The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Ahmed Alhay Al Hameli hosted a celebration on Friday, 2 December 2022, to mark the 51st anniversary of the National Day of UAE.
During his welcoming remarks Ambassador Ahmed Alhay Al Hameli gave a briefing on the achievements and prospects of state development of the UAE, the progress made in the bilateral Turkmen-Emirati relations.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Atdayev attended the reception as a guest of honor from Turkmen government.
Here is the text of the speech of Ambassador Ahmed Alhay Al Hameli on the occasion:
May the peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be with You.
It’s a great honor for me to welcome Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan – H.E. Batyr Atdayev, heads of diplomatic Missions and International organizations accredited to Turkmenistan, honorable guests and all the participants.
On this glorious occasion — 51st National Day of the United Arab Emirates, which we annually celebrate on the second of December, I am pleased to extend greetings from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may Allah protect him, his brother Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may Allah bless him, Supreme Council Members, rulers of Emirates, and also greetings from Your brother – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Court – H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President of Turkmenistan H.E. Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The UAE has followed the principle of ensuring security, peace and sustainable development in the various parts of the region and the world since its founding on December 2, 1971, The UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect him, continues the path of national development and economic growth as an extension of the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God rest their souls, and the future model of the UAE.
The United Arab Emirates has adopted a guideline for the next 50 years, through a document The “Principles of the 50”- the strategic roadmap for the UAE`s new era of economic, political, developmental fields, to strengthen the union. With the aim of building a prosperous and tolerant country that is home for over 200 nationalities of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, the UAE has adopted a number of laws that defining fundamental rights, which ensure that all citizens and residents are treated fairly, especially women and children, workers, and people with special needs
During 2021 and 2022, the UAE has made progress in several areas at the national level, as well as regionally and internationally. Emirati women have been at the forefront as half of the members of the Board of Trustees of the National Human Rights Organization Commission. Emirati women are also involved in promoting the economic, diplomatic, educational and scientific fields in the country. UAE woman participated in the UAE mission to reach the orbit of Mars. The UAE is contributing $15 million to the United Nations over 3 years to support women’s rights around the world
This year, the UAE also achieved record performance, ranking first in the region and tenth in the world in terms of soft power index, tenth in the world in global recognition of leaders (leadership) and influence in the diplomatic sphere, eighth in the world in economic strength and stability, and eleventh in world in terms of influence on the media.
The UAE has launched three space programs: the National Astronaut Program to build infrastructure for the UAE’s space sector, the National Radar Satellite Program (Swarm) and the launch of the Hope Probe to explore Mars.
In terms of clean energy, the UAE pays great importance to the clean energy system and in this regard, has launched a national strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, UAE has commissioned the second stage of the Baraka clean nuclear power plant. Emirates are investing in clean energy projects in several countries around the world.
This year, the UAE ranked eleventh in the national brand rankings and also made strides in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The United Arab Emirates has become an important trade hub, and it is aware of the necessity of prosperity and the free flow of goods and services as a fundamental principle for any modern and peaceful forward-looking country. The country has also launched a long-term strategy to diversify its economy by reducing the role of oil in it, so the contribution of the non-oil sector in the first quarter of this year amounted to 73.5%. The UAE seeks to become a global capital of investment and economic innovation, and in this regard, the UAE has undertaken major reforms to prevent financial crimes in recent years and will continue to strengthen its approach in line with international standards and the global agenda to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Regarding the foreign policy, the UAE supports diplomatic solutions and the predominance of the language of dialogue in solving international crises, the UAE firmly believes that the region cannot tolerate more polarization and confrontation. The UAE also underlines the need to promote a culture of tolerance and openness and will continue to resist extremist terrorist ideologies and ideas, as well as those who use violence to achieve their political goals. You all know that the UAE’s support for security and stability in Afghanistan has a positive impact in the Central Asian region.
Concerning the Diplomacy of humanitarian aid: from 1971 to 2021, the UAE provided foreign aid worth 90 billion USD. Nearly two-thirds of the value of such assistance, or 65%, was given out as grants worth 55 billion USD. The geographical area of UAE aid expanded to more than 175 countries and geographical regions around the world, including 50 least-developed countries.
The United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan are distinguished by historical relations, the roots of which go deep into the distant past. They are also represented in the existing relationship between the two leaders – the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may Allah protect him, and His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The culmination of these relations was the historic visit of His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to the UAE on November 21-22, 2022. The Emirati-Turkmen summit was held, during which 11 agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in many areas. He was also received by the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai – may God bless him, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of the Presidential Court of the UAE H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan organized a business dinner in honor of His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The Emirates-Turkmen Business Forum was held during the visit.
I also express my gratitude to the former President of Turkmenistan, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Milli Genesh of Turkmenistan, His Excellency Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his visits to the UAE in 2021 – to participate in the opening ceremony of the National Day and the pavilion of Turkmenistan as part of the International Exhibition Expo Dubai 2020, as well as to support the UAE in difficult times for the country on the occasion of the death of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan – may Allah rest his soul in peace and expressions of condolences. These visits are an indicator of the humanitarian aspect in relations between the two countries.
At the present time, the United Arab Emirates is a major trading partner of Turkmenistan, as bilateral non-oil trade reached $653 million in the first nine months of this year, a record 296% growth as to compared to last year. Many high-ranking officials of the UAE visited Turkmenistan – among them the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, His Excellency Suhail Al-Mazrouei, who was received by His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan received the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Rashid Meredov.
From the Turkmen side, the ADIPEC International Oil Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE was visited by His Excellency Shahym Abdyrakhmanov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Oil and Gas, His Excellency Guvanch Agajanov, Chairman of the State Concern “Turkmenneft”, which proves that fraternal, economic, political and cultural relations between the UAE and Turkmenistan can become a model for cooperation between other countries.
We confirm that the UAE, under the leadership of the President of the country, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – may Allah protect him, and thanks to the constant monitoring by the Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of the Presidential Court H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in strengthening relations and intensifying cooperation and coordination in all areas will serve the process of development, progress and prosperity and will contribute to the further deepening of political, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties uniting the two friendly countries and people.
We are also very optimistic about the future of the UAE-Turkmenistan relationship, especially that this relationship has a rich potential for development and expansion of promising opportunities, especially in the field of gas, oil, renewable energy and other areas.
Peace be upon you and may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you. ///nCa, 5 December 2022
Here are some pictures from the event:
