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‘UAE is stronger than before’: Shaikh Hamdan

“We have witnessed the transformation of the Emirates into modern cities with the most developed infrastructures, schools and hospitals to guarantee a comfortable life for the people,’ Shaikh Hamdan adds.

Shaikh Hamdan is a rare breed of politician known for his press statements and TV appearances, since his tenure as his country’s foreign affairs minister.

He maintained viable relations with numerous Arab and foreign countries. He also managed the contentious island issue with Iran successfully. He followed his late father’s footsteps in calling for wise, logical and constructive dialogue.

He is a silent achiever that has done so much for his country behind the scenes.

In an interview with Kuwaiti dailies Al Seyassah and Arab Times, Shaikh Hamdan discussed his political career, the achievements of his country, global financial meltdown, in addition to a plethora of regional and international issues.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Rumor has it that you stormed the political stage with exceptional effect, but suddenly went into oblivion, which is a normal practice for politicians with a certain agenda. Should we describe your disappearance as such?

I have been hearing such allegations which are not true since I am always at the center of activities, except when I spend some time with my family through short holidays. Sometimes, I go hunting with my children because they have the right to this. Despite being the chairperson of the Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi, I still go hunting to relax and be more active and dedicated upon my return.

What were the new achievements of the UAE after the demise of Shaikh Zayed?

The UAE is stronger and we are moving in the same direction drawn by the late Shaikh Zayed. He struggled to include Qatar and Bahrain in the Amirates and the vision remained in his mind until his death, but it did not work out, but we remained strong and united as we are today.The Amirates have been transformed into modern cities with the best infrastructure, schools and hospitals to guarantee excellent living for the people. We will continue to do more.

Prior to the emergence of the UAE, several Arab nations made futile attempts to unite. How did the UAE manage to overcome this and continue to be stronger?

I will not comment on failed attempts to unite some Arab nations, but I am sure the Arab families are aware of the actual reasons behind our unity. The late Shaikh Zayed had always been passionate about uniting the Emirates, which was his personal and foreign policy. He believed that disunity spelt doom for social and economic aspirations. He approached his brothers in other Emirates with wisdom and conviction. He offered moral and financial support to the other Emirates. He was plain and honest, so his brothers trusted him and adopted his ideas. He did not trade or exaggerate in his discussions with them, while he ensured that they all had fair share of the wealth, so this is the strength of the Emirates.

Are you still optimistic despite the recent global economic meltdown and has the UAE been feeling the bite, especially Dubai?

The financial meltdown has affected all aspects of the global economy, which did not spare banks, major investments and notable companies. It has affected the entire Gulf region, including the UAE, but we have been trying to address the crisis for a year and a half now. I am sure that UAE President His His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of the

UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Gen. Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, are capable of turning things around.

What about several Emiratis who have incurred losses in the stock market and bank loans?

I hope the government will do something to solve this problem, but I personally do not subscribe to irrational assistance. Who forced those people to take loans to buy cars, invest in shares and travel for recreation? A famous adage says, ‘Cut

your coat according to your size’. These people should learn from the incident, because it is not our nature in the UAE to assist citizens. We will be cautious in helping people to avoid confusion, since there are citizens that actually need assistance and we should be responsible for their yearnings.

Do you think the UAE will amend the Constitution to adopt the regional and international developments?

The Constitution is not like the Holy Quran that is unchangeable. We are closely monitoring economic and political developments not only in the region but also in the whole world, and we will make changes if the need arises. We have also amended some clauses in the interest of the nation.

Do you feel the media is not doing enough to inform the public about the work procedures in the government?

Thank God, we have numerous print and electronic media that are extremely effective, dedicated and patriotic in information dissemination. We also have several schools and institutes that create awareness among citizens. Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed are serious about training students at all levels. Continuity in governance is based on solid education, so we are not lacking in this area. However, we need to realize that this is not a day job, such that there should be a strong foundation and plans to ensure gradual progress. We are not in a hurry to take decisions, because we always go for the best that will impact positively on the society. I am delighted to inform you that we have been laying down new education strategies that will inculcate patriotism in the minds of the future generations.

