Ahead of 44th National Day, UAE pledges to support all countries hit by terrorism

Dubai: Amid an escalation in militant attacks across the globe and threats posed by Islamic State, the UAE has said it supports all countries hit by terrorism irrespective of the source as the oil-rich nation called on the global community to unite against the menace. “The UAE supports humanitarian cooperation with countries facing terrorism and extremism wherever it is found and of whatever source,” said a report released by the UAE ahead of its 44th National Day on 2 December. The report prepared by the WAM news agency talks about terrorism in reference to the horrific Paris attacks last month that claimed 130 lives. The report quotes President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on terrorism in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. “The President reaffirmed these principles following the recent terrorist attacks carried out by Daesh (ISIS) in Paris, stressing the UAE’s full support for France as one of its strategic partners. [caption id=“attachment_1680447” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Reuters[/caption] “He added that the UAE condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as a phenomenon that targets the security and stability of the world, stressing that such criminal acts require cooperation and solidarity at all levels to eradicate them,” it said. The report quotes Sheikh Khalifa in calling on the international community to unite in the face of extremism in all its forms, whether ideological sympathy or support or criminal acts. Being an important oil-rich country, UAE’s stance on terrorism is significant, especially its reference to support for countries facing terrorism irrespective of the source. In August, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UAE, both countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and came down heavily on countries sponsoring terrorism. They asked all states to dismantle terror infrastructure. The report also makes a reference to UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September. Abdullah had said the Arab and Islamic identity of the UAE is the source of its progress and openness in the world and that while the UAE might be small in its surface area, it is large in its influence on the course of world development. The threats and dangers posed by terrorist organisations, particularly ISIS and others linked to al-Qaeda, are not confined within any geographical borders, but go beyond the entire region, posing a threat to all countries and communities, he had said. Abdullah had reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to cooperation and coordination with its regional and international partners to confront extremism and terrorism. PTI