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Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said that modern terrorism represents a substantial danger, because it takes advantage of contemporary technology as a tool to spread hatred towards others and exclusionary violence; ultimately nurturing intellectually-confused generations and decadent families that are indifferent to the country and the public interest. His Highness added that the success and efficiency of future governments lie in their ability to confront and prevent this scourge and to address its root causes by fostering a spirit of progressive patriotism.
His Highness said that public opinion worldwide is preoccupied with the issue of growing threat of terrorism and dropping oil prices, which can significantly undermine world peace and stability. “For the UAE, the oil price drop is a mere obstacle, not a crisis; an obstacle that can be easily overcome thanks to the efficient methodical policy adopted by the government led by the country’s wise leadership, which encouraged diversification of sources of national income to reduce its dependence on oil. This leadership has also endeavored diligently since its inception, to instill a spirit of tolerance, openness and moderation in the hearts of citizens, all of which have become the essential characteristics of the various segments of the UAE society.”
These remarks were made by HH Sheikh Saif at the opening session of the third Government Summit in session, which was held on Monday in Dubai under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’. The opening session was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; along with heads of state, senior officials of international organizations and high-ranking government officials, and a large crowd of guests.
HH Sheikh Saif commenced his speech with a life example of progressive patriotism in the United Arab Emirates; by taking to the stage with an elite group of Emirati innovative students, and a cohort of National Service recruits, which represent a true example of good citizenship spirit based on excellence and innovation, and contribute efforts to boost the UAE’s record of achievements and dignified exploits. Furthermore, Sheikh Saif extended his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the kind support and patronage of General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces of the UAE youth and soldiers. He also extended his thanks to the parents of the Emirati innovative students, who have succeeded in providing the appropriate environment for their children to excel and instilled in their souls the values of excellence and loyalty to the UAE and its wise leadership.
Sheikh Saif displayed a set of old photographs of Emirati youths expressing their happiness and enjoying the simple pleasures that shaped early life in the UAE. He added: “The progressive patriotism spirit, optimism and hope for a bright future is a dream that have long been envisioned by the UAE people and leaders. However, the difficult circumstances and scarcity of resources in the past did not manage to discourage their determination to pursue the construction drive.” He also noted that progressive patriotism involves positive interaction and represents a key pillar to the success of future governments and peoples’ development.
His highness cited the origins of the citizenship concept throughout history, which goes back to the Greek civilization in the fourth century B.C, and was envisioned and explicitly expressed in the famous Greek philosopher Plato’s Utopia. It stipulates that education is linked to the state, and whatever citizens learn is not meant for their own benefit, but for sake of protecting the state and achieving a comprehensive sate of harmony and integration amongst the state’s components. HH Sheikh Saif added that even though the concept of citizenship has evolved through the modern ages, it is constantly associated with the welfare of the nation and society; citing the US President John F. Kennedy’s famous quote in the last century: “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’. He said: “Citizenship is not only about boasting loyalty and devotion, but about practicing them for the sake of the country at all times and under any circumstances, with a sense of shared and common destiny.”
Sheikh Saif shed the light on the main challenges facing future governments and said: “There are tremendous challenges facing world’s governments today. These challenges are of a constantly changing nature and increasingly complex and dangerous due to the contemporary technological and scientific developments and human knowledge patterns.” His Highness noted that terrorism and falling oil prices are the key challenges that affect the stability of the world and the security of its people; highlighting the appropriate methods to curtail these scourges through the values of “progressive patriotism”.
Terrorism
Adding further, Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, tackled the issue of terrorism. He said: “Terrorism is a crime as old as human history that has plagued the world’s peoples and governments. There are different forms of terrorism, old and new. Old terrorism forms and patterns were known, but terrorism developed with the development of new tools. Terrorism’s root causes remain unchanged, built on intolerance, extremism, hatred and ignorance among others. Old terrorism used conventional weapons and caused direct physical damage; the new form of terrorism targets minds, the family and the community with contemporary tools that are more devastating than weapons. Modern terrorism takes advantage of contemporary technology and social media platforms, to target the minds of young people and the various segments of society, aimed at spreading objectionable ideologies and producing an intellectually-confused generations and decadent families based on intolerance and hatred, which undermine the stability and security of their country.”
Sheikh Saif cited the far-sightedness and early awareness of the UAE leaders as they proactively anticipated these challenges. He presented a documentary film of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, lecturing a group of UAE University students decades ago, warning them against malicious intellectual trends, and the need for caution. Sheikh Saif said: “His Highness, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan God have mercy on his soul, predicted these risks, and understood the importance of direct and continuous communication as well as guidance and advice to promote progressive patriotism in young generations, who are the builders of the future.”
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