The UN Security Council needs greater representation from around the world, particularly from the Arab region and Africa, said Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth.
In an interview with The National, Ms Al Kaabi also highlighted the UAE's support for India to become a permanent member of the UN's top body.
"The world has changed, it has evolved, and it is crucial that the Council adapts towards that with better, more equitable representation, especially from the Arab region and Africa," Ms Al Kaabi said.
Russia's war in Ukraine has highlighted shortcomings in the Security Council's structure and critics say it is time for reform. The five permanent members who can veto meaningful action agree on little in today's fractured world, leaving the Security Council paralysed on key issues.
Moscow has wielded its veto prerogative multiple times to block the Security Council from intervening in Ukraine.
Ms Al Kaabi addressed the 15-member Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York last week, when she emphasised the UAE's belief in multilateralism and the need to address underrepresentation on the Council.
She noted how the UAE's position on multilateralism was reflected in how “our efforts reinforce UN processes across the system. Whether through our membership of the Security Council, hosting Cop28, or the 2031 Cultural Agenda with Unesco.”
It is also reflected, she added, in the UAE pursuing a foreign policy focused on dialogue and de-escalation. The UAE is currently serving a two-year term on the Security Council and has frequently called for de-escalation, particularly in the war in Ukraine.
On relations with India, whose population is expected to soon outstrip China's, Ms Al Kaabi noted how ties between Abu Dhabi and New Delhi had been strengthening in recent years. The UAE is now India’s third-largest trading partner.
“We see eye to eye on many issues, including at the Security Council,” Ms Al Kaabi said.
In February, the UAE and India signed a wide-ranging trade and economic pact that is expected to boost bilateral trade to over $100 billion within the next five years.
“The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that the UAE and India signed in 2015 enabled the strong, multi-dimensional growth we’ve seen in our bilateral relationship," Ms Al Kaabi said.
She also touched on terrorism, one of the most pressing issues facing many nations.
“Terrorism has evolved as well, it has spread into different regions and conflicts and it is crucial that the Security Council meets the emerging threats," she said, noting that it was vital to address terrorists' use of advanced technology.
“We’ve experienced the consequences of that in the UAE in the January 17 attack, as have many other countries. So what we need is to build on the UN's existing counter-terrorism framework," she said.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group attacked the UAE in what it said was an operation using missiles and drones, setting off explosions in fuel lorries that killed three people and caused a fire near the airport of Abu Dhabi.
Despite these challenges, Ms Kaabi said the UAE adopted an integrated, institutional approach that promotes tolerance, co-existence and diversity through regional and international partnerships and engagement with various stakeholders.
Ms Al Kaabi underscored the importance of a strong and unified international front and highlighted how "through culture we can counter terrorism".
In partnership with Unesco and the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, the UAE in 2018 launched the Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative, a five-year project aiming to restore the urban, cultural and social elements of Mosul’s old town.
Plans included rebuilding the 850-year-old Al Nuri Mosque and a surrounding 11,050-square-metre complex of prayer halls and buildings, as well as Al Tahera and Al Saa'a churches.
In July 2014, ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi stood at the mosque's pulpit and declared Iraq and Syria as the terrorist group's "caliphate."
As Iraqi security forces drew closer to Mosul in June 2017, ISIS destroyed the structure and later used the explosion as propaganda, pinning the damage on a US-led coalition air strike.
“When you look into these sites,” said Ms Al Kaabi, “you realise that extremists wanted to destroy them because they are the physical representation of co-existence between people of different backgrounds and religions.
“Culture is at the core of our common humanity. So that’s where countering extremism must start.”
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.