February 07, 2010, 06:32 AM EST
By Dana El Baltaji
Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The United Arab Emirates is committed to “progressive” and “moderate” Islamic values as the country diversifies its economy away from oil, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum said.
“The nation’s progressive and moderate model of Islam will continue to support its traditions of respect and openness in public and private spaces,” state-run WAM news agency cited Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Dubai, as saying. “A spirit of religious tolerance will forge mutual understanding and acceptance within the country’s pool of diversity.”
The U.A.E., the fourth-biggest OPEC crude producer, is striving for “economic diversification” to help the nation become less dependent on oil revenue, Sheikh Mohammed said, according to the text of “U.A.E. Vision 2021” published on WAM.
--Editors: Shaji Mathew, James Kraus.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-07/u-a-e-is-committed-to-moderate-islamic-values-premier-says.html
