Slowly but surely, the UN is a force for change

Readers weigh in on international organisations, fishing, Iran and more

A Rohingya refugee man and his child joins the hundreds of thousands of others who have fled to Bangladesh. Danish Siddiqui / Reuters

In response to the article, The world cannot afford not to have a UN (September 3), I wholeheartedly agree on the critical importance of the world body as a forum for engagement, co-operation and co-ordination between member states, particularly in today's fractured political landscape. At the same time, there is no doubt that the world body is in need of significant reform, and must be made more reflective of 21st-century realities.

However, while the editor’s concern that high-level meetings rarely lead to resolutions may well ring true in some cases, I disagree that the two high-level meetings held in September 2016 on refugees and migrants yielded no fundamental changes. On the contrary, at the first meeting, all 193 member states agreed that new mechanisms must be put in place to deal with the crisis of displacement and pledged that responsibility or burden-sharing should be shared more equitably by countries across the globe. At the second meeting, member states, including the United Arab Emirates, lined up to provide practical support to this pledge. While multilateral diplomacy can be frustratingly slow and rarely produces quick results, a process has been started that could radically transform for the better the way the world responds to forced displacement. I hope that in the future, we will all have cause to look back on the two meetings as being very consequential for our international community and very positive indeed.

Toby Harward, UNHCR, Abu Dhabi

Unfortunately, the UN is but a shadow of its former self.

Mustapha Ahmad , Abu Dhabi

Regional problems can subside by quelling Iran

In reference to your article, Prominent Iraqi Shiite clerics move out of Iran's shadow (September 9), Khomeini sowed the seeds of terrorism in the Middle East in 1979 and now, Khamenei continues in his footsteps. All the terrorism and bloodshed in the region can only be resolved by quelling Iran. The Iranian people wish for nothing more than peace and friendly relations with Arab countries and an end to sectarianism and yet, our regime continues to do the opposite.

Mohammad-Reza Mashoof, Germany

Ethnic cleansing of Rohingya seldom highlighted

Finally, an official newspaper highlights the plight of the Rohingya Muslims (Rohingya crisis: Malala Yousafzai calls for Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn violence in Myanmar, September 4).

Issa R Ali, Dubai

Fishing licences in Abu Dhabi anyone?

I refer to your article, Fishing in the UAE: enthusiast Kit Belen offer tips for first timers starting out (September 5). It would be great if information on how to apply for fishing licence in Abu Dhabi is published.

Ping Tan, Abu Dhabi

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