WAM Abu Dhabi, May 05th, 2012 (WAM) -- UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has given a message to the country's Armed Forces to continue their noble role of protecting the gains of their motherland.

In his message given on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the unification of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed addressed the army as the men of chivalry, magnanimity, altruism and self sacrifice.

"Every new day dawns making you more adherent to the values of fidelity, loyalty, redemption, and more determined to perfection, success, and excellence", Sheikh Mohammed said.

The decision taken on the sixth of May 1976 personified the faith of the founding fathers in the importance of the Union and stressed their determination to consolidate the Union and enhance its architecture , thus discrediting the doubts of skeptics about our dreams of a powerful nation that faces the future with confidence, hope and optimism, Sheikh Mohammed said recalling the history of the unification.

The awareness of the importance of unification and its inevitability was present and the political will was there (at the birth of the Federation), but the reality was abuzz with obstacles and challenges. The biggest challenge was the lack of national human resources qualified to lead and manage the process of unification and the development and implementation of plans to build a national army contemporary is in the level of the aspirations of our founding fathers and the needs of our homeland defense, Sheikh Mohammed recalled.

Thus it was necessary for the procedure of unification to follow a rhythm of preparation such as the empowerment of our national human resources in all grades and disciplines along with the completion of military infrastructure. Gradually our armed forces became the shield of our powerful nation through the highest degree of readiness and vigilance and preparedness to defend its independence and sovereignty, added Sheikh Mohammed.

He also congratulated the UAE Armed Forces for the attention of the Supreme Commander His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his care and follow-up of all the affairs of our armed forces, as well as his keenness to provide them with the latest weapons systems and to provide all the requirements of readiness to develop and raise the efficiency of its members and ensure their needs and their comfort and wellbeing.

WAM/AB