Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, welcomed the Security Council's adoption of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This included several key proposals put forward by the UAE, as reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Ambassador Nusseibeh confirmed that "the UAE's primary priority during the negotiations preceding the decision focused on enhancing the Council's support for UNIFIL's efforts in maintaining calm and stability in southern Lebanon and the region as a whole." The UAE proposed "adding language to the resolution that reinforces UNIFIL's operational independence and emphasizes the Lebanese government's responsibility to facilitate the force's movement to all sites of interest in all operational areas without obstacles."
Furthermore, "we succeeded in including a specific mention for the first time regarding the necessity for UNIFIL's access to unauthorized firing ranges, while also maintaining last year's language on the need to not restrict or hinder the 'declared and undeclared patrols' of UN peacekeeping forces."
Nevertheless, "Ambassador Nusseibeh highlighted the UAE's disappointment regarding the unwarranted removal of the unconditional reference to the Israeli occupation of the Lebanese village of Ghajar." She concluded her statement by reaffirming that "the UAE will continue to fulfill its role, placing the interest of the Lebanese people and the region as a whole above any other considerations."
