Category: Legal

Riyadh, Representatives of 14 Arab countries have submitted the draft executive plan for the Arab Counter-Terrorism Strategy as developed by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers for consideration.

This came during the seventh two-day meeting of the Arab high committee to prepare the draft, hosted by the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences at its headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The meeting, organized by the Arab Office of Counter-Extremism and Terrorism (Riyadh) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, was chaired by representative of Oman Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed bin Salem Al-Shanfari, and attended by delegations from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Yemen and a representative of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The meeting aimed at reviewing the components of the executive plan, its means of implementation and the accompanying programs and activities with international partners, as well as the mechanisms for measuring, monitoring and evaluating the plan.

Undersecretary of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences for Foreign Relations Khalid Al-Harfash stressed that terrorism tops issues that the university is keen to address with well-studied scientific methods through its scientific programs and activities, given the threats of such crimes and their impacts on international security and stability, noting that the university has adopted a plan to implement the scientific program for stage plans to execute the Arab counter-terrorism strategy that the Arab Interior Ministers Council endorsed in its 14th session.

Al-Harfash said that the university, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has recently inaugurated a specialized center that aims to be a regional center of expertise in combating crime, including terrorism and organized and transnational crimes, expressing hope that the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the representatives of the Arab countries would achieve the goals and objectives of Arab ministers of interior, and contribute to boosting the endeavors of Arab international action in the field of counter-terrorism.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The UAE has strongly condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an extremist in The Hague, Netherlands.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed the UAE’s permanent rejection of all practices aimed at destabilizing security in contravention of human and moral values and principles.

The Ministry stressed the need to respect religious symbols and to avoid incitement and polarization at a time when the world must work together to spread the values of tolerance and coexistence and reject hatred and extremism.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

For the fourth consecutive year, the United Arab Emirates has maintained its position and first place in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). The UAE is considered one of the safest of several countries that take effective measures to combat terrorist and extremist activities, and one of the safest countries in the world with a “very low” risk of the spread of terrorist activities.

The ranking was based on the findings of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which is responsible for the index and publishes its results annually.

The Global Terrorism Index is one of the indicators monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation “MoFAIC”, and its data is supported by the Ministry’s Global Peace and Stability Initiative. Under this initiative, the Index data has been supported by communication from the Ministry with influential international sources such as the United Nations and international organizations, specialized research institutes and centers, and the Institute for Economics and Peace. MOFAIC also provides national reports on the UAE’s efforts to combat terrorism, which illustrate the active role of the Ministry, concerned agencies, and governmental technical committees in the fight against extremism.

The Global Terrorism Index provides a comprehensive summary of the global trends and patterns that have influenced terrorism over the past two decades, based on an analysis of various social and economic conditions and influential geopolitical factors.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted an military camp in Hawadli, north of the Somali capital Mogadishu, which resulted in the death of a number of soldiers.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims of this heinous crime.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

HE Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of State, called for upholding the rule of law and respect for the United Nations Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security at an open debate of the UN Security Council.

The open debate on “The promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: the rule of law among nations” was chaired by Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs HE Yoshimasa Hayashi and included briefings by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, International Court of Justice President Joan Donoghue, and Oxford University Professor of Public International Law Dapo Akande.

“The rule of law plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of an international system that is largely characterized by deep inequalities in power, influence, and opportunity,” HE Al Sayegh said. “The United Nations Charter provides an essential foundation in this regard.”

He added, “But it is only by consistently applying the norms and values enshrined in the Charter, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the use of force, that the rule of law offers the promise of stable peace as the alternative to destabilizing conflict.”

In his remarks, HE Al Sayegh called on Security Council members to strengthen cooperation across three key areas to further uphold and promote the rule of law: committing to consistency in the law’s application, no matter the region or interests involved; committing to the peaceful resolution of disputes; and committing to building practical measures to ensure states’ compliance.

His Excellency also reiterated the UAE’s commitment to the rule of law.

HE Al Sayegh met with HE Yoshimasa Hayashi and with HE Juan Carlos Holguín, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador. He also met with Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman, on the anniversary of his accession to power.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, dispatched a similar message to Sultan Haitham on the occasion.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

The UAE expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Republic of Senegal over the victims of a two-bus collision that occurred in the center of the country, resulting in the death and injury of dozens of people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) expressed its sincere condolences to the Republic of Senegal and its people and to the families of the victims of this tragedy, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation

Paris, France forward Kylian Mbappé has come out in support of Zinedine Zidane after the country’s football federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet said he would not pick up the phone if the former midfielder called him to discuss coaching the national team.