Can you share your experiences as president of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) over and above your position as Deputy Prime Minister, who has long been involved in charitable and humanitarian activities in the region and the entire world?

When I became president of the RCA, the budget was about AED 1.4 million, which has now reached AED 600 million. We owe this to The Almighty God and the philanthropists who trust us. We also collaborate with other charitable organizations internally like the Zayed Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works, the Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, as well as international organizations like the International Red Cross. We try our best to reach out to the needy through the distribution of foodstuffs, medicine, immunization, and other supplies. We have established the UAE Foreign Aid Coordination Office to ensure actual delivery of assistance to targeted beneficiaries.

I wish that a similar office would be opened in Kuwait and other GCC nations. For instance, a country requested 10,000 tents but we provided 100,000. We really need to collaborate with several other agencies to ensure that our assistance will reach the rightful beneficiaries.

What can you say about the GCC?

The summit will not have a meaningful impact on the citizens of the region until we sincerely resolve pending problems within member nations. How can we achieve development while there are pending problems? We should join hands to find lasting solutions to various regional issues. Iran is still occupying the UAE islands. In spite of our efforts to have a peaceful dialogue with the Iranians, they have been telling the whole world that the islands belong to them. The islands will always remain in the Arabian Gulf as there evidences indicating the islands belong to the UAE. The GCC should prioritize border issues and objectively resolve the matter as soon as possible.

I am sure that you were following the political trend in Kuwait while there was heated polity in the National Assembly, in spite of efforts made by Amir of Kuwait His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed to strengthen the legislature-executive ties. What is your take on that?

We hold HH the Amir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah in a high esteem like Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed, in the same way we used to look up to the late Shaikh Zayed. Shaikh Sabah is a strong-willed leader with great passion, magnanimity and wisdom. He sees citizens as his children, so why all the outcry

and maneuvers on developmental issues that have negatively affected the economic proposals. Personally, I believe both authorities should join hands to uplift the country, douse the tension and address the problems, because situation in Kuwait is equally important to us as the situation in the UAE.

The UAE is at the forefront of assisting the Palestinians through the UAE Red Crescent Authority as it shows concern about the problems there. Is the UAE disgusted by the disunity that envelops this country?

Palestinians are our brothers and part of our society. We meet and accommodate them because their country has been occupied for a long time, so we should stand by them at all cost. The problem is that they create internal wrangling and are gradually losing international support. The worst aspect is that some of them allow external interference to jeopardize their affairs, which is dangerous and spark more crises. They should all sit together for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues with objectivity and seriousness. This is the only way they can get Arab support and regain confidence of the international community. As for the assistance to our Palestinian brothers, we will continue to support them because they are dear to us, so their leaders should bear the responsibility.

What are the objectives and outcome of your last visit to East Asia?

We built strong trade, political and economic ties with the West for a long period, but we have noticed that East Asia has made a giant stride within the last two decades. This is why we are now focusing on direct investments with the countries or with partners from that part of the world.

Our objectives were to strengthen trade, investment and economic ties with those countries. We got warm reception and acceptance in Indonesia, Singapore and others.

Finally, you were at the helm of sporting affairs, particularly since you were the chairperson of the Football Federation when the UAE reached the World Cup finals and won some trophies. Do you think that the performance level has nosedived?

On the contrary, we are improving and have achieved a lot in all aspects of sports. We have players who are worth AED 100 million, while our National Team remains one of the best, but we are unlucky as we have been choosing the wrong coaches and unable to select the best players. I hope the relevant soccer authorities will pick the right coach this time. We have won significant medals in other sporting events like horseracing. The country has been doing its best to sponsor all sports and treat athletes adequately as the youths are the country’s future.

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