The Supreme Council of the National Defence College held its first meeting Sunday under the chairmanship of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the council members, saying the UAE under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan had been giving utmost care to establishing world class educational institutions to drive research & development and to further boost strategic thinking.

"Along with other military and civilian institutions, the National Defence College, is seen as an important addition in preparing and qualifying national resources, to keep pace with the latest scientific and strategic development, in a way that will enable us to confront challenges, to deal with changes regionally and internationally, and to make the right decision that will support the country's development drive and maintain its achievements," he added.

The council members reviewed the ongoing first national defence course for 30 candidates. Also discussed were other topics on the meeting's agenda, including the college's future plans.

Present were H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Saif Sultan Al Aryani, Secretary General of the Higher National Security Council, Lt. General Hamad Mohamed Thani Al Romaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Dr Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi, Director of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, and Lt. General Rashad Mohamed Salem Al Saedi, Commander of the National Defence College.

http://wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1290008849183&pagename=WAM%2FWAM_E_Layout