The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, on Monday called for reforms to the UN Security Council under which members would visit the Middle East more often and veto fewer decisions.
Dr Gargash told an online meeting of the council that Arabs should have a larger role in UN decisions involving their region.
The Security Council is often deadlocked by differences between its five permanent members, particularly over the war in Syria.
“It is important to unify the position on the Security Council on Arab issues, limiting the use of the veto, so that the position of the Security Council reflects the concerns of Arab countries on these crises,” he said.
Dr Gargash called for more co-operation between the UN and the Arab League, and for Arabs to be more involved in delivering solutions to conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Libya and the occupied Palestinian territories.
“It is important for more consultations and formal and informal meetings to be held with the Security Council and members of the Arab League so that we can exchange information and views on Arab issues,” he said, speaking on behalf of the League.
“The council could increase the number of visits it makes to the region because this would allow them to better understand and have a clear and deeper understanding of the council as to the nature of crises in the Arab world."
The UN’s 15-nation Security Council consists of 10 temporary members, who serve rotating two-year terms, and five permanent members – Britain, France, Russia, China and the US – who have the power to veto decisions.
China and Russia increased their use of the veto considerably since 2011, mostly in relation to the war in Syria.
The US has vetoed council resolutions that were critical of Israel or American policy towards it.
The UAE is running for a temporary UN Security Council seat for 2022-2023, saying its experience of helping to manage crises in the Middle East could help decision-makers in New York.
The council meets regularly on threats to international peace and security, and is the ultimate arbiter on resolutions imposing international sanctions, authorising the use of military force and sending peacekeeping operations.
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Ireland (15-1):
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
