UAE delegation attends fourth day of high-level meetings on sidelines of 77th Session of United Nations General Assembly

The UAE delegation attended the fourth day of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Today, Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, delivered a speech in a United Nations Security Council high-level briefing on the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine.

In addition, Her Excellency met with H.E. Luca Beccari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of San Marino, to sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a Joint Committee between the two countries. Her Excellency also met David Beasley, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme.

For his part, H.E. Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, participated in a ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. His Excellency also participated in a ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, which serves as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the Palestinian people.

H.E. Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar said: "The UAE, from 2016 to 2022, contributed more than USD 684 million as part of its efforts to support the Palestinian people. In this vein, UNRWA received over USD 165 million, with USD 143 million dedicated to education and USD 11.7 million for in-kind aid and social services programs in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. The UAE has also recently pledged USD 25 million to Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem to enhance its services."

His Excellency added, "The UAE supports the renewal of UNRWA's mandate and emphasizes its leading role in providing humanitarian assistance and protection programs for millions of Palestinian refugees. I would like to underscore that UNRWA should continue to provide all the services under its mandate to Palestinian refugees."

For his part, H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, joined world leaders, ministers, and experts at the Bloomberg 'Emerging + Frontier Forum' to emphasize the need for an affordable and successful energy transition to drive economic growth and climate action. His Excellency highlighted the need for a realistic strategy to keep the increase in global temperatures within 1.5 degrees while expanding access to affordable energy. His Excellency also met with H.E. Adel Al Jubeir, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Envoy for Climate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, met with H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of Kenya. His Excellency also held productive discussions with H.E. Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, President of Guinea-Bissau, and H.E. Olivia Rouamba, Burkina Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad.

His Excellency also participated in an event on Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative and its role in fighting climate change and another high-level UN meeting on the situation in the Sahel. He also met with Ambassador Mike Hammer, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.

Speaking at the high-level meeting on the Sahel, HE Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan said, "The UAE underscores the need to eradicate extremist ideologies that hinder development, peace, and prosperity in Sahel countries. The UAE remains deeply concerned over the increased threat of cross-border activities by terrorist groups in the Sahel."

Moreover, His Excellency underscored the UAE's commitment to providing relief aid and extending a helping hand to those in need as part of its policy and humanitarian approach to alleviate suffering regardless of geographic location, religion, race, color, or culture.

"Climate change does not recognize borders," His Excellency continued. "The Sahel is paying a disproportionately high price despite its low contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions."

For his part, H.E. Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs, participated in the ministerial meeting of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency donors hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Sweden.

In addition, H.E. Yacoub Yousef Al Hosani, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Organisations Affairs, participated in an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation annual coordination meeting of foreign ministers.