With its balanced policies, the UAE has gained the International Community acceptance with the Security Council non-permanent membership winning 179 votes cast by the General Assembly members. It is worth noting that there was a recommendation from the Arab League and the Asia-Pacific Group, which give it the trust to work actively in resolving many pending issues in the Middle east.
The slogan of UAE election campaign was “stronger with our union”, which is its principle since the foundation of union of the seven emirates, and its efforts to reinforce the GCC through unified opinions, as it has been instrumental in supporting the region stability by weakening the terrorist groups and their ideologies.
The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated that the work is guided by our understanding of the crises, beside our close relations with countries.
I would like to address some of the top issues that will be brought to the Council’s table during this year, where conflicts escalated, including Iran, which violated the implementation of Resolution 2231; which was approved in 2015 for Iran’s nuclear program from uranium enrichment to its ballistic missile activities and sabotage policies in the region that seriously affected several Arab countries, particularly Iraq, and the latest incidents and the Popular Mobilization forces; to Lebanon which suffer of the control of Hezbollah of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to the Houthi group which penetrates all norms; but, let’s not forget Iran’s isolation, winning one vote in the Security Council membership voting. Despite the fact that Republic of Iran has alliances including Russia and China and both enjoy the “Veto power”. The UAE can play a vital role with its good relations with China and Russia, and could offer acceptable opinions to all parties at pressures or settlements levels.
In Yemen, the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, finally admitted before the Security Council saying that “I am not here to say that we are in the process of concluding an agreement, but I am here to report a military escalation by Ansar Allah the Houthis” in Marib, imports restrictions through Hodeidah, severe fuel shortage and restrictions on movement and absence of political process”. The question is why was he maneuvering and denouncing and where is he from Resolution 2231?
In Libya, the Council voted with on a draft resolution dealing with the UN’ support for Libyan ceasefire monitoring mechanism, it also includes a proposal by the Secretary General to deploy 60 international observers to monitor implementation of the ceasefire, despite the presence of more than 20,000 of mercenaries, 13,000 of whom are Syrians who have been transferred by Turkey to implement its agenda.
Syria which suffer of 10 years of civil war, and a proxy militia war that killed over 400 thousand people and millions fled their homes, while the efforts failed to bring peace and resume the political process.
The Security Council has also failed in three attempts to issue statements on the Palestinian cause; how if they discussed a resolution with presence of a hardline Israeli government.
These are the top issues that may require urgent actions, and many other issues which UAE shall contribute in resolving them and offer an opinion that shall be acceptable to all parties. from an Arabic-Islamic perspective characterized with tolerance and strength of Union as promoted in its election campaign slogan.
