UAE — 79 UN GA Speech (Minister of State Shakhboot Al Nahyan, 30 Sep 2024, Sudan-SAF-attack-on-UAE-Ambassador + Iran-3-islands)

Unofficial English Translation. Statement by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates at The General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 30 September 2024. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Mr. President,

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Since its inception, the UAE has adopted a transparent foreign policy, based on credibility and building balanced relations with all countries. This includes supporting regional and international efforts aimed at achieving stability and reducing escalations, encouraging dialogue and building bridges, as well as resolving crises instead of merely managing them.

As our world stands at a dangerous crossroads, we must redirect the compass of our international action to focus on a set of fundamental and non-negotiable principles. Most importantly, we must stand united in the face of contentious issues, support all peoples without applying double standards, ensure the protection of civilians, uphold the rule of law, as well as commit to human rights and respect the principles of good neighborliness.

[… …] These violations have deepened human suffering, erased decades of progress, and caused widespread displacement, creating massive refugee crises. This has also increased the burdens on concerned and neighbouring countries, particularly with the ongoing bloody war on the Gaza Strip, the wars in Sudan and Ukraine, and the crises taking place in Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sahel, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti and other countries.

It must be recalled here that even wars have rules. Parties must respect international law, including international humanitarian law. In Gaza, an immediate and lasting ceasefire must be reached, rapid, full and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid at large-scale must be allowed, and the hostages and detainees must be released.

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In Sudan, the warring parties must stop the fighting immediately and permanently, and allow unhindered and sustainable access to humanitarian assistance across borders and conflict lines. We express our complete rejection for the warring parties continued targeting of civilians and obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian aid.

My country condemns, in the strongest terms, the blatant attack launched by the Sudanese Armed Forces on the residence of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Khartoum, on 29th September 2024, in flagrant violation of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises, and of international conventions and norms, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

We call on the warring parties to engage seriously in peace talks. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of building on the positive outcomes achieved in the meetings of the working group of the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group (ALPS).

[… …] my country contributed to the release of nearly two thousand prisoners of war, through mediation efforts between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

[… …] we must reiterate here our full support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara region, as well as for the Autonomy Initiative, to maintain the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco.

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Today, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, may God protect him, directed $100 million in urgent relief aid to the brotherly people of Lebanon, to support them in facing the current challenges.

When the war intensified in Sudan [… …] the UAE has devoted its efforts to supporting the Sudanese people. We recently contributed $100 million to support UN efforts addressing the humanitarian repercussions of this war in Sudan and neighboring countries.

In addition, we established two field hospitals in Chad to provide medical services to all those in need, including Sudanese refugees. Similarly, we spare no effort in supporting the innocent people besieged in Gaza. To this end, we have sent urgent aid by land, air, and sea, and provided treatment to sick and injured Palestinians through the field hospital we established in Rafah and the floating hospital in Al-Arish.

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If we want to bring an end to the seven-decades long vicious cycle of the Palestinian issue, then we must take concrete steps towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.

We must also consider the establishment of a temporary international mission in the Gaza Strip - upon an official request from the Palestinian government – to address the humanitarian crisis, re-establish security and law, and reunite Gaza and the West Bank under a reformed Palestinian Authority.

My country believes that the State of Palestine, which just a couple weeks ago took its new seat in this hall like every other nation, has fulfilled the requirements for full membership in this organization.

Mr President,

In parallel with our efforts in these files, my country renews its demand to Iran to end its occupation of the three UAE islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. These islands are an integral part of the UAE.

We will continue to urge Iran to respond to our repeated calls to resolve this issue either through direct negotiations, or resort to the International Court of Justice.

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The outcomes of the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted by the UAE demonstrated what we can achieve when we work together. The historic 'UAE Consensus' adopted by 198 countries, embodies a global consensus on developing measures to prevent global warming above 1.5 degrees Celsius, and operationalize the 'Loss and Damage' Fund.

[… …] We will also continue our efforts to address the issues of water scarcity and provision of sustainable clean water for all, including through the 'UN Water Conference', which we intend to host in the United Arab Emirates in 2026 in partnership with Senegal. Our other initiatives in this field, most notably, is the 'Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative', which was launched this year.

Thank you, Mr. President.