DUBAI // The UAE’s youth have the will, knowledge and culture to carry the vision of the country’s leadership into the future, said Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Addressing Emirati youth at an open dialogue session to encourage political participation, held at Etihad Museum, Dr Gargash answered questions on the challenges facing the country and the running of the Federal National Council.
“Young Emiratis are well aware of their country’s issues and ideally positioned to implement the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” Dr Gargash said.
A member of the audience asked the minister how the UAE could regain authority over Abu Musa and the Greater and Less Tunb islands, currently occupied by Iran. Dr Gargash emphasised that the UAE has a right to the islands and will use international law and diplomatic relations to secure their return.
“We should always manage our affairs with wisdom and through correct measures. The UAE is a country that runs its affairs wisely, and the status we have achieved is a result of this approach,” he said.
Mohammed Al Ahmed, a security engineer at the Federal Authority For Nuclear Regulation, asked Dr Gargash if there were risks involved in having too much youth involvement in politics: “Due to recent circumstances in the region, youth developed an interest and knowledge of politics.
“However, young people are known for their impulsiveness, so would this be a positive thing?”
Dr Gargash replied that “it is a good thing for a young person to be informed” but warned against “irresponsible political engagement”, which he blamed for the current turmoil in some Arab countries.
The minister was also asked if there would be an evaluation process for new FNC members to make sure they are productive, and if the minimum educational requirements could be raised to encourage more debate.
Dr Gargash said Emirati voters were the ones to monitor the performance of members because it was in their hands to decide who continued for another term and who did not, while the requirements were deliberately set low so as to be inclusive.
The minister also called upon young Emiratis to vote in FNC elections and stand to become members themselves.
“Their participation is essential to start a dialogue about the cultural and social realities of the UAE,” he said.
“It allows for a better representation of the people and strengthens the sense of patriotism, national duty and dedication to the public interest.
“We want young Emiratis to participate because it is ultimately up to them to build the future of the UAE.”
The session was also attended by Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Tariq Hilal Lootah, undersecretary at the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs, along with members of the Emirates Youth Council.
“The concern we have seen from the youth is very positive and proves that the message is out there, that a big section of society is concerned with the political process,” said Mr Lootah, adding that he was impressed by how many people were observing the progress and productivity of the FNC.
Dr Gargash reiterated the benefits of political participation.
“Political participation is rooted in our cultural heritage dating back to when the Rulers abided by the concept of ‘Shura’, seeking counsel regarding issues that concern citizens and exploring solutions and policies to meet their political, social and economic needs.”
He also praised the empowerment programme announced by President Sheikh Khalifa on the 34th UAE National Day in 2005, which set a clear road map to ensure a bright future for the country.
Successful elections help to reflect the core values of the empowerment programme, said Dr Gargash, and have helped establish a culture of volunteering and participation.
hdajani@thenational.ae
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
How to help or find other cats to adopt
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
SWEET%20TOOTH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreated%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jim%20Mickle%2C%20Beth%20Schwartz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Christian%20Convery%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
