New York (Union)
The United Arab Emirates has affirmed that achieving peace and stability in Mali requires focusing efforts on addressing the root causes of violence and extremism, stressing the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to confronting the threats of ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorist organizations.
The UAE said in a statement delivered by Amira Al-Hafeti, the country’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations during a session of the UN Security Council, yesterday, that getting out of the cycle of challenges afflicting the state of Mali requires a comprehensive approach and attention to all political, security, humanitarian and development tracks, with the need for the Council to continue Security expressed its support for these efforts, including the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
She said, “We hope that the Security Council will speak with one voice, serving the interest of the Malian people, taking into account the regional views on this issue.”
She added, “There is no doubt that enabling peacekeeping missions to carry out their mandate effectively requires continued cooperation between them and the host countries, and the council must continue to focus on the issue of enabling peacekeeping forces to perform their tasks safely.” The UAE statement expressed its aspiration for the Department of Peace Operations to issue its joint study of the capabilities of the military and police forces, which will enhance the Council’s discussions on the future of the MINUSMA mission.
The statement touched on three aspects, including the need for the success of the political process due to the importance of this in rebuilding state institutions. “It is necessary to continue making progress in the transitional period, especially the arrangements for holding elections next year and the relevant constitutional steps,” she said.
She emphasized that dialogue at the national and regional levels, including with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union, is an essential pillar for building on the gains made in the political process, which requires continued support from the international community.
With regard to the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, she said, “We hope that the international mediation efforts will help the signatories to communicate constructively with each other to address outstanding issues and enable them to overcome the obstacles facing the implementation of the agreement.” And she added, “Addressing security challenges in Mali requires adopting approaches that are in line with its complex nature, especially those that cross borders, most notably the threats posed by terrorist groups, such as ISIS in the Greater Sahara and groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda, to the security and stability of Mali and the region, through their spread of extremism and violence.”
She added, “Here, the value of regional and subregional cooperation to address such grave threats emerges, and we see that the region’s initiatives and efforts of its leaders to enhance coordination and cooperation in the Sahel region are encouraging steps, and it is important to welcome and support them.”
The statement affirmed the UAE’s support for regional initiatives that reflect the commitment of the countries of the region to continue working towards achieving their common goals in a way that enhances collective security.
She said: “Achieving peace and stability in Mali in the long term requires that we focus our efforts on addressing the root causes of violence and extremism, ensuring that it is appropriate to local contexts in Mali, and responsive to the needs of societies, with the need to involve the entire community, including religious leaders, women and youth, in initiatives that aim to spread Values of tolerance and moderation. She noted the need to support development and humanitarian programs in Mali to achieve security and development, immunize civilians from extremist ideology, and provide opportunities for prosperity.
At the end of the statement, the UAE stressed the importance of paying special attention to the humanitarian crisis in Mali due to violence, food insecurity and climate change, noting that there are 9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
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