REEM AL HASHIMY, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, emphasized the importance of maintaining an international order based on respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States.  International relations must be governed by international law, including United Nations resolutions.  “Resorting to the use of force instead of relying on political solutions, and dividing the world into an ‘us against them’ mentality, leads to further chaos and withers our diplomatic tools,” she said, underscoring the importance of respecting diversity, political differences and development disparities.  She stressed the need to enhance the effectiveness of international organizations, particularly the United Nations, the first line of defence to prevent the multilateral arena from becoming polarized when political rifts between major countries occur.  Regional organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the African Union, play a critical role with their understanding of local contexts.

Stressing that the best way to resolve crises is through peaceful means, particularly in a region ravaged by weapons and extremist ideologies, she renewed her Government’s demand to Iran to end its occupation of the three United Arab Emirates islands:  Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.  Her country maintains its legitimate right to these islands and continues to seek a resolution, either through direct negotiations or the International Court of Justice.  She then stressed the Gulf Cooperation Council’s position that calls on Iraq to urgently address the negative consequences of a recent ruling of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court regarding the agreement between Kuwait and Iraq on the regulation of maritime navigation in the Khor Abdullah waterway.  This action should be completed to serve neighbourly relations, in line with international law and agreements signed between the two countries, she stressed.

Her Government’s ultimate goal is to push for the “Zero Problems with Neighbours Principle”, refusing to accept that conflicts in the region are inevitable, and it believes that security, stability and prosperity will be restored in Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Lebanon.  Her Government also supports an independent Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Noting the climate crisis is an important juncture for the global community, she said Dubai is hosting COP28 in two months and will focus on intensifying international cooperation to achieve the highest ambitions possible.  “We must restore hope and be optimistic regarding our ability to confront climate change,” she said, adding that the energy sector’s transformation will provide a great opportunity to enhance and sustain human and economic development.  Financing, she added, is an essential tool in this process.