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International
Relations
Introduction
The UAE's foreign policy is based
on the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations and the
Charter of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Unity within
the Arab world has been a consistent theme of foreign policy. The country
is one of six members of the Gulf Co-operation Council, GCC, which is
supporting the UAE in its efforts to resolve the dispute caused by Iran's
occupation in 1971 of the three UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and
Lesser Tunb. Close ties are maintained with countries throughout the
Middle East and Asia, as well as with western nations, both on a political
and a commercial level. The UAE is a major donor of international
development aid and relief assistance, over 50 countries having received
help. It is also an active supporter of international peace-keeping
operations. It was a participant in the coalition to liberate Kuwait in
1991 and in United Nations operations in Somalia and is currently
participating in the KFOR peace-keeping force in Kosovo.
During the course of
the past year, the United Arab Emirates has continued the
process that began with its establishment 27 years ago of
steadily but quietly working in co-operation with its
friends to achieve a better world. The basic guidelines of
foreign policy, still followed today, first began clearly to
emerge in the mid-1960s, when Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan became the Ruler of the largest emirate, Abu Dhabi,
not long after its commencement of oil exports gave it both
the need to extend its international ties and also the
economic weight to play a regional and then an international
role.
Those guidelines,
like those of many other small states in the community
of nations, are based upon the principles enunciated in the
Charter of the United Nations, notably those of
non-interference in the internal affairs of others, respect
for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, as
well as inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by
force.
Some of the
basic foci of policy have been constant through the years.
In particular, from the earliest days of the state, the UAE
has upheld a desire for close relations with its neighbors and Arab sister states, with particular emphasis on those in
the Arabian
peninsula.
Thus the
Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), formally established at a
summit meeting in Abu Dhabi in 1981, is a central component
of UAE foreign policy, especially its continuous efforts to
encourage regional stability. 'We in the Arabian Gulf are
one family', according to Sheikh Zayed who, in a speech to
the eighteenth GCC summit, noted that the GCC was capable of
achieving the aspirations of its people in all fields,
stressing the UAE's belief in GCC unity as the means to
secure the widest possible
co-operation.
Within
the broader framework of the quest for Arab solidarity,
Sheikh Zayed remarked: 'The GCC's weight and position in the
Arab and Muslim nation requires further efforts from the
Council to support current drives which seek to serve the
nation's causes, unifying its ranks and patching up its
differences'.
Reconciliation,
tolerance and solidarity within the Arab world are a
constant theme of Sheikh Zayed's speeches. He has directed
his personal efforts and UAE resources towards the goal of
harmony and entente between Arabs and has constantly urged
dialogue to eradicate differences. Participation in and
support for the Arab League has been a central feature of
these efforts.
Based on
the guiding principles of faithfulness to the UN Charter and
the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), unity of Arab purpose as well as peaceful
co-existence, the UAE has continued over the past year to
play a positive role as a significant influence for
rapprochement and peace, as a firm voice for justice and
human rights, and as a generous aid donor.
Diplomatic
relations
The UAE has
diplomatic relations with 143 countries and hosts 62
embassies, compared to three in 1971, in addition to 29
non-resident embassies and 37 consulates in Dubai. The UAE
has 40 embassies abroad, five consulates and two Permanent
Missions in New York and Geneva.
Aid
An important part of
UAE foreign policy has been the practical assistance it has
proffered to developing countries. The Abu Dhabi Fund for
Development (ADFD) was established in July 1971 on the
directives of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa with the aim
of providing loans, grants and technical aid on easy terms
to Arab, Muslim and other developing countries, in order to
enable them to carry out their development plans. The Fund
has provided loans, grants and technical aid for the
implementation of a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including agricultural, industrial, transport,
rural development, housing, water, electricity, road, port,
dam and tourism projects. The Fund also manages loans and
grants provided by the Abu Dhabi government to different
Arab and other
countries.
The Zayed
Fund for Humanitarian and Philanthropic Projects, which was
established in 1992 with a capital of Dh 3.761 million, has
also financed numerous projects worldwide.
Economic
aid
Sheikh
Zayed's support for the Palestinian cause is not confined to
the political arena. One of his many areas of assistance on
the economic front has been a proposal to establish Zayed
City in Gaza, designed to provide housing units and other
basic services to the Palestinians in the area. The
3,600-apartment project, to be built on an area of 400
donums at a total cost of $160 million, will include all
necessary services, schools, hospitals, sports facilities,
police and civil defence centers, as well as advanced
infrastructure. The project will also contribute to solving
unemployment arising from Israeli policies and will help to
counter Israel's expansionist practices.
