Lights off in Paris

ABU DHABI -- President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has reaffirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with France, a friend and strategic partner, at this difficult time in the face of the heinous crimes yesterday that claimed the lives of large numbers of innocent civilians.

He also expressed the UAE's sympathy and solidarity with the French Government and the friendly people of France in these hard times, extending his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the victims' families.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa stressed the UAE's condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, it being a phenomenon that targets the security and stability in the world, stressing that such criminal acts require cooperation and solidarity at all levels in order that the phenomenon can be eradicated.

In his statement today, Sheikh Khalifa said that the UAE is fully prepared to cooperate with the friendly country of France in all measures being taken, while, at the same time, the UAE emphasises that it will spare no effort to back all measures aimed to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations .

He also called on the international community to intensify common efforts to fight extremism and terrorism, which, he noted, represents a common threat to all countries without distinction.

He also called on the International community to strongly unite against extremism, whether expressed through thought, through support for it or through the crimes themselves. He added that today "we stress that our religious and human values denounce extremism and terrorism and crimes committed against civilians and innocent people."

He added that, as part of the civilised world, we believe that the concept of humanity and peace is an overarching principle that gather us under its umbrella.

Sheikh Khalifa said that the terrorist acts that targeted the French capital, Paris, yesterday confirm the urgent need for all countries across the world to fight terrorism, whatever its source and motives.

He added that terrorism has no religion or homeland and pursues ideologies that fuel the cycle of violence, hatred and revenge and repression.

He also stressed such terrorism, which seeks to destabilise the security of France, represents a threat to all human and moral values, international laws and norms.

He added that it is a brutal and inhuman deed that represents extremism and terrorism at their very worst.