Emirates urges Arab League and Security Council to unify positions

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, was responsible for presenting the Arab group's statement to the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday. The meeting, called by the Tunisian permanent representative - the country which also chairs the Council this month - Tarek Ladeb, was entitled 'Coordination between the Security Council and the Arab League'.

Mr Gargash stressed the need for both organisations to improve coordination and cooperation in order to achieve valid and sustained solutions in the Arab world, which will put an end to regional challenges and conflicts. The absence of effective solutions, he continued, only leads to the exacerbation of the crises that are developing in some countries.

"The solutions must be Arab", stressed the emirate on behalf of the Arab group. The foreign minister pointed out that both the United Nations and the Arab League have attempted to put an end to crises in the region such as those in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Palestine. However, he also referred to the fact that no organisation on its own can arrive at lasting and comprehensive solutions, and that for this "it is necessary for the effort to be collective".

Anwar Gargash called for measures that include holding an annual meeting to address Arab issues, limiting the use of the veto power in matters pertaining to the region, putting an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories in accordance with the Council's decisions, and carrying out preventive diplomacy and early warning measures to prevent the eruption of new crises in the Arab world.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, pointed out that the pandemic has aggravated the situation in many Arab countries, particularly those with developing conflicts. He also invited the new US Administration to rectify those policies that have harmed the region. He referred to foreign interference in countries such as Syria and Libya as one of the reasons for the failure to find a solution to the conflicts there.

The Council thanked the Arab League for its role in supporting the search for solutions, such as that of the Syrian Constitutional Committee and aid to the Yemeni population, the most serious humanitarian situation in the world. Al-Ula's declaration, which puts an end to tension in the Gulf by re-establishing relations with Qatar and ending the blockade, was also applauded.