'Pledge of Loyalty' to new UAE President Sheikh Khalifa
Pakistan Times Monitoring Desk

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates): New United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan on Saturday received a "pledge of loyalty" from a younger brother bypassed in succession arrangements, a move which seemingly refutes claims about possible differences on the issue.

"As I pledge obedience and loyalty to you, I pray the Almighty to make you succeed in what is good (for the country) and guide your steps toward right and justice," Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al-Nahayan wrote in a letter to Khalifa.

The Best Successor

"You are the best successor to the best predecessor," said Sultan, referring to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, who died on Tuesday after more than 30 years at the helm of the Gulf federation of seven emirates.

"I congratulate you on the valuable trust placed in you by your brethren the rulers of the Emirates and its noble people by choosing you as head of state. It is a trust you deserve," he added in the letter.

Sheikh Khalifa

Sheikh Khalifa, the eldest of Zayed's 19 sons, automatically succeeded his father as ruler of Abu Dhabi, the federation's largest and richest member, and was promptly chosen by the rulers of the six other members as head of state.

Khalifa himself was succeeded as Abu Dhabi crown prince by his half-brother Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who had been appointed as his deputy by Sheikh Zayed in November 2003 despite him being younger than Sultan.

Cabinet Reshuffle

Sheikh Sultan retained his post of deputy prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle on the eve of Sheikh Zayed's death. But diplomats here had said the fact that he was sidelined in arrangements for the succession could raise a problem in future.

"It is our duty to the people of the Emirates to ... do our best to preserve (Zayed's) achievements, which are a source of pride ... clinging to our unity and the elements of our strength," Sultan wrote Saturday.

Sheikh Zayed, who was in his late eighties, was genuinely loved by his people for using oil money to turn his desert country green. He had played a key part in creating the UAE out of the Trucial States in 1971 following Britain's pullout from the Gulf.●