Abu Dhabi: Ms. Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, participated in an insightful discussion at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), the leading diplomatic training and preparation facility in the UAE for present and future diplomats.
The discussion looked back on the progress made during the UAE’s first year on the United Nations Security Council. The discussion, which was moderated by Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Director General of AGDA, was also attended by members of the diplomatic community, ambassadors, foreign policy experts, academics, and AGDA’s students.
The interactive conversation reaffirmed that the UAE continues to work collaboratively with other member states to ensure that the body effectively addresses current and future challenges. It highlighted the UAE’s active and crucial role in efforts concerning climate change, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, international law, and peacekeeping.
Ambassador Ms. Nusseibeh shed light on the pivotal moments that took place at the Council over the past year. The Assistant Minister also provided in-depth insights based on her experience on the Council, which plays a crucial role in overseeing peacekeeping operations.
Ms. Nusseibeh remarked that, “During the UAE’s first year on the UN Security Council, we consistently articulated our vision that an open, cooperative, and inclusive world order is more indispensable today than ever before. Differing national perspectives are precisely why we need the multilateral system: to bring countries together, ensure we are talking with one another, and find ways to peacefully address important global issues.”
“Our term on the Security Council is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our diplomats and our foreign ministry. Its legacy will be not only the resolutions that we adopt, but the class of Emirati diplomats, many of them trained by AGDA, who will go on to do great things on our country’s behalf,” Ms. Nusseibeh further added.
The Security Council is composed of five permanent members China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States and ten members, including the UAE, that is elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions on member states.
Founded in 2014, AGDA has been committed to providing future diplomats, and foreign policy leaders with theoretical and practical expertise in the field of diplomacy, as well as the necessary guidance that allows them to explore regional and global challenges and work on consolidating the country’s position, all while strengthening its diplomatic presence on the international scene.