAB SOLIDARITY'
The local Arabic-language press were yesterday commenting on various facets of current regional events. The Dubai-based 'Al Bayan' said that there are signals that Arab solidarity is being restored. It said, in part: "There are some positive signs of easing the crisis and creating an atmosphere that would restore Arab solidarity, which has been absent during the past decade while we were busy with our marginal differences and (thus) forgot the enemies of our nation and their schemes for Arab disunity.
The latest US-Iraqi crisis has caused Arab nations to forget their differences and regain their solidarity. It is the first time in years that Arab capitals are in agreement on one point and resisting the foreign will to strike at Iraq. Even Kuwait has refused to hit Iraq and thus increase that country's suffering through sanctions.
Another sign that Arab solidarity is returning is the Arab refusal to accept Washington's will for Arab participation in the Middle East and North Africa, MENA, Economic Conference [held last week in Doha, Qatar] as their participation would have been a reward for Israel for its aggression and occupation of Arab lands. What we need today is the continued search for solidarity, forgetting inter-Arab differences because the power of the Arabs lies in their unity.
Meanwhile, under the title 'The Price of the Israeli Policy', the Sharjah-based 'Al Khaleej' editorial said that it is now clear that the US policy in the Middle East faces a crisis or (else) there are indications that the strong ties between the US and Arab countries are in a state of weakness. The relations are changing - but the change can be classified as resentment toward, or contempt for, the US policy which has reversed its stance in regard to the basis of the Madrid accords.
The Arab countries which gambled on the US withdrawing support to Israeli policies on the Middle East peace settlement have now realised that they have lost their bets and that the US is demanding that Arab policies should match (those of) the Israelis," the paper said.
It added that a number of events have occurred that have made the Arab countries express concern at the US policy. The first was the Doha economic summit, which the US tried its best to make a success - but it failed to make the Arab countries participate and those who did attend did so on a nominal scale. The second was the Iraq-US crisis, in which the US tried to rally Arab countries against Iraq as it did in 1990 but failed.
The US Secretary of State [Madeleine Albright] was questioned by Arab countries she visited on Washington's insistence that Iraq should adhere to the UN resolutions, while the US Administration turned a deaf ear to the cries of the Arabs against Israel's attitude to the Middle East peace accords," 'Al Khaleej' added.
It said that for the US, the new Arab stance is not something to be waved off. Washington may treat the challenge as "letting off steam" but it is more probable that the Arab stance is more than a reaction. The mounting anti-US feelings among Arab countries can only be removed by eradication of its causes and the implementation of the UN resolutions. (The Emirates News)
CURTAIN FALLS ON DUBAI AIR SHOW '97
The Dubai Air Show, DUBAI '97, closed on Thursday with the promise of an even bigger and better event in 1999 at a purpose-built, permanent show site. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, said that the Dubai Air Show and the Abu Dhabi International Defence Exhibition, IDEX, series had become showcases for the success of the UAE's economic policies, self-reliance and infrastructure.
In an interview carried by 'The UAE Air Force Magazine', Sheikh Mohammed said that the overseas delegation programme devised for this year's air show will be expanded the next time. Under the programme, invitations to foreign notables follow a three-tier priority system. Arab Gulf Co-operation Council, AGCC, states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE itself - fall in the first tier, the Middle East, the Indian Sub-continent, the Far East and the Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS, in the second and Africa, Europe and the Americas in the third.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Airline, said that the success of the show confirmed the fact that the Middle East remains a high-potential market.
He attributed the insignificant increase in the number of exhibitors at this year's event to the worldwide trend of corporate mergers. The four-day aerospace exhibition, attracted over 27,000 visitors - up from last year's 25,000 - from 90 countries and bookings are already being taken for DUBAI '99.
Event organisers' Fairs & Exhibitions' Managing Director Virginia Kern said that the changing weather pattern of Dubai may require the chalets to be made waterproof - the last day of DUBAI '97 was subjected to virtually non-stop downpours - but she added that the mainline exhibitors had not voiced any criticism about the show. "As always, we are surveying exhibitors to assess their reactions and to see if any further enhancements are required," she added.
"We are extremely pleased with the organisation. This is a rare event which is both exhibitor and visitor-friendly," said Bryan Moss, Vice-President and Chief Executive of Gulfstream. Meanwhile, Canada's Bombadier - which announced a major $ 250.0 million deal at the show - said long-term support of the Dubai Air Show was paying dividends. "It is not often that we get to announce deals of this size. We are reaping the rewards of regular attendance at this show and of committing ourselves to the Middle East with the opening of a regional office," said John Wilson, Bombadier's President of Aircraft Sales.
The Dubai Air Show is organised in co-operation with the Government of Dubai, the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Dubai International Airport, in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces. (The Gulf News)
AJMAN'S RULER'S WIFE PRESENTS AWARDS
HH Sheikha Fatima bint Zayed bin Saqr al Nahyan, wife of HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al Nuaimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Ajman, on Thursday presented 75 distinguished personalities with the 'Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Award for Culture and Science'.
The group included teachers of the Holy Qur'an, social volunteers, distinguished teachers, university graduates and students from the Adult Education Centres. They received their awards at a special ceremony in the Umm al Moumineen Women's Association in Ajman. Sheikha Fatima congratulated the women and praised their efforts to achieve "the highest status within the scope of their work."
She especially praised the dedication of those who sincerely work towards advancing and contributing to the development of their country. Sheikha Fatima called upon women to volunteer for social work and to dedicate themselves to these noble and humanitarian causes as "this was not a mere social responsibility but a religious duty." She cited the outstanding volunteer work of the Umm al Moumineen Women's Association, which this year was itself the recipient of an 'Al Owais Cultural and Scientific Research Award'.
Speaking on behalf of the award winners, Mona al Shafeey, an Administrative Director from the Women's College at the Kuwaiti University, who won first prize in the Short Story category, thanked Sheikha Fatima for her "personal backing" and encouragement of women. "'The Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Award' has become one of the most important and prestigious awards in the Gulf area," she said. (The Gulf News)
RESTORATION OF OLD FUJAIRAH CASTLE BEGINS
Preparations are now underway to commence work on the restoration of Fujairah's historic castle. Believed to date back more than 250 years, the castle, on a knoll on Fujairah's coastal plain, has now been fenced off while employees of the firm awarded the restoration contract are hard at work preparing the wooden structures that will be required to enable them to carry out their work.
The work is being undertaken by a specialist firm that has already completed a number of highly-acclaimed restoration projects in Oman. As part of the restoration programme, and at the specific request of Supreme Council member and Ruler of Fujairah HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed al Sharqi, a full archaeological study, including trial excavations, is to be undertaken on the small hill on which the castle stands, to see if there is any evidence of early occupation on the site.
The archaeological work is due to commence next month and will be carried out by a team from Australia's University of Sydney, with the collaboration of Fujairah's Department of Antiquities. The castle, the residence of Fujairah's ruling family until around 30 years ago, is one of the largest defensive structures from the Late Islamic period to survive in the Emirates but has suffered in recent years from the impact of winter storms, as well as from the weight of the two breeze-block towers added to the top of the structure.
When the restoration project is completed, the castle is expected to become the central focus of an open-air display to introduce visitors to Fujairah to the Emirate's heritage. (The Emirates News)