Emirati int'l cooperation minister, UN deputy secretary general discuss joint efforts, humanitarian response

ABU DHABI, 12th October 2015 (WAM) --- Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development of the United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, reiterated the UAE's interest in building and strengthening partnerships with international organizations and institutions in the areas of development and humanitarian assistance. She was speaking at a meeting with Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, in which they discussed the joint efforts of the UAE and UN iresponse to the humanitarian crises in Syria, Yemen, and Palestine, as well as the UAE’s achievements in this field. Sheikha Lubna, who also chairs the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, noted that building international partnerships has positive impact on humanitarian and development work through integration of expertise and resources to support the capacities of developing countries and communities suffering political crises and conflicts. Al Qasimi commended the United Nations' support for the international community's humanitarian efforts to provide protectoin for those affected by conflicts and natural disasters. "The UAE seeks to enhance partnerships with UN committees and commissions through international development, the provision of humanitarian aid, exchanging expertise, and supporting efforts in all relief areas," Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi said. For his part, Jan Eliasson praised the UAE for being a major contributor of humanitarian aid for various communities and countries, Syria and Yemen in particular. Eliasson said the UAE plays an active role in achieving the sustainable development, and noted that its recent active participation in the meetings of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which concluded in New York last week. The UN senior official also emphasised that the United Nations institutions and commissions are interested in strengthening their partnership with the UAE and enhance prospects for further future cooperation. Hazza Mohammed Falah Al Qahtani, Under Secretary of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Under Secretary for International Development at the ministry, and Najla Al Kaabi, Assistant Under Secretary for International Cooperation at the ministry, attended the meeting. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395286574914.html