On Tuesday, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, voiced his deep concern regarding Turkey’s military interference in Libya. Turkish action in Libya is perceived to be part of regional interferences in Arab affairs that have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, undermined efforts to reach a peaceful solution and destabilised North Africa, the Sahel and the Middle East.
These remarks came during a virtual address to the UN General Assembly, where the minister raised concerns over the impact on regional stability of Turkey’s actions in Libya and called for an immediate ceasefire.
He also called for UN-led political solutions to tackle the threat posed by Turkey in a number of Arab countries, notably Libya and Syria.
The UAE top diplomat confirmed that solving crises, especially in the Arab region, requires taking a unified international position; a position that rejects the violation of the sovereignty of states and interference in their internal affairs; a position that seeks UN-led political solutions and addresses threats posed by terrorist groups such as the Houthis, ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.
“In this context, the United Arab Emirates reiterates its support for the Secretary General’s appeal for a global ceasefire,” the minister said.
The minister also warned that some conflicts are becoming dangerously radicalised and highlighted the growing influence of extremist groups. “Threats of cyberwar are rising and the use of sophisticated weapons to attack strategic areas is increasing,” he said, adding that, “despite these mounting global threats, the UAE believes that we can transform unprecedented challenges into great opportunities.”
He called for co-ordinated action to provide humanitarian and economic assistance to states affected by conflicts, such as Libya, or other issues such as climate change and the pandemic. The UAE has been at the forefront of the global pandemic response, providing assistance to international institutions and sending aid to communities around the world, he continued.