I am proud to be a bedouin: Mohammed

DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,

By (Wam)

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Published: Fri 28 Apr 2006, 11:30 AM

Last updated: Mon 13 May 2024, 3:59 PM

urged mediapersons to exercise their legitimate Press and civilian freedom to deliver their message in a way that serves development, defends fair causes of the nation and extends bridge to other civilisations and cultures.

''Media and journalism are the mouthpiece of the nation... if it goes wrong everything will go wrong and likewise if it goes right everything will go ahead,'' Shaikh Mohammed said during a dialogue with the elite of Arab mediaperson who took part in the one-day Arab Media Forum which concluded here yesterday.


Shaikh Mohammed said, ''This is what the Arab public opinion aspires for after being fed up of browbeating, empty rhetoric, misleading and mistrust of the Arab financial, intellectual and creative assets after long wait for reform, modernisation and change for a promising future.”

Expressing his extreme self-esteem and pride of being an Arab and Muslim Third World country, Shaikh Mohammed said, ''I am a bedouin and I am proud of being raised, nurtured and lived at the lap of the Empty Quarter … thank God, we have become a modern state capable of competing in everything and even excelling in others … we are proud of our traditions and heritage and of our sons and daughters who are now acquiring science, knowledge, expertise and successful experiment.''

The mediapersons discussed with Shaikh Mohammed a host of issues dealing with socio-economic and administrative development touched by him on his book ''My Vision — Challenges in the Race for Excellence''.

They agreed that the book had become a valuable reference for seekers of change and development.

According to them, the book embodies an exciting experiment of far-sighted leader who is liberal in his thought, practices and responsibilities as statesman, an economist, a symbol of modernisation and progress in the socio-economic, educational and human resources development and a pioneer of Arab joint action.


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