‘WE MOURN SHEIKH KHALIFA AND HONOUR HIS LEGACY’
▶ Saudi Crown Prince in UAE capital as world pays respects ▶ US Vice President arrives in Abu Dhabi with senior officials ▶ Sheikh Mohamed thanks leaders for their good wishes
Kings, heads of state and government, ministers and senior officials from around the world continued to arrive in Abu Dhabi yesterday, meeting the President, Sheikh Mohamed, and honouring the legacy of Sheikh Khalifa, who died on Friday.
Among those who came to the capital were Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Britain’s Prince William.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the American delegation visited the Emirates to offer “our condolences to the leaders and people of the UAE for the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed”.
“We mourn his passing and honour his legacy,” Mr Blinken said.
Ms Harris was joined by Mr Blinken, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns and special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry.
The US delegation was welcomed upon arrival by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, the National Security Adviser.
Ms Harris paid tribute to Sheikh Khalifa on Friday, praising his efforts to bolster ties between the countries.
“Under his leadership, the strong partnership between the United States and the UAE has enhanced the security and prosperity of the American and Emirati people, and we are grateful for our work together across multiple administrations,” she said.
“The legacy of this partnership can be found in the deep bonds between our countries, which our administration will continue to strengthen.”
Her sentiments were echoed by US President Joe Biden, who described Sheikh Khalifa “as a true partner and friend of the United States”.
Mr Biden also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on his election as President.
“Sheikh Mohamed, whom I met with several times as vice president when he was the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has long been at the forefront of building this partnership,” the US leader said.
“I look forward to working with Sheikh Mohamed to build from this extraordinary foundation to further strengthen the bonds between our countries.”
Prince Mohammed travelled to the UAE yesterday and is the most senior Saudi royal to visit
since Sheikh Khalifa’s death was announced.
Prince Mohammed conveyed the condolences of King Salman and his sorrow at the loss of Sheikh Khalifa. Prince Mohammed was accompanied by a large delegation of princes and officials from Saudi Arabia.
Leaders and officials from around the globe continued to travel to the Emirates yesterday to meet Sheikh Mohamed.
Prince William met the President and paid his sincere condolences, the British embassy said.
“His Royal Highness also offered his warmest congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his appointment as President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi,” it said.
Prince William also met Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, at Mushrif Palace.
Among the other leaders and officials who offered their condolences were Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Belarus; Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan; the king of Malaysia, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah; and Ahmed Saleh, son of the late former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
World leaders and their accompanying delegations also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on his election as President and wished him good luck in continuing the country’s development, state news agency Wam reported.
Sheikh Mohamed thanked the visiting world leaders and wished them good health and continued progress and prosperity for their respective countries.
Yesterday marked the third day of mourning in the Emirates. As the UAE continues its period of mourning, government offices and the private sector resume work, while students go back to school.
The UK’s Prince Charles previously expressed his condolences in a call with Sheikh Mohamed, in which he also conveyed his best wishes after his election as president.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was also among the world leaders who congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on his election.
Mr Putin said he hoped to continue discussing bilateral and international matters with the UAE.
“I am certain that your leadership will further strengthen the friendly Russian-Emirati relations and mutually beneficial co-operation,” Wam reported him as saying.
Meanwhile, tributes continued to be paid to Sheikh Khalifa at UAE embassies all over the world.
In Seoul, Park Jin, the South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited the embassy to offer his condolences.
Hend Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to France, received several diplomats and guests at the embassy in Paris, who offered their deepest condolences to the leaders and people of the Emirates.
In the US, citizens of the UAE and other Arab countries gathered to offer funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa in their absence at the Consulate General in Boston after the noon prayer on Saturday.