Kerry praises UAE embassy staff

(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanked dozens of US embassy staff in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (March 5) 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.

"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," he said.

"We are busy thinking about our strategy through all