Dialogue and diplomacy resolves differences, says UAE
Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE's Minister of State for International Co-operation, told the UN General Assembly that political solutions are essential to resolving territorial and international disputes.
In the final address at Saturday’s General Debate, Ms Al Hashimy said that after its experience serving on the Security Council, the UAE felt that reforms to the body could improve its approaches to addressing and in some instances pre-empting crises.
‘’The UAE believes in respect for the independence and integrity of countries,’’ Ms Al Hashimy said.
"As for the use of force instead of political solutions, this will only lead to further chaos. And without diplomatic tools, nobody will be a winner.’’
She added: ''The UAE believes the best way to reduce crises is by political means.’’
The world's goal of reducing climate change has yet to be met and those who doubt the resolve to achieve it will be proved wrong, she said.
"Some may see this as impossible but the UAE disagrees," she said, and its hosting of the Cop28 summit will show this to be so.
"Our resolve is to preserve our planet and resources as well as our heritage."
In a wide-ranging speech, Ms Al Hashimy said that armed conflicts are at their highest point globally since the Second World War.
"Global challenges are becoming increasingly interlinked" and no one actor can tackle them alone, she said.
The recent return from space by Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi shows the depth of experience now at hand in the UAE and bodes well for the future, she added.
"We see in our youth the potential leaders," Ms Al Hashimy said.
"We are determined to follow in the footsteps of the founders of the UAE."
Syria calls for return of occupied Golan Heights at UNGA
Adla Massoud at the UN:
Syria calls for the return of occupied Golan HeightsSyria on Tuesday reaffirmed its right to completely regain control of the occupied Golan Heights.
“No matter how long it takes, [reclaiming the Golan Heights] is an inalienable right, that is not subject to compromise or pressure,” Syria’s UN ambassador Bassam Sabbagh told the UN General Assembly on the final day of the high-profile event in New York.
Israel seized the Golan Heights during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed it. The US, under then-president Donald Trump, recognised Israel’s full sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, despite international law underpinned by UN resolutions.
Mr Sabbagh alleged that Israel is in breach of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law due to its occupation of Arab territories.
He highlighted Israel’s efforts to “forcefully” impose Israeli citizenship on the Golan’s inhabitants and its exploitation of the region’s natural resources and warned that Israeli authorities will be held accountable for “all their crimes with no impunity”.
Mr Sabbagh also accused the US and Turkey of violating Syria’s sovereignty by insisting on the “continued illegal military presence on Syrian lands and supporting separatist militias and terrorist organisations”.
Stop the 'madness' of new nuclear arms race, UN chief Guterres says
Adla Massoud reports from New York
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned of a new nuclear race that poses the threat of “annihilation” as nuclear-armed nations modernise their arsenals with faster, more accurate and stealthier bombs.
Speaking on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which the UN General Assembly has marked since 2013, Mr Guterres said the world must reverse course as countries look to develop or expand nuclear capabilities.
“Any use of a nuclear weapon – any time, anywhere and in any context – would unleash a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,” he said.
“Nuclear sabres are again being rattled. This is madness.”
India calls for UN Security Council reform as it 'aspires to be a leading power'
India calls for UN Security Council modernisation at UNGA
Adla Massoud reports from New York
India's Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday called for the reform of the UN Security Council.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Mr Jaishankar highlighted the African Union's recent inclusion as a permanent bloc in the G20 earlier this month and noted that this should serve as an inspiration for the world body to undertake modernisation efforts within the Security Council.
“By doing so, we gave voice to an entire continent that has long been denied its due,” he said.
“Next year, the United Nations will be hosting the summit of the future. This should serve as a serious opportunity to drive change champion fairness and reform multilateralism, including the expansion of the Security Council memberships.”
Using force instead of political solutions will only lead to further chaos, says Reem Al Hashimy
Saudi Arabia reiterates position on Palestine
New Zealand minister breaks out in song
Oman: Dialogue is the key to peace
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi said that peace between nations was secured by negotiation.
''Dialogue is an effective approach to the foreign policy of my country," he said in his speech at the UN General Assembly. He added that that the sultanate’s approach was one that could help to achieve "prosperity, peace, security and dignity" for nations.
He said the Palestinian issue was an injustice that has lasted more than 70 years and denounced the "brutal" Israeli occupation. The two-state solution is the way forward, he added.
Oman is active in initiatives to tackle the effects of climate change and is looking ahead to its participation in Cop28 in the UAE this year, he said. Oman's Vision 2040 would promote sustainable development for the sultanate and internationally, he added.
Saudi Arabia: Stability of region rests on Palestinian solution
Mina Al-Oraibi reports from New York:
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated his country's position on Palestine, saying "the stability of the region rests on a just and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian cause ... and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital".
Prince Faisal delivered his country's speech to the UN General Assembly on Saturday afternoon, coinciding with his kingdom's national day. He stressed that Saudi Vision 2030 focuses on creativity and ensuring "good living for citizens and residents".
He repeated his country's known positions on various Middle East issues, including Yemen. Prince Faisal said his country's "peace initiative" was seeking to end the conflict there.
