Abu Dhabi: Salam Abu Shehab
Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to His Highness the President of the State, stressed the importance of the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, to France the day after tomorrow (Monday), which is the first foreign visit of His Highness after assuming the presidency of the country. .
Dictator Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash stressed that the security of the UAE is linked to international law and order, explaining that the UAE rejects any violation of international law through the use of force or aggression against the sovereignty of countries.
On the Arab level, he stressed the need to strengthen the Arab role in Syria, and said that its return needs an Arab consensus that may not be ready during the next summit conference.
On the Iranian issue, Anwar Gargash said, “Diplomacy and political solutions are the way to deal with the Iranian file.” From Israeli officials and others with regard to Iran.”
On the relations between the Emirates and France, he said that they are historical and strategic, and explained that the relations between the Emirates and France have developed in a very important way, compared to the beginnings of the founding of the UAE when the relationship was mainly in the mid-1970s a military and security relationship, and today, after more than 40 years, it has become a complex and diverse relationship The security and military part became part of it. He pointed out that the French position with the UAE towards the terrorist attacks it was subjected to was honorable and appreciated.
This came in a virtual briefing yesterday morning (Friday) about the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, to France the day after tomorrow (Monday), and he said that the visit is the first for His Highness outside the country and carries many meanings, and is an appreciation. The historical and strategic relationship between the two countries, in addition to the possibility of exploring the future ceiling of this relationship.
He added: The visit aims to enhance and expand the horizons of cooperation with France, and recently we ended the strategic dialogue meeting with France, which is chaired by Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and member of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is the fourteenth meeting, and it is an extraordinary meeting because it contained many details in various aspects.
He explained that cooperation in the field of sustainable energy is one of the most important areas in which we work with France, and said that the UAE has a 15-year history in the field of climate change, in addition to the growing interest in sustainable energy, noting that two major agreements in the field of energy will be signed during the visit. Technology is very important and the largest groups of startups in the field of technology are in the Emirates with French efforts.
He said: Whoever follows the speech of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, which is the first for citizens and residents of the UAE, will see that the technological challenge is important to achieve a leap in the development process in the country, and these aspects we seek to strengthen with France.
Dr. Gargash stressed that cooperation with France in the field of culture and education is close. Today, we have 60,000 students in the UAE studying the French language, and 7 schools that teach French curricula, all of which are distinguished schools, according to what the French ambassador to the country confirmed to me, and about 35,000 French live in the UAE. The city of Dubai is the largest Francophone Arab city in the Middle East, pointing out that culture in our concept and in the French concept is a tool for creating a thought of tolerance. The time is about to open, explaining that school students who visit the Louvre from different regions of the Emirates watch the great cultural and humanitarian show in the museum.
Gargash addressed the commercial aspect of relations between the UAE and France, saying: The volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounts to $7 billion, and there are several agreements signed between the two countries in December 2021 when French President Macron visited, the total of these agreements amounting to 15 billion euros. In addition to our commitment to explore opportunities in France worth 1.4 billion euros.
He said that the economic aspect is very important, as we have 600 French companies operating in the UAE today, and we have Total, the most important oil companies in the world, and it is a major part of the energy component in the UAE, and we have many projects in this regard.
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, he stressed that the UAE’s position is clear, and we are a country that sees that our security is linked to the international system and international law. Through political solutions, we see that France’s position in this regard is practical and solid against the Russian intervention in Ukraine, but he also has the conviction that the solution to this issue must be peaceful. The necessity of a political solution, because this crisis has repercussions that we see today on energy, on food, and on European relations and its repercussions in the region, and therefore there must be a political solution.
On the UAE’s position on the Syrian file, he explained that the UAE’s position with Syria as a state and people and not aligned with any party, and our conviction after 10 years of war that there must be a way out, and the Arab role must be strengthened, but the return of Syria needs an Arab consensus that may not be ready during the next summit.
Dr. Anwar Gargash indicated that the UAE’s position on the Iranian file is that Iran is a neighbor. There is no doubt that we also have constant concern about Iranian regional policies that we see harming Iran itself, but we are fully convinced that the way is not confrontation, because the confrontation will be complicated by the regional scene as a whole. We really distance ourselves from all the statements that we hear from Israeli officials and others regarding Iran, and our way with Iran is to find out if there is a worrisome regional policy… After a very difficult decade for the region, the way forward is through diplomacy and political solutions, and from this reality Our dialogue with France continues as it continues in other aspects as well.. Iran is a large part of this dialogue, which it described transparently.
He added that the UAE would not be part of an axis against Iran, and that Abu Dhabi would support any agreement between Saudi Arabia and America if it was concluded during US President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia.