LOC22:53
19:53 GMT
ABU DHABI, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said Friday hoisting of UAE flag at Union House on Friday is to commemorate a historic moment in 1971.
"At that time the will of the leadership and the people was crowned with the union," Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted him as saying after the flag-hoisting ceremony.
"As we raise the UAE flag on the 45th National Day, we glorify a symbol of our unity and we remember with gratitude late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers - the founding fathers and rulers of the country.
"They raised the flag for the first time at the Union House on December 2, 1971, announcing that the will of the people had overcome all obstacles and difficulties, and that a new Arab nation had emerged on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.
"At that moment, the UAE made history and showed the world that sincere and dedicated efforts, free of meaningless slogans, ideologies and personal gains, created this pioneering Arab experience," Sheikh Mohammad said.
"Under this flag, raised and defended by our forefathers, the UAE has made a tremendous progress and will continue to do so under the wise leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan," he went on.
"The UAE flag is also a symbol of development, progress, happiness, tolerance, openness, humanity and all other noble and positive values that the UAE aspires to lead in and to motivate other nations to adopt.
"Our flag will always fly high, thanks to our leadership's wisdom and to our people's loyalty," he concluded. (end)
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