Prince Faisal said that for Lebanon to be secure, its army must be able to control all of its territory, while on Sudan, he stressed his country's condemnation of the violence.
He said that "the kingdom expresses its openness to continue mediating" between Ukraine and Russia, reminding the audience of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's role in releasing foreign fighters from Ukraine.
He also called for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Like others from Muslim-majority countries who spoke at the podium of the UN General Assembly, Prince Faisal condemned instances of the desecration of the Quran, saying ''these actions increase extremism". He added that "there needs to be further dialogue between different countries to combat terrorism".
Energy transition and oil prices were also included in the Saudi address, as Prince Faisal spoke of the need for energy security, saying "the policies of Opec+ have ensured stability in oil prices".
He also said that Saudi Arabia seeks to ensure climate action, from "green energy to battling water shortages".
Prince Faisal also called on countries to support Saudi Arabia's bid for Expo2030, saying that the Expo would work to "foresee the future of the world ... and which will show the kingdom's commitment to developing countries".
Lavrov blasts US and allies
Egypt calls for debt relief for low and middle-income countries
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told the General Assembly that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals would only be attainable by further "relieving" low and middle-income countries from debt.
Such action would assist with the transition towards a greener economy for these nations, he said.
Mr Shoukry spoke of Egypt’s water scarcity, its lack of rain and dependence on the Nile.
He also discussed the threat posed by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which he said "violates" international law. However, he said Egypt wished to work with Ethiopia on the issue.
He also touched on how the Ukraine war inspired closer relations with regional partners and countries in Africa to maintain peaceful relations.
Mr Shoukry said Cairo was "very concerned" over the current activities of Israel in occupied Palestine and that this put pressure on Egypt’s peace accords with Israel.
He said all foreign forces should withdraw from Libya immediately.
Lavrov: Iran has no intention of seeking nuclear weapons
Adla Massoud reports from New York:
Speaking at a press conference after his address to the General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said nobody wished to witness the emergence of additional nuclear-armed states.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly confirmed that they have no such intention,'' he said.
''Even their faithful leader has issued a relevant fatwa. So we believe that since they won't have the bomb, then Iran's neighbours won't be tempted to take that path.''
Tunisia stands by its process of reform
Tunisia under President Kais Saied will ''continue tirelessly with the process of reform and strengthening good governance and combating corruption", said Mr Ammar.
Lavrov addresses the Middle East
''The Palestinians for more than 70 years now have been awaiting the solemnly made promise to them of having their own state.
"However, the fact that the Americans are monopolising the mediation process means that they're doing everything they can not to allow this.
"We call for a pooling of efforts of all responsible countries to create conditions to resume direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.''
Russia's Lavrov launches attack on western foes
Adla Massoud reports from New York:
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, began his address to the UN with a blistering attack on the US and European nations, accusing them of hypocrisy and of not abiding by international treaties.
''The West is an empire of lies,'' he said.
He accused the West of fuelling conflicts that artificially divide humanity into hostile blocs and hamper the achievement of overall aims.
"They're doing everything they can to prevent the formation of a genuine multipolar world order," he said.
Somalia PM calls for three-decade arms embargo to be lifted
Somalia's Prime Minister has called for an end to an arms embargo that he said has hindered the country's fight against terrorism for more than three decades.
The Security Council imposed the restrictions in 1992 due to the country's civil war and deteriorating humanitarian situation.
"Somalia today has the necessary administrative systems that are strict in controlling the storage of firearms," Hamza Abdi Barre told the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
"Lifting this embargo will allow us to combat terrorism effectively and build a peaceful and prosperous future for our people."
Day 5 of UNGA’s General Debate
The day will include speeches by foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov of Russia, Sameh Shoukry of Egypt, Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed of the UAE and Sayyid Badr Albusaidi of Oman.
Saturday, September 23
Morning: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cape Verde, Somalia, Laos, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Azerbaijan, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand, Armenia, Iceland and Egypt.
Afternoon: Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Belarus, the UAE, Nicaragua, Oman, Belize, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Brunei, Tunisia, Venezuela and Cameroon.
Friday’s highlights
Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani pledges to combat country's "corruption pandemic".
Palestinians should not have a veto on Israel’s treaties with Arab states, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells UNGA.
US to provide $73 million in additional funding to support UNRWA.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Cop28 President-designate, urges countries to come together on loss and damages climate fund.
Niger leaders criticise UN chief for General Assembly snub
The military leaders who overthrew Niger's President have criticised UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, accusing him of obstructing their participation in the General Assembly.
In a news release read on public television, the military called on "the national and international community to witness the perfidious actions of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, which are likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country".
Mr Guterres "went astray in the exercise of his mission by obstructing Niger's full participation in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly", it added.
Global leaders have gathered in New York this week for the annual UN General Assembly.
Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Niger's ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was set to represent Niamey at the gathering.
"Mr Guterres not only refused to take note of the official list of delegates from Niger ... but above all acceded to the fanciful request of the former minister of foreign affairs Hassoumi Massaoudou tending to revoke the permanent representative of Niger to the United Nations", the military statement said.
- AFP