US Secretary of State John Kerry visits the US embassy in Abu Dhabi, speaking broadly about regional issues.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanked dozens of US embassy staff in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their work in the region, as he continued his 11 day, nine country trip through Europe and the Middle East.
Referring to the region's need for development, economic diversification and job creation, the lack of which were major spurs for the popular 'Arab Spring' uprisings of the last three years, Kerry was quick to praise the United Arab Emirates' efforts at moving away from an exclusively oil-based economy to a more diversified one.
[John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State]:
"There is a tension throughout this region in that. Some governments have not figured out how to provide that kind of alternative. Some don't quite yet know as effectively how to work to create diversity in the marketplace, to create jobs, but here you all have the blessing of representing a remarkable place in transition. We are busy thinking about our strategy through all of this. You look to Egypt and you have another country in transition. You look to Syria and you see what happens when a leader doesn't embrace the future, and doesn't recognise the possibilities of meeting the needs of the nation. And you look at the challenge we have with Iran with respect to nuclear weapons. The last thing we need are more nuclear weapons in the world at a time when Russia and the United States are working to reduce the numbers of nuclear weapons and make the world safer. So I think you are lucky, I have to tell you that, the job you are engaged in is one the greatest job in the world and I am now privileged to share that journey with you."
This is the first overseas trip for Kerry since taking office on February 1.
His trip has already seen him visit Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Kerry's final stop will be to Doha later on Tuesday before returning to Washington on Wednesday.
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