Delivered by Mr. Basil Al-Mashharawi, Diplomatic Attaché
New York, October 10, 2025
Mr. President,
Out the outset, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election and your assumption of the Chairmanship of the Fourth Committee for this session, wishing you all success and looking forward to achieving our shared aspirations. I also extend my thanks and appreciation to the previous Chair of the Committee for her valuable efforts during the previous session.
We affirm our support to the Fourth Committee and reiterate our commitment to actively engaging with other delegations to advance the important items assigned to this Committee. Recognizing the vital role the Committee plays in addressing outstanding issues related to decolonization, you can count on the UAE’s full support. My country has long advocated for the full implementation of the principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of the right of peoples to self-determination.
The UAE also aligns itself with the statement delivered by the State of Kuwait on behalf of the Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Mr. President,
The issues raised by this Committee are of great importance, particularly for our region, given their coverage of the Palestinian question and the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, which require attention and solutions.
In this context, the UAE affirms its steadfast and unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, most notably their right to self-determination, and renews its call for the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security, on the basis of the two-state solution.
My country has welcomed the General Assembly’s overwhelming adoption of the “New York Declaration” emanating from the Two-State Solution Conference, which constitutes a clear and binding roadmap towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state through concrete and time-bound steps. We call for action to implement the provisions of this declaration leading the way for a sustainable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The momentum we have witnessed during the International Conference on the Two-State Solution, and the growing recognition of the State of Palestine have all reflected an international consensus on the two-state solution as the only viable option to end this conflict. We therefore call on other countries to invest in the path to peace and stability in the region.
Mr. President,
The UAE affirms its commitment as a constructive partner in any serious international effort to end the war and achieve comprehensive peace, believing that constructive dialogue and effective diplomacy are the only way to reach sustainable solutions that put an end to human suffering and achieve security and prosperity in the region.
In this regard, the UAE welcomed President Trump’s proposal to end the war in Gaza as well as his announcement that he would not allow the annexation of the West Bank. We also welcomed his announcement that an agreement had been reached on the first phase of a ceasefire framework in Gaza, stressing our appreciation for his efforts to support this process and push the parties toward an urgent understanding to end the tragic war. We are ready to cooperate positively with the United States and other stakeholders to implement the terms of a comprehensive agreement that guarantees a sustainable ceasefire, addresses the critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, ensures Israel’s complete withdrawal, and paves the way for a just peace based on the two-state solution.
My country commends the efforts of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Turkey in facilitating this agreement. We also emphasize the importance of all parties committing to the agreement and working to resume a comprehensive political process that will lead to a two-state solution and achieve security, peace, and prosperity for the peoples of the region.
Mr. President,
As part of the items under discussion today, we cannot fail to reiterate our full support for the Kingdom of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara, while endorsing the initiative for autonomy within the framework of Moroccan territorial integrity, which is consistent with international law, the United Nations Charter, and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.
My country also supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, aimed at finding a permanent solution. We also emphasize the important role of MINURSO in monitoring