December 2 is the UAE's national day. Says UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed:
My brothers and sisters in nationality, the march of our federation through the last 37 years has made numerous achievements, fulfilled enormous ambitions and encompassed several avenues of our lives, taking our nation, the society and the individual into the 21st century, adequately armed to face its challenges and opportunities.
At the same time, the sense of satisfaction over what we gained in our country should not be a reason for lethargy and relaxation; rather it should be an endless inspiration for more work and self giving. This selfless work should fortify the gains of the citizens, should guarantee more achievements, and should strengthen our hopes as well as the hopes of the coming generations for a noble life in dignity, security and stability.
My brothers and sisters in nationality, when I made a call during the last year to make 2008 an year of national identity, I did not aim to connect our identity with a timeline, as the identity is not a symbol for a specific phase. Identity is rather a comprehensive framework, within which we preserve our cultural heritage and civilisation. It shapes our attitude towards our surroundings and defines the direction, where our special nature and the strengthening elements of our characteristics will be preserved.
My objective was to encourage initiatives and define the mediums and mechanisms which will help to develop the components of our identity in a way that will protect it from wantonness, and keep it well-fortified against distortions; ultimately leading us to tranquillity that all citizens aspire for themselves as well as for their children who come after them.
Read the President's address here in full, translated from Arabic to English.
