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We don't mind peaceful venting of views: Dhahi

In an interview to the Egyptian daily, Akhbar Al Youm , Major-General Dhahi, who is in charge of a high-powered supreme security committee for the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, said the wisdom of UAE leaders had enabled the country to gain respect and credibility.

The police chief stressed that the distinguished international security relations of the UAE with other countries makes the country safe from terrorist attacks.

Maj-Gen Dhahi said that Dubai would welcome people from different parts of the world coming to the country to express their opinions peacefully without any rioting. "We are on track (as far as the security preparations are concerned) and will continue our preparations till the event begins", said the police chief.

Maj-Gen Dhahi said the UAE was not party to any international or regional conflict or tensions. He said he did not see why the country would be affected, despite the fact that the September 11, 2001 attacks had affected the entire world.

"We are least affected because every one respects the emirates due to its balanced political relations" with the rest of the world," Maj-Gen Dhahi said.

He said as a security official, he would not rule out any possible eventuality. "However, the UAE youths understand that the way other people express their opinions in neighbouring countries should not be followed here in the UAE," he stressed.

The country under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has achieved high standards of living for the country's citizens. "We put our trust in the people of the UAE, and we work hard to establish a great and prosperous future for them", he told the Arabic daily.

He said people from more than 200 nationalities in the UAE work to achieve business objectives and look for social and economic security that is not available in most other countries. He said the UAE, since the inception of the federation in 1971, witnessed only two crimes categorised as organised ones. This means organised crimes do not exist in the UAE, but the authorities continue to take precautions, he said. Maj-Gen Dhahi indicated that a few months ago, Newsweek magazine carried a report on the Dubai describing the city as one with lowest crime rates in the world. The police chief said that security cooperation at the national level is perfect but said pan-Arab security cooperation should be further improved.

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