Text 2182, 101 rader
Skriven 2006-02-22 23:36:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060222a) for Wed, 2006 Feb 22
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Fact Sheet: The United States_UAE Bilateral Relationship
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 22, 2006

Fact Sheet: The United States_UAE Bilateral Relationship



"But I also want to repeat something again, and that is, this is a company
that has played by the rules, that has been cooperative with the United
States, a country that's an ally in the War on Terror, and it would send a
terrible signal to friends and allies not to let this transaction go
through."

- President Bush, 2/21/06

"[T]he military-to-military relationship with the United Arab Emirates is
superb. ... They've got airfields that they allow us to use, and their
airspace, their logistics support. They've got a world-class air-to-air
training facility that they let us use and cooperate with them in the
training of our pilots. In everything that we have asked and work with them
on, they have proven to be very, very solid partners."

- General Peter Pace, Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, 2/21/06

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Is A Longstanding Friend And Ally Of The
United States. The United States and UAE have a longstanding alliance. The
UAE is a key partner of the United States in the War on Terror, helping to
advance Middle East peace efforts. The UAE is also a vibrant trading
partner and has provided critical support in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The UAE Is A Key Partner In The War On Terror. The UAE provides U.S. and
Coalition forces unprecedented access to its ports and territory,
overflight clearances, and other critical and important logistical
assistance. Today, the UAE is providing assistance to the missions in
Afghanistan and Iraq, combating terrorists by cutting off their financing,
and enhancing America's homeland security by actively participating in
initiatives to screen shipments and containers.
  þ 

    UAE Ports Host More U.S. Navy Ships Than Any Port Outside The United
    States. The UAE provides outstanding support for the U.S. Navy at the
    ports of Jebel Ali - which is managed by DP World - and Fujairah and
    for the U.S. Air Force at al Dhafra Air Base (tankers and surveillance
    and reconnaissance aircraft). The UAE also hosts the UAE Air Warfare
    Center, the leading fighter training center in the Middle East.
  þ 

    The UAE Is A Partner In Shutting Down Terror Finance Networks. The UAE
    has worked with us to stop terrorist financing and money laundering,
    including by freezing accounts, enacting aggressive
    anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing laws and
    regulations, and exchanging information on people and entities
    suspected of being involved in these activities.
  þ 

    The UAE Is An Established Partner In Protecting America's Ports. Dubai
    was the first Middle Eastern entity to join the Container Security
    Initiative (CSI) - a multinational program to protect global trade from
    terrorism. Under CSI, a team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
    officers is permanently stationed inside Dubai's ports, where they work
    closely with Dubai Customs to screen containers destined for the United
    States. Cooperation with Dubai officials has been outstanding and a
    model for other operations. Dubai was also the first Middle Eastern
    entity to join the Department of Energy's Megaports Initiative, a
    program aimed at stopping illicit shipments of nuclear and other
    radioactive material.
  þ 

    The UAE Is A Critical Partner In Afghanistan. The UAE extends vital
    military and political support to Operation Enduring Freedom in
    Afghanistan and substantial financial and humanitarian support to
    Afghanistan and its people.
  þ 

    The UAE Is Supporting The New Iraqi Government. The UAE has provided
    significant monetary and materiel support to the Iraqi government,
    including a pledge of $215 million in economic and reconstruction
    assistance.

The UAE Is Supporting Middle East Peace Efforts. The UAE is a moderate Arab
state and a long-time supporter of all aspects of Middle East peace
efforts. The U.S. and the UAE are also working together to create a stable
economic, political and security environment in the Middle East.

The UAE Provided $100 Million To Help The Victims Of Hurricane Katrina. The
UAE was one of the first nations to offer financial aid to the U.S. after
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. UAE's $100 million donation was
one of the largest by any nation.

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