Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, has visited the Marrakech Air Show, which took place from 24th to 27th October 2018, at the military base of the Royal Moroccan Air Force in Marrakech.
The Minister toured the show’s different regional and international pavilions and was briefed on the latest techniques and equipment introduced across the international aeronautical industry by world major players in this field over the last decade.
He lauded the neat organization of the event and the displays of the participating companies, according to Emirates News Agency WAM.
On the sidelines of the event, Al Bowardi met with the Abdellatif Loudiyi, Moroccan Minister of Defense, and discussed ways of advancing defense relations between the two countries in addition to an array of issues of common interest.
Meanwhile, more than 150 senior military officers from over 80 countries, on Thursday, concluded the 12th Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations, SWIRMO, jointly hosted by the UAE Ministry of Defense and the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, in Abu Dhabi.
It was the first time the SWIRMO was held in the Middle East, with classes held in Arabic.
The high-level five-day workshop offered the participants an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the rules governing military operations and to discuss the integration of relevant legal standards into military doctrine, education, and training.
The SWIRMO provided expertise on the international humanitarian law, IHL, and its application in military operations, while also providing information on the ICRC’s mission, its significance, and role in international conflicts to officers ranking from a major to a major general.
Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs, said the workshop has become an important forum for senior officers and officials to heighten understanding of international rules governing military operations and standards by sharing experience and experiments.
ICRC President, Peter Maurer, thanked the UAE for hosting the workshop and its support for the ICRC' activities and programs as well as upholding the IHL.
He said the ICRC and the UAE have agreed to develop innovative, responsive technology in a well-communicated, connected world and increase the resilience of civilians to respond to humanitarian disasters.
The SWIRMO is annually hosted by the ICRC and the armed forces of a selected country.
Through its experienced instructors, who are themselves senior military officers, the SWIRMO equips the participants with the necessary tools to improve compliance with the laws governing military operations and focus on the integration of IHL in the decision-making process in combat and law enforcement operations.
