KAMPALA: Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, opened the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in the capital of Uganda, Kampala, entitled: ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence’. The summit was held on January 19th and 20th, 2024, and attended by heads of states and state member representatives.
Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State, headed the UAE delegation to the summit, where he presented a speech on behalf of the country. During the speech, he highlighted the UAE’s commitment to the primary principles of the Non-Aligned Movement as well as the fundamental principles established by the late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and consolidated by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which urge collaboration and the integration of endeavours to address the challenge of regional crises by mitigating tensions and championing diplomacy and dialogue as the optimal path to establish trust and resolve conflicts.
Almarar stated: ‘The UAE affirms its
commitment to the primary principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, working to reinforce common interests, cooperation, and solidarity to address all repercussions and crises faced by countries of the movement.”
He affirmed the UAE’s commitment to the principles and vision of the movement, and to reinforcing multilateralism and cooperation to confront challenges and achieve common goals based on the principles of international law, as well as the objectives of the UN Charter, in addition to the friendly relations between countries, and resolving conflicts in peaceful ways. In addition, the minister underscored the UAE’s commitment to consolidating a culture of peace, refraining from the use of force and interference in countries’ internal affairs, respecting countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, and resolving disputes peacefully according to the UN charter and international law.
According to these principles, Almarar emphasised the UAE’s unwavering and steadfast position o
n the issue of the three Emirati islands occupied by Iran, which demonstrates support for peaceful efforts and initiatives that aim to resolve the issue through bilateral negotiations or accepting to refer the case to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the principles and rules of international law.
Moreover, the minister addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the UAE’s priority is to work towards reaching a ceasefire, safeguarding the lives of civilians, providing sufficient and sustainable relief and medical aid, and to avoid a regional spillover that would threaten security and stability in the region. In this regard, Almarar reviewed the UAE’s endeavours within the ‘Gallant Knight 3’ initiative, and the substantial and continuous relief sent to civilians in the Gaza Strip, as well as the diplomatic efforts and calls since the outbreak of the crisis in the Strip, that seek to halt escalation, reach a cease-fire, restore peace, and prevent further loss of life. He reite
rated the UAE’s successful efforts during its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council in adopting resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023).
With regards to developments in Sudan, he emphasised that diplomatic action has always been, and continues to be, aligned with efforts to call for restraint, de-escalation, and action to end the conflict.
Furthermore, Almarar referred to the UAE’s successful hosting of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), where the historic ‘UAE Consensus’ was adopted, which included an unprecedented declaration to address the repercussions of climate change, in addition to the announcement of a special fund with the value of US$30 billion for climate solutions worldwide to bridge the financing gap. The event also delivered a historic negotiated outcome to operationalize Loss and Damage with a contribution exceeding USD 550 million, and supported the health sector across the African continent w
ith a fund with the value of USD 220 million, in addition to concluding important agreements that aim to contribute to be advancing climate action.
Source: Emirates News Agency
Tunisia: The Libyan Audit Bureau, in cooperation with the United States Agency for Development (USAID), organized today, Saturday in Tunis, a meeting with the head of the Bureau, ‘Khaled Shakshak,’ the Undersecretary of the Bureau, ‘Alaa Al-Masalati,’ the Regional Director of the United States Agency for Development, ‘John Cardnes,’ and the Director of the Growth Office, the economist at the United States Agency for Development, Marika Olsen, the director of the public finance management program in Libya, Nael Shabaro, directors of public departments and offices, and a number of department heads in the office.
A source from the Audit Bureau told the Libyan News Agency (LANA), that the meeting comes to follow up on the Bureau’s partnership with the US Agency for Development, which resulted in the Bureau’s capacity building project, implemented within the Public Money Management Program in Libya, and to review the completed projects, in addition to the areas that will be worked on during this year.
The Direct
or of the Public Finance Management Program in Libya, Nael Shabaro, explained that this consultative meeting, which will last for two days, is the culmination of a two-year partnership with the Bureau. A large part of the vision adopted by the Bureau has been accomplished in order to fully achieve the fulfillment of INTOSAI’s requirements, indicating that the agency is continuing with The Bureau is committed to achieving its full vision and developing it into a modern institution to be emulated by.
In his speech during the meeting, Khaled Shakshak appreciated the development effort implemented by the American agency, stressing the Bureau’s keenness to continue this partnership, to include the largest possible number of areas targeted for development, to achieve the Bureau’s vision of being a model institution for other state institutions to emulate.
He stressed the need for the young members of the Audit Bureau to benefit from the development programs implemented by the agency, to enable them to practice ov
ersight work efficiently.
In turn, USAID Regional Director, John Cardnes, affirmed the agency’s commitment to developing programs and mechanisms that contribute to increasing the Bureau’s efficiency and enhancing its independence.
Member of the project management team at the Bureau, Tariq Al-Aidoudi, reviewed the areas targeted for development by the agency, namely developing control methodologies, strategic planning, human resources systems, digital transformation, and governance.
Source: Libyan News Agency