Arab
unity
Sheikh
Zayed's speech to a high-level, three-day symposium on the
future of the Arab world and the role of the Arab League,
held in Abu Dhabi in November 1997, began with a call for
unity. He stressed that division was a source of strength
for the enemies of Arab countries and that the time was
right for a harmonious, balanced and sensible look into the
future of the Arab world. The present age, he said, requires
that Arab states work together to meet political, economic,
cultural and technical challenges. Sheikh Zayed also
highlighted a number of important issues with related
international and regional dimensions which needed to be
addressed within the Arab world; these included
environmental protection, limiting weapons of mass
destruction, prevention of terrorism, and strengthening the
UN role to safeguard international peace and
stability.
In June
1998, Sheikh Zayed expressed the opinion that an Arab summit
should be held regularly every year in order to promote
cohesion and solidarity. He stressed that everything needed
regular maintenance, whether it was a vehicle, a house or a
ship, as all things were prone to wear and
tear:
The Arab world comprises 22 countries
which need annual maintenance. Our meetings should not be
held only when the need arises or in the case of emergency
in order to safeguard our nation and its future. If the Arab
house is well protected and is in order, no enemy can have
the courage to exploit the divisions and differences between
us. Though we co-operate with and share interests with
foreign powers, who support us today, we do not know for how
long such support will last. Therefore, it is incumbent on
Arab brothers to get closer and more united and support each
other.
Terrorism
The
UAE absolutely condemns all forms of terrorism and has
consistently pointed out that the targeting of innocent
civilians is in contravention not only of human rights but
of Islamic values.
It
is fully supportive of the Algerian people in their struggle
to stem the massacres that are being committed in their
country and has offered its assistance to stamp out the
horrific and unprecedented crimes being perpetrated there.
In this context the UAE has called on Arab countries and the
international community to act effectively in support of the
Algerian government, so that terrorism in that country in
all its manifestations can be eradicated. 'We hope that
there will be a positive response from the Arab countries to
this call,' Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh
Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared, 'so that the people of
Algeria may feel that their fellow Arab have not forgotten
them and are with them in both good times and bad. We, as
Arabs, should be partners in times of adversity as well as
in the good times,' he
concluded.
Sheikh Zayed
and other members of the UAE government also condemned the
horrific crimes committed by terrorists in Egypt, Kenya and
Tanzania during the past year, at the same time deploring
the US reaction in launching military strikes against Sudan
and Afghanistan. Attending the first Arab Anti-Terrorism
Conference, held at the end of August in Tunisia under the
patronage of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, the UAE
stressed the importance of enhancing security, stability and
co-operation with other GCC states, Arab and Islamic
countries in order to fight all forms of violence and
terrorism. The conference called for joint meetings with
other Arab League committees to strengthen co-operation in
fighting terrorism.
The
UAE also re-stated its belief, in line with other GCC
states, that the only way to uproot terrorism and confront
terrorists and those backing them is through 'international
action agreed upon within the framework of the United
Nations'.
Kosovo
Following the
escalation of hostilities in Kosovo in March of 1998, the
UAE called upon the international community to move quickly
to prevent a deterioration in the dangerous situation.
Urging the international community to end the violence
against civilians in order to avoid the occurrence of
another Bosnia, the UAE expressed its deep concern over the
tragic events which had unfolded in the province. It warned
that the outcome of hostilities could be much worse than
that which had taken place in Bosnia-Herzegovina, posing the
threat of civil wars that could cover the whole Balkan
region and neighboring countries. The UAE called upon the
international community to take a decisive position by
finding a peaceful solution that leads to stability in the
Kosovo province and puts an end to the flagrant violation of
human rights against Kosovo civilians by Serbs.
Africa
Addressing the final
session of the UN Security Council on Africa, the UAE's
Permanent Representative at the UN said the UAE would like
to see the international community back regional and
international efforts to develop African resources. This
would enable the African people to introduce reforms, in
order that they might effectively participate in the world
economy.
The UAE
expressed its support for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's
report on Africa and stressed the importance of implementing
its recommendations, in order to avert the increasing crises
and problems faced by Africa. On the instructions of Sheikh
Zayed, the UAE has extended humanitarian and development
assistance to African countries, and granted soft loans to,
and waived the debts of, a number of impoverished African
states.
International
Criminal Court
The UAE, calling upon
the world community to exert greater efforts both regionally
and internationally to find peaceful solutions to the
conflicts currently raging in various parts of the world,
stresses the importance of establishing an independent
international criminal court to foster peace and security,
and contribute to the achievement of justice and equality,
in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. It
is hoped that the establishment of the court, under the
terms of the International Criminal Court Treaty, will
protect mankind by enabling the arrest and prosecution of
violators of human rights and humanitarian law. The UAE also
urges that the crime of aggression should be clearly
defined, taking into consideration relevant UN resolutions
and the rulings of the ICJ.
The UAE supported
restriction of the court's jurisdiction to prosecution of
crimes committed in a state which had ratified the ICC
treaty, or where the state of nationality of the accused has
ratified the treaty, unless the non-signatory state makes a
specific request, or there is a Security Council resolution
demanding the lodging of a complaint. In any event, the UAE
will co-operate with the court in good faith, without
endangering its own safety or national
security.
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