Starting today, Thursday, the United Arab Emirates has assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council in New York. Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, will chair the council's first session this month, during which members will review the proposed work plan for the current month to be adopted by consensus.
Following this session, Nusseibeh, along with Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Deputy Permanent Representative, and Ms. Ghisak Shaheen, Political Coordinator of the UAE Mission to the UN, will hold a press conference regarding the work program adopted by the council members.
They will inform accredited international media representatives at the UN about the details of the council's work program, the UAE's priorities during its presidency, and the general discussions to be held throughout the month, initiated by the UAE delegation, alongside other major political issues on the council's agenda this month.
The UAE will initiate discussions on key topics within the framework of international peace and security, starting with an official open general discussion on June 8, chaired by Khalifa Shaheen. Participants will include Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs at the UN.
This session will discuss cooperation between the UN and the Arab League, including assessing progress made in this area and ways to expand and institutionalize cooperation on shared interests.
The second session will be held on June 13 and will address the "Impact of Climate Change on International Peace and Security," as part of the council's agenda item on "Threats to International Peace and Security." Participants will include Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, a member of the Global High-Level Group "The Elders," and a representative from civil society.
The third session is scheduled for June 14 and will tackle the topic of "Human Brotherhood Values in Promoting and Sustaining Peace," under the agenda item "Preserving International Peace and Security." Participants will include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar, and a senior representative from the Vatican.
Discussions in the third session will focus on raising awareness of the pivotal role that human brotherhood values can play in promoting and sustaining peace and preventing intolerance and extremism. This is based on the "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together," signed by Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb in February 2019, as well as UN General Assembly resolution "75/200 (2020)," which recognized that "tolerance, traditions, pluralism, mutual respect, and diversity of religions and beliefs" enhance human brotherhood.
