UAE — 78th UNGA address — 'Zero Problems with Neighbours', pre-Oct-7 framing, COP28 launch (23 September 2023)

The UAE declared this year the Year of Sustainability, under the theme 'Today for Tomorrow' to honour our shared responsibility to present and future generations, who deserve to live in a world that is safe, and prosperous.

The UAE believes that this fundamental premise should guide our approach to the existential challenges facing our world today. This particularly applies to armed conflicts, currently at their highest since World War II, and the increasing frequency and impact of climate disasters. It also includes our enduring efforts to preserve and defend our shared human values in a world dominated by the unrelenting waves of extremism, racism, and hate speech.

What is lacking is strong political will, the determination to confront existential challenges and a clear-sighted vision for the future - instead of dwelling on futile divisions and emphasizing differences. These are the true obstacles to joint action. The UAE has seen this first hand, during our time as members of Security Council since last year. Time and time again, geopolitical tensions have held the Council back from reaching consensus on urgent matters, even on strictly humanitarian issues. This is why we must engage in serious discussions on comprehensive and meaningful reforms of the Security Council, specifically pertaining to the use of the veto; the expansion of permanent and elected membership; the Council's working methods and its ability to anticipate and effectively resolve crises.

The UAE emphasizes the importance of maintaining an international order that is based on respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states. International relations must be governed by international law, including the UN resolutions.

Resorting to the use of force instead of relying on political solutions and dividing the world into an 'us against them' mentality is a zero-sum game. This will only lead to more chaos and blunt our diplomatic tools.

Mr. President,

The UAE believes that the best way to resolve crises is through peaceful means. This is particularly important for our region, which is ravaged by weapons and extremist ideologies. The UAE continues to exert efforts to reduce escalations and call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences. We have been focusing on creating a new reality to strengthen economic integration among the countries of our region. This would benefit the economies and people of the region and will enhance regional stability and prosperity.

The UAE renews its demand to Iran to end its occupation of the three UAE islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. Our legitimate right to these islands has not diminished and time will not diminish nor extinguish our sovereignty over these islands. We will continue to seek a resolution, either through direct negotiation or through the International Court of Justice. This has been our firm stance for decades.

We stress the position of the Gulf Cooperation Council that calls on Iraq to take serious and urgent steps to address the negative consequences of the ruling of its Federal Supreme Court regarding the agreement concluded between Kuwait and Iraq on the regulation of maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah.

We are ultimately guided by the 'Zero Problems with Neighbours' principle. Regardless of how great the challenge, it is critical to restore the legitimate sovereignty of states and prevent extremist and armed groups from maintaining a presence in our region. We must move forward with a vision that promotes peace, openness, co-existence, cooperation, and development.

The UAE refuses to accept that conflicts in our region are inevitable. We believe that security, stability and prosperity will be restored in Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Lebanon. We also believe in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Without eradicating extremism, hatred and racism from our region and globally, these efforts will not succeed. It has become abundantly clear that hate speech and extremism are closely linked to the spread and escalation of conflict. The Security Council acknowledged this fact in its historic resolution 2686 concerning tolerance, international peace and security last June. An important initiative in which the UAE played a prominent role.

The promotion of the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence has an impact on people globally. Not only in words, but through their direct implementation. Acts such as destroying a church in Iraq, burning the holy Qur'an in Sweden, or attacking a Jewish Cultural Center in Argentina are all unacceptable actions that lead to chaos and discord.

In this spirit, the UAE is hosting the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, in two months.