The FFF had announced head coach Didier Deschamps’s contract extension on Saturday after he led France to a second consecutive World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina on penalties in Qatar last month. Zidane had previously been a favourite to succeed Deschamps, Reuters reports.

When asked if Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a national icon, would now manage the Brazilian national team instead, Le Graet told RMC: “I don’t give a damn, he can go wherever he wants.

“I know very well that Zidane was always on the radar. He had a lot of supporters, some were waiting for Deschamps’s departure… But who can make serious reproaches to Deschamps? Nobody.

“He (Zidane) does what he wants; it’s none of my business. I’ve never met him, we’ve never considered parting with Didier. He can go where he wants, to a club… If Zidane tried to contact me? Certainly not, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone.”

Zidane was the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row when he was in charge of Real Madrid.

The 50-year-old, who also won the 2000 European Championship with France in a glittering career, is currently without a job after he left his role with the Spanish club last year.

“Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that,” Mbappé said on Twitter after Le Graet’s interview was aired.

Le Graet’s dismissal of Zidane as a potential successor to Deschamps comes two years after he had backed the former midfielder to take up the reins if he was available.

France’s Minister for Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera was one of many politicians who reacted to Le Graet’s comments, saying the president of the country’s “biggest sporting federation” had crossed a line.

“Yet more out-of-touch comments and on top of that a shameful lack of respect, which hurts us all, towards a legend of football and sport,” she wrote on Twitter.

French politician Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade also demanded an apology from Le Graet, saying on Twitter: “Zidane is a monument of French football and sport. A personality loved by all French people… Our football deserves better than that.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Riyadh, The Riyadh Summit for Cooperation and Development between the GCC and the People’s Republic of China has issued the following statement:

Based on the gracious invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the People’s Republic of China held their meeting today in Riyadh on December 9, 2022, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and the participation of:

His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi

Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

King of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said

Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.

His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Emir of the State of Qatar.

His Highness Shaikh Mishaal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah

Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait.

His Excellency Dr Nayef Falah M. Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The meeting issued the following:

1. The leaders agreed to strengthen the existing strategic partnership between the GCC and China, and emphasised pushing it towards new horizons in various political, economic and cultural fields, and approved the joint action plan for the coming period (2023-2027) to achieve this.

2. The leaders directed the continuation of the strategic dialogue between the two sides at all levels to discuss issues of common concern and coordinate positions on them, support international economic recovery efforts, address the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges, work to ensure flexibility of supply chains, security of food and energy supplies, and advance building cooperation relations in developing clean energy sources and technologies, assisting countries most in need and contributing to meeting their humanitarian needs.

3. The leaders emphasised the importance of mutual support in order to achieve the common interests of both sides, as China supports the efforts of the GCC states to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain its security and stability, and achieve integrated development. The GCC states also support China’s efforts to develop its economy, maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and adhere to the one-China principle.

4. The leaders stressed the importance of continuing to deepen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of energy, trade, investment, finance, industry, advanced technology, space and health, in the common interest of both sides, including completing free trade negotiations between them as soon as possible.

5. The leaders expressed their keenness to promote dialogue between civilisations, communication and mutual benefit between different cultures, and to preserve cultural diversity. They emphasised that tolerance and coexistence between nations and peoples are among the most important principles and values upon which the international community is based. They encouraged communication and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of culture, education, tourism, media and sports, friendly exchange between intellectual institutions and rapprochement between peoples.

6. The leaders praised the State of Qatar’s success in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, its good organisation, and its positive effects on the human heritage and the cultural and intellectual rapprochement between the peoples of the world. The leaders also denounced the malicious media campaigns directed against the State of Qatar. They welcomed the State of Qatar’s hosting of the meetings of the second part of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), FROM March 5, 2023, to March 9, 2023, at the level of heads of state and government.

7. The leaders expressed their condemnation of terrorism, whatever its source, and their rejection of all its forms and manifestations, and work to dry up its sources of financing, and expressed their determination to strengthen regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, and to prevent financing, arming, and recruitment of terrorist groups of all individuals and entities, and to confront all activities that threaten the security of the region and its stability.

