Greatest resource - citizens

The Middle East's greatest resource is not oil, but the skills and talents of its citizens, US president George W. Bush said on Sunday in the key address of his regional tour.

"In any society, the greatest resource is not the oil in the ground or the minerals beneath the soil. It is the skills and talents of the people," Bush said, speaking at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Bush said countries in the region needed to nurture their human capital by developing strong education systems and free economies.

"By strengthening your education systems and opening your economies, you will unlock their [citizens'] potential, create vibrant and entrepreneurial societies and usher in a new era where people have confidence that tomorrow will bring more opportunities than today," he said.

"In the last few years, the nations of this region have made some great progress... Oil accounts for much of the economic growth here, but the nations of the Middle East are now investing in their people, and building infrastructure and opening the door to foreign trade and investment."

However, Bush also said a free and just societies were necessary to create an environment in which human capital could flourish.

He said free and just societies required strong civic institutions such as houses of worship, universities, professional associations, local governments and community groups, as well as habits of self-government that contribute to the rule of law.

"...free and just societies ultimately depend on the emergence of an engaged public whose citizens feel they have a real stake in their nation's future. All these developments contribute to the bond between government and the governed, between a people and their nation," he said.

The UAE is the third stop on Bush's whirlwind visit to the region. He will fly to Riyadh from Dubai on Monday where he will meet with leading officials including King Abdullah.

Bush’s tour, which includes stops in Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, ends on January 16.

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