Abdullah and UN chief discuss urgent regional issues

New York, Sept 23, 2012 (WAM) - Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, met on Saturday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters in New York where they exchanged views on urgent regional issues. They discussed the Middle East peace process, the Palestinian issue, the crisis in Syria, the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common concern that are on the international organisation’s agenda. Sheikh Abdullah reiterated the UAE’s support to the Palestinian cause which calls for the UN to enhance its role in finding a permanent, quick and just solution including putting further pressure on Israel to immediately halt its illegitimate colonisation activities on Palestinian territories and to withdraw from all Palestinian and Arab territories it occupied in 1967. On the Iranian nuclear issue, the two sides agreed on the need for Iran to comply with the relevant resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council. Sheikh Abdullah expressed to Ban the UAE’s support to the UN’s efforts including the mission of the United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, to stop violence and find a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the crisis in accordance with the aspirations of the Syrian people. Sheikh Abdullah pledged that the government of the UAE would continue to provide generous humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees. For his part, the UN Secretary General hailed the UAE’s humanitarian contribution. He expressed to Sheikh Abdullah the UN’s appreciation of the UAE’s efforts and significant humanitarian role in backing the efforts of the international organisation and the international community, including humanitarian efforts. Ban expressed hope that the UAE would continue its role and contribution, and, in particular, its support to the United Nation’s humanitarian plans and programmes for disaster-hit regions including assistance to the Horn of Africa. – Emirates News Agency, WAM