UAE Delegation Continues High-Level Engagements at the 78th UN General Assembly
New York, September 20- The United Arab Emirates delegation, led by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, continued its series of bilateral meetings and participation in multi-party discussions during the second day of the high-level week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly. These engagements aimed to reinforce the UAE's external relations, its active role in the multilateral system, and its contribution to addressing critical regional and global issues.
In this context, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a bilateral meeting with the President of Yemen, Rashad Al-Alimi. He also met with Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo. Furthermore, he engaged in discussions with various other foreign dignitaries, including Georgios Gerapetritis, the Foreign Minister of Greece; Jan Lipavský, the Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic; and Alva Baptiste, the Foreign Minister of Saint Lucia.
His Highness also participated in a trilateral meeting with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, to discuss efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis.
On the other hand, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State for International Cooperation, represented the UAE at the general session of the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit, themed "Halfway to 2030." The summit aimed to review contributions from the private sector in achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing them. She also met with Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
During bilateral meetings, Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, discussed climate issues with Vincent Van Quickenborne, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and North Sea in Belgium, and also met with Svenja Schulze, the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In a related event, Her Excellency Almheiri attended a high-level meeting titled "Nature and People: From Ambition to Action," hosted by the United Nations and various civil society organizations and countries. During the event, she announced the UAE's support for "The Mangrove Brothers" initiative, which aims to protect 15 million hectares of mangrove forests worldwide by 2030.
Regarding this initiative, Her Excellency Almheiri stated: "The UAE recognizes the vital importance of mangrove forests in combating climate change and supporting coastal communities. Therefore, we look forward to making a real change in this regard."
In addition, Her Excellency announced that the UAE would host a ministerial-level meeting on mangrove forests on December 9, coinciding with "Nature, Oceans, and Land Day" during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
Furthermore, Her Excellency Ahmed Al Sayegh, the Minister of State, emphasized the UAE's commitment to deepening partnerships in Africa and strengthening cooperation in various fields during his meetings with Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the President of the Central African Republic; Lemogang Kwape, the Foreign Minister of Botswana; and Nabil Ammar, the Foreign Minister of Tunisia.
In another context, Her Excellency Al Sayegh participated in a high-level side event titled "Global Solidarity with Afghan Women and Girls," hosted by Canada, Indonesia, and Ireland, and supported by the UAE. During the event, he reaffirmed the UAE's ongoing commitment to supporting the rights of Afghan women and girls and called for a unified approach by key stakeholders in the region and around the world.
Her Excellency highlighted the UAE's leading role in advancing sustainable development goals and accelerating climate action during the meeting of the Global Development Initiative Friends Group. He stressed the UAE's potential to disseminate innovative technologies for economic diversification and sustainability in the region.
He added, "COP28 aims to transform and accelerate climate action to fulfill the world's commitments to mitigate climate change effects and increase available funding for developing nations."
The UAE's active participation in the 78th UN General Assembly reflects its commitment to international cooperation, sustainable development, and addressing global challenges. The country's multifaceted engagements underscore its dedication to making a positive impact on the world stage.