8. The leaders discussed regional and international issues, where visions agreed on the importance of concerted efforts to achieve peace, security, stability and prosperity in all parts of the world, and the priority of restoring international peace and security, through mutual respect and cooperation between countries to achieve development and progress, and adherence to the principles of international law and international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and good neighbourliness, preserving the international order based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and non-use or threat of force.

9. The leaders stressed the need to support the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the GCC region, and ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, in order to preserve regional and international security and stability. They reaffirmed the call on Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

10. The two sides stressed the need for relations between the GCC states and Iran to be based on following the principle of good neighbourliness and non-interference in internal affairs, respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and not resorting to the use of force or threatening to use it, and maintaining regional and international security and stability.

11. The leaders stressed the importance of a comprehensive dialogue with the participation of the countries of the region to address the Iranian nuclear file and destabilising regional activities, address support for terrorist and sectarian groups and illegal armed organisations, prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, ensure the safety of international navigation and oil installations, and adhere to UN resolutions and international legitimacy.

12. The leaders affirmed their support for all peaceful efforts, including the initiative and endeavours of the United Arab Emirates to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands; Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law, and to resolve this issue in accordance with international legitimacy.

13. The leaders called on the Republic of Iraq to respect the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and the sanctity of its lands and to abide by Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 833 and the agreements concluded between the two countries and deposited with the United Nations. The leaders also called on the Republic of Iraq to complete the demarcation of the maritime borders with the State of Kuwait.

14. The leaders stressed the need to reach a just solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of the two-state solution, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, stopping settlement and all unilateral measures, and respecting the historical status quo in the city of Jerusalem and its sanctities.

15. The leaders affirmed their support for the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, headed by His Excellency President Dr Rashad Al Alimi, expressing their hope to reach a political solution in accordance with the GCC initiative and its Executive Mechanism, the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue Conference (NDC) and the Security Council resolution 2216. They called on all Yemeni parties to immediately initiate direct negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations, and to adhere to the continuation of the armistice, and to support the humanitarian, relief and development needs of the Yemeni people, and the leaders condemned all terrorist attacks launched by the Houthi militia on civilian targets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Yemeni interior and in the waterways and international shipping routes, and called on all countries to cooperate in combating these acts and to abide by the arms embargo stipulated in Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2624.

16. The leaders affirmed their full support for Iraq’s sovereignty, security, stability, development and prosperity, and for its efforts in combating terrorism. They also stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves Syria’s unity and sovereignty in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254, and their standing with the Lebanese people and their continued support for Lebanon’s sovereignty. security and stability, and for the Lebanese Armed Forces to protect its borders and resist the threats of extremist and terrorist groups. They also affirmed their support for efforts seeking to resolve the Libyan crisis in accordance with Security Council resolutions, encouraging all Libyan parties to hold elections, unify state institutions, under the supervision of the United Nations, and the exit of all foreign fighters and mercenaries.

17. The leaders stressed the importance of strengthening security and stability in Afghanistan, intensifying efforts in providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, and calling on the de facto authority in Afghanistan to implement its obligations to guarantee the basic rights, interests and freedoms of all Afghan people, to form an inclusive government, and to ensure that Afghan lands are not used by any terrorist groups, or the exploitation of Afghan territory to export narcotics.

18. The leaders affirmed their positions in support of all international efforts aimed at finding a political solution to end the crisis in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in order to achieve protection of lives and property, and to preserve regional and international security and stability.

Issued in Riyadh on December 9, 2022.”

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) held its ninth meeting at the Presidential Court, headed by His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President and Chairman of the NHRC.

The meeting was held in the presence of NHRC members representing various authorities in the country. Committee members discussed the preparatory process for the UAE’s fourth national report on the Universal Periodic Review of human rights.

His Excellency was briefed on the work of the National Human Rights Committee’s executive working groups to follow up on the preparation of the national report. Participants also discussed the outputs of a workshop organized by the NHRC in cooperation with the Universal Periodic Review Branch to prepare the fourth national report.

In this regard, His Excellency stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with the Universal Periodic Review Branch and benefiting from the technical support it provides to UN Member States.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation