Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday met the US secretary of defence, Robert Gates, and senior members of Congress in Washington. During the meetings, the Crown Prince underscored the strong, ongoing security relationship between the UAE and the US, and discussed continued bilateral efforts to promote security and stability in the Gulf region, according to a statement issued by the UAE Embassy in Washington.
The Crown Prince was joined in the meetings by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the UAE Ambassador to the United States, Yousef al Otaiba. In the meeting with Mr Gates, who was joined by Adml Michael Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the UAE delegation reiterated their support for Iraqi reconstruction efforts and humanitarian development in Afghanistan.
They also hailed the continued military and strategic co-operation between the two countries. The Crown Prince continued his visit to Capitol Hill yesterday, when he met leaders from both chambers of the US Congress. In meetings with Senator Dianne Feinstein, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Evan Bay, the visiting delegation discussed the strength of the bilateral relationship and the need for continued co-operation on the security, military and energy fronts.
The Crown Prince also met the Congressman Gary Ackerman, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. * The National
