Mohammed's statement on the 32nd Unification Day

Sheikh Mohammed addressed the UAE Armed Forces in a statement issued to Dira'a Al Watan on the 32nd anniversary of the unification of the UAE Armed Forces. The following is an edited translation of the statement.

Members of the Armed Forces, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. I congratulate you on the 32nd anniversary of the unification of our armed forces and on the formation of the UAE army.

I congratulate my brother UAE President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates and Members of the Supreme Council, and my brother His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

I also congratulate our loyal citizens, who provide our courageous army with men and women who are fully dedicated to their leaders and prepared to sacrifice everything for their homeland's security and stability.

I am very satisfied with the standards the armed forces have achieved in terms of weaponry, planning, training, efficiency and discipline.

There is no doubt that our national army has had a great record over the past 32 years. And looking back, we realise that we were racing against time to establish the military and civil society. The UAE built a capable modern army to the satisfaction of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and President of the UAE with the help of Allah and the wisdom of the nation's leaders.

The success story of our armed forces is also the story of our homeland: small in terms of size and population but great in its aspirations and determination to be amongst the most advanced and developed countries.

At the heart of this story stands an inspiring leadership with the homeland's dignity and prosperity as its first target and the country's sons, who are loyal to their leadership and guided by its vision.

You, the officers and soldiers, are a shining example for these sons. You have dedicated yourself to learning to use the most advanced weapons and technology and have handled your responsibilities with courage, dedication and discipline.

Brothers and sons, our mission in this life is to work to Allah's satisfaction and to meet public needs.

If it is our right to be happy with our accomplishments and to take pride in the UAE's regional and international standing, it is our duty to recall the lessons of the past. Development would have been impossible without our leaders' wise management of projects and plans.

So, we have to redouble our efforts, develop our abilities and enhance our knowledge. There is no room for the lazy or the hesitant when it comes to national development. There will always be projects to carry out, new ideas to apply, lessons to learn, distance to cover and challenges to meet.

In a region such as the Middle East, which is wracked by turmoil, and in a world that is experiencing unprecedented changes, we must give our best.

We should also be highly vigilant and ready to deal with any development. As officers and soldiers, your role is of paramount importance, so be prepared and continue to learn and to train and keep abreast of new weaponry, technology and military science. Keep your morale high.

The day that our national army was formed will remain a high point in our glorious history.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.