UAE foreign minister calls for more action from UN against terrorist threat

The UAE has warned that the threat of terrorist organisations, such as Daesh and AI-Qaeda-affiliated groups, is a risk not only for this region but for all states and communities.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed addresses the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the organisation’s headquarters in New York. Craig Ruttle / AP Photo

ABU DHABI // The UAE has warned that the threat from terrorist organisations such as ISIL and Al Qaeda-affiliated groups is a risk not only for this region but for all states and communities.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Foreign Minister, expressed concern about the situation in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Iraq and Egypt before the general debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday.

“Despite the progress made over the past seven decades, the UN must now play a greater role in addressing the grave security challenges that risk threatening its achievements,” Sheikh Abdullah said. “The challenges facing the Middle East today, particularly extremism, terrorism, interference in the internal affairs of states and non-respect for the sovereignty of states, demonstrate that this organisation has not yet fulfilled its primary objective of maintaining international peace and security.”

He said that since the Second World War, the world had not witnessed such an escalation in terrorist crimes – carried out by ISIL, Al Qaeda, Hizbollah, Ansar-Allah, and other extremist groups that exploit religion for political purposes.

“The UAE condemns the brutal methods used by these groups and organisations in the name of Islam,” he said. “The brutality of these organisations has recently intensified.

“The threat of these terrorist organisations transcends geographical boundaries and is a risk not only for our region but for all states and communities.”

He commended the Al Azhar institution for its long-standing tradition in confronting extremist ideologies and called upon the international community to provide Egypt with support in its fight against extremism and terrorism.

“The recent political and economic achievements of Egypt are major steps towards its recovery and positively assist the recovery and stability of the region while restoring Egypt’s pivotal and historic role in the region,” he said.

On Yemen, Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE sought, with the international community, to restore the political process.

“We regard the liberation of Aden from the Houthis as a military and a humanitarian victory, with Aden now the logistical base for delivering vital humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people,” he said. “The total UAE humanitarian assistance extended to Yemen during the past four months has exceeded US$200 million (Dh734m).”

Sheikh Abdullah expressed concern for Libya and Syria.

“The tension represents a major threat to security and stability in the region,” he said.

“The UAE stresses the need to lift the ban imposed on the powers of the elected Libyan government to enable it to fight Daesh [ISIL] and other terrorist organisations and respond to trans-boundary threats.

“The [UN] security council must [also] fulfil its principal mandate and reach a consensus on a settlement for the Syrian crisis to ensure a political transition and the formation of a new government.”

Political and security experts said the UAE had a new role to play in stabilising the region now that major players such as Egypt, Iraq and Syria were in turmoil.

“The UAE has a clear-cut policy and military capability,” said Dr Mustafa Alani, director of national security and terrorism at the Gulf Research Centre.

“The UAE is one of the major players and is moving to the practical side, like in Egypt and Yemen, where it is fighting extremism by using its military, economic and diplomatic capability.”

Dr Mohammed bin Huwaidin, chairman of political science at UAE University, said stabilising the region was part of UAE strategy. “The UAE is adopting a moderate strategy and policies towards its development,” he said.

“ISIL and other terrorist groups constitute a threat to the moderate beliefs of the UAE, so it is emphasising the importance of the international community to stand up against terrorism, which will harm regional security without concrete and immediate action.”

Dr Theodore Karasik, a UAE-based geopolitical analyst, said Sheikh Abdullah’s speech “plainly stated what the UAE’s foreign policy goals were in terms of reversing the deteriorating trends in several countries, in particular Yemen and Syria”.

“The fact this speech was given in front of the UN [on] the 70th anniversary of the General Assembly is significant because of the number of leaders in New York at this time. Negotiations over many of these trouble spots are at the forefront of public speeches and private discussions so it is hoped partners and allies are able to put their thoughts together and put forth valuable foreign policy contributions to regional security.”