Expert opinions tend to agree that our countries need to reduce distance between ideas, people and products and embrace the power of the market. Also a need for policy planning. What is Your Highness’s comment? Shaikh Abdullah: In the United Arab Emirates, we have a market-based economy, and are now actively embracing a further diversification of our economy away from our former dependence on the oil and gas industry. We can achieve the desired results only through detailed economic planning. One of the desired results of our policy is for a greater involvement by the private sector in our economic development, including both capital raised at home and capital that comes as a result of foreign direct investment. It is for each country and Government to select its own policy for economic development, of course, but this approach is one that we believes works well for us.

How can Pakistan and the UAE work on five complementary security objectives namely energy, food defence, industrialization and human resources?
Shaikh Abdullah: There is, in my view, scope for the UAE and Pakistan to work closely on all of these objectives. In terms of energy, the UAE, of course, is a surplus producer of oil, but we have a need for access to more supplies of gas to fuel our development. Pakistan is actively engaged in a search for more oil and gas, and UAE-based firms are playing a part in this process. We look forward to more collaboration in this field. In terms of industrialisation, both of our countries are working to develop the industrial sectors of their economies. There is scope for collaboration in investment in some of the projects, and, as you know, UAE firms are taking an active role in Pakistan’s development programme, and there is already very major investment by UAE firms in all sectors of Pakistan’s economy. Traditionally, the UAE’s development has been undertaken with the participation of people from Pakistan, and we anticipate that this will continue. The issue of food security, of course, is something that affects us both, and is of everincreasing importance as our populations grow. We would welcome any suggestions from Pakistan on ways in which we can work together on the production of food.

Pakistan is looking forward for signing Free Trade agreement with the GCC ,How can the whole spectrum of relations between Pakistan and the GCC be reviewed, specially in three areas political relations, economic relations and security relations?
Shaikh Abdullah: The UAE fully supports the current negotiations designed to achieve a Free Trade Agreement between the GCC states and Pakistan. In terms of political and security issues, collaboration on these topics is primarily a matter for bilateral discussions, and I look forward to discussion on these topics during the meetings of the Joint Ministerial Commission

What is the view of the UAE regarding the reform of the United Nations Charter and expansion of the Security Council?
Shaikh Abdullah:The UAE supports a reexamination of the UN Charter, to take account of the changing nature of global society since the body was first created over 60 years ago. Such changes should, in our view, involve changes in the structure of the Security Council.

The OIC has stressed in various forums and lately in Foreign Ministers meeting in Islamabad last May which recommended that the OIC should speedily finalise the reform of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference including its restructuring and drawing up a Revised Charter and strengthening its specialised and affiliated organs to enhance its role to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st century.What the UAE can suggest to enhance its effectiveness?
Shaikh Abdullah: The UAE, along with other member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, supports the proposal that the OIC should be re-structured, and we would welcome any steps that will make it a more effective body, though I should note that it has already achieved quite a lot during the years since it was established. We shall wait to examine specific proposals on what can be done to enhance its effectiveness.

How do you view the initiative made by President General Pervez Musharraf regarding the peace process in the Middle East?
Shaikh Abdullah: The UAE, and other Arab states, welcome any initiatives taken to revive the Middle East peace process. There is an urgent need to get things moving again, to stave off the possibility of yet more violence, and there is also a need for the world’s powers to exert pressure on Israel to accept the need for a full withdrawal from all occupied territory and for a just and fair peace settlement that will guarantee to the Palestinians the ability to exercise their legitimate right to establish their own state, within secure and agreed borders, and with
Jerusalem as its capital. As an important Muslim state in the region, Pakistan definitely has a role to play in supporting Arab efforts to revive the peace process

The Government of Pakistan have invited both the public and private sectors to invest in new sectors like agriculture, energy, tourism, etc.,How can both sectors be encouraged to benefit from the investment environment and are there agreement to be signed during the forthcoming JMC?
Shaikh Abdullah: During the Joint Ministerial Commission, there will be a number of discussions and agreements on ways to promote and to guarantee investment, while there are numerous projects in Pakistan already under way with substantial inward investment from the Emirates. I believe that the meeting of the Commission will lay down the framework for a further development of our economic ties, and will stimulate more investment in the years ahead. — (Emirates News Agency, WAM)
KHALEEJ TIMES, AUGUST 14, 2007 3