Bilateral ties will undergo paradigm shift

The historic visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, to the UAE underlines the depth of bilateral ties and the strong foundations laid by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, affirmed His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The visit of the Saudi leader is of special significance with the UAE celebrating its 45th National Day, Sheikh Mohammed noted.

Sheikh Zayed believed that Saudi Arabia acts as a safety valve in the region and a key actor and pillar with regard to GCC and Arab security, HH said. It is an approach which is cherished today by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who took bilateral ties to new heights in terms of solidarity and co-operation at historical junctures facing the GCC, Arab world and beyond, HH said.

According to him, the will of the UAE and Saudi Arabia was united in defending the rights and justice in Yemen as well as Arab security, and in confronting interference in the internal affairs of the region and plots against the security, sovereignty and the higher interests of Arab countries.

''The UAE always believes that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the long pole in the Gulf and Arab tent and its security and stability are part and parcel of the UAE and other GCC and Arab states. This confirms the close strategic co-ordination between the two countries at all levels and all fields at the Arab, Gulf, regional and global arenas,'' HH Sheikh Mohamed noted in a statement on the occasion of the visit of the Saudi King.

''Arab history will always remember the historic stance and decisive decisions of King Salman against attempts by greedy foreign forces to meddle in Arab internal affairs. King Salman created a unified GCC-Arab front to confront these interferences. History will long ponder the operation to restore legitimacy in Yemen at a critical juncture in the brave Arab action that is driven by self-initiative and self-dependence in protecting Arab higher interests aborting plots of expansion and hegemony in the region,'' HH remarked.

''We are confident that King Salman's trip to the UAE will induce a paradigm shift in bilateral ties which are based on the unity of the Emirati-Saudi political leaderships' will as well as on the common aspirations of the two brotherly peoples,'' HH Sheikh Mohamed concluded.