Mohamed bin Zayed inspects UAE forces in Arab coalition, Hope Restoration Operation, and stresses UAE's role

TAIF, 27th April, 2015 (WAM) -- His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has underlined that helping brothers and contributing towards restoring the security and stability of the people, is a steady and firm approach in the policy of the United Arab Emirates towards sisterly countries. He added that the UAE led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will always be supportive to the brothers and will not hesitate or delay to extend a helping hand to them to tackle the challenges. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi noted that "this stance emanates from the bonds of brotherhood and common legacy that unite us in one destiny and promising future." This came during a visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed yesterday to the King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia, during which he met the UAE force, including officers and non-commissioned officers and members of the Fifth Squadron, who are participating in the Arab coalition, Hope Restoration Operation, led by Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Mohamed inspected the constellation of fighter-jets participating in the coalition, at the Air base. Then he posed for group photos with the UAE force and the rest of the coalition forces. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was briefed on the progress of operations. He was accompanied during the visit by H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defence, Chief of the Royal Court, and Special Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Federal National Council, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Advisor and H.H. Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi conveyed the regards of the UAE President and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the UAE force, and the leadership's and the UAE people's pride in them, while discharging a noble duty to preserve the security of Arab Gulf and restore the security and stability of Yemen and its people, as well as put an end to the threats to the region. Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE leadership and people are proud of the UAE forces, commending their national role and sacrifice for the UAE leadership and people. He commended the high-profile combative performance in this campaign, which will be added to the historic records of the UAE Armed Forces in terms of assisting brothers and boosting the security of the region. He said that the UAE puts the security and stability of the Arab region at the heart of its concerns, and will not turn a blind eye to the changes, developments and their impact on the Arab national security, adding that the UAE will stand by the brothers to keep the risks at bay and address various threats. "Experiences and challenges show that unity of Arabs is the fundamental guarantee for the region to ward off any risk and greed," he added. Sheikh Mohamed pointed out that the UAE will continue fulfilling its national duty along with the rest of Arab brothers to lay the foundations of security and stability and to deal with any schemes or regional agendas with purposes and ambitions in the Arab land, its historical resources, religious and national wealth. Sheikh Mohamed underlined that the Arab countries are in bad need at this critical juncture to solidarity and unity to meet the ambitions and various challenges, and "we have to build an advanced political, military, and development framework to notch our position in the region and the world as well." He noted that "the nature of the looming challenges and risks requires constant vigilance and readiness to protect our gains and our style of living, as well as setting future plans for the Arabian Gulf to deter those who harbour evil for our region." He said that in light of the current developments and new reality, "it is imperative to take effective steps that will enable us to attain superiority, decisive deterrence, and continue to build, develop and create qualified human resource cadres that can be the backbone of our region." Sheikh Mohamed said the Arab national security is inseparable, and should be preserved through collective framework and common vision. "Our sole option is to emerge victorious in the test that Yemen is, in favour of origin of Arab-Yemen, and for the region." He added, "Through the Hope Restoration Operation, we move on to a new phase in response to developments and adverse events in Yemen after we were able to neutralise the clear danger that extends beyond Yemen. This new stage depends on multiple tools based on the military dimension strategy. It seeks through political, and developmental aspects to restore the legitimacy that preserves Yemen, its entity, and return to the political track, which was overthrown by a coup d’état." Sheikh Mohamed noted that the political track will create a consensus that would not exclude anyone, and also eschews violence. "And we are convinced that the vast majority of the people of Yemen share these goals, and seek to reach a political formula to ensure the transition to a modern civil rule deserved by Yemen and its people and reflect positively on the security and stability of the region, and ensure the integration of Yemen surrounded by a secure Gulf and development." He praised the insightful vision of The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia: "We see the resolve that King Salman has as compass of our work and best collective and joint effort to protect the gains and raise the banner of pride and dignity in the face of challenge in Yemen." The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi commended the collective Arab role being played by the King of Saudi Arabia as a leader. "This new prestigious stance will decide the political and development tracks in the region for years to come." The banquet hosted in honour of Sheikh Mohamed was attended by the Saudi Defence Minister. Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation. They attended a lunch banquet hosted by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of Defence, Chief of the Royal Court and Special Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The event was also attended by the delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohamed. Among others present were Dr. Anwar bin Mohamed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Ali Mohamed Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Under Secretary of the Defence Ministry, Lt. General Hamad Mubarak Al Shamsi, Chief of the State Security, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Lt. General Juma Ahmed Al Bowardi, Military Advisor to the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Major General Isa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Major General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Commander of the UAE Air Forces and Air Defence, Brigadier Saleh Mohamed Al Ameri, Commander of the Land Forces, Rear Admiral Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces and a number of senior army officers. Sheikh Mohamed left Taif after a brief visit to Saudi Arabia. He was seen off at the King Fahad Air Base in Al Taif by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and a number of Saudi senior officials. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-arab/1395279765174.html