Dialogue with citizens ‘is key to good leadership’
UAE committed to positive thinking, says Obama aide
DUBAI // A government’s communication with its people and engagement with them in dialogue are crucial to effective leadership, says a former US presidential press secretary.
Josh Earnest, who was Barack Obama’s spokesman, said the UAE and the United States were committed to speaking to their citizens’ hopes and aspirations, not their fears and anxieties.
“These are characteristics of governments eager to seize opportunities, even in an uncertain future, to make their citizens more safe and prosperous,” he said.
“The principles of transparency, effective communication and engagement in the US under the leadership of president Obama weren’t just critical to governing our country and growing our economy in a way that would benefit all our citizens, it was also critical to our foreign policy.”
Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani, Secretary General of the GCC, said Arabian Gulf countries were “gardens in the midst of fires”. He added: “They are now sources of exporting stabilisation to the region and the world at large, so they can take on a role to make this world a better place for all people.”
Dr Al Zayani said GCC states sought to provide a stable, secure, prosperous and sustainable environment to continue the region’s economic growth.
“We work to achieve peace. We believe in tolerance and realising the dreams of citizens, which is why leaders are very close to their people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “insists on a positive spirit and this is the general trend in the region”, said Dr Al Zayani.
“We work to deal with economic growth and we keep in touch with younger generations to know their ambitions and create jobs through entrepreneurship and innovation.”
The GCC chief also said that challenges, such as the war in Yemen, were viewed as opportunities for further achievements. “Our brothers were on the verge of a civil war in 2011,” he said. “The GCC managed to help. I don’t see terrorism as a kind of barrier, rather I take it as a challenge and see it as an opportunity for greater solidarity, cooperation and building bridges with our friends.”
Dr Al Zayani said Arabian Gulf and regional diplomacy was often accused of being a general policy of reacting rather than acting. “We are moving from reaction to action in politics, economics and military,” he said. “I see great efforts made by foreign ministers in building confidence and trust through principles of transparency, credibility and mutual respect, and of creating a sense of stability and security among ourselves.
“We are serving our citizens by providing this safe environment, and I feel we are going to a better future.”
Mona Al Marri, chief executive of Dubai Media Office, said transparency was vital to the Government’s efforts to build a stronger relationship with citizens and the international community. “We need sometimes to connect the dots and create a good model for the region,” she said. “The UAE story is a good story to be shared and to be an example for the region. This is what government communication should do.”
‘ We are serving our citizens by providing this safe environment, and I feel we are going to a better future Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani Secretary General of the GCC