Positive patriotism will drive future governments: Saif bin Zayed

The most serious danger of modern terrorism is its ability to use and harness today's technologies to incite hatred in one another and the violent exclusionist ideology conducive to building a confused generation and families opposing the idea of the nation and public good, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, warned on Sunday.

He stressed that in future a successful and effective government will be one that is responsive to this menace and is able to tackle its root causes by promoting positive patriotism.

''What concerns world opinion most today are terrorism and low oil prices, for the danger they pose to international peace and stability,'' Sheikh Saif told the plenary session of the 3rd Government Summit in Dubai, organised under the theme  Shaping Future Governments.

He emphasised that this threat does not represent a crisis for the UAE, but it is a challenge it can address thanks to the effective, scientific policy adopted by the UAE government under the wise leadership, which has worked to diversify sources of national income by reducing dependence on oil revenues.

The UAE leadership, he noted, had instilled in the people the spirit of tolerance, openness and moderation.

Sheikh Saif urged the international community to put in place up-to-date frameworks to deal with terrorism that transcend criminal laws and procedures to deep, preventive remedies of the sources and drivers of terrorism, hold financiers, propagandists and political sponsors of terrorism accountable for their acts which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially amidst the steady increase in terror crimes which increased by 60 per cent between 2013 and 2014.

Citing media reports indicating that Daesh had sold large quantities of oil on a daily basis, Sheikh Saif called for punishing those buyers because they contributed to financing Daesh’s terrorist operations.
Media, he affirmed, has a tremendous role in spreading a culture of positive patriotism in the society  and contributing significantly in the fight against terrorism and exposing its false tactics and tools.

Addressing the low oil prices challenge, Sheikh Saif said the UAE economy's dependence on oil revenues had dropped remarkably from 90 to 30 per cent today and the government was planning to reduce that percentage to five percent by 2021.

''Positive patriotism has a vital role in addressing the low oil price challenge. It is a common challenge that requires collective responsibility.

“A family is expected to raise the level of education of its children and preserve the nation's gains and add to its material and moral achievements.

“A government employee is also expected to innovate, produce and work as one team,'' he added.
He stressed the importance of taking inspiration from the UAE's exceptional leadership, wisdom, determination and perseverance to deliver success and from the noble values of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

''Security, quality services and stability are the natural, inevitable results of positive patriotism,'' Sheikh Saif concluded.
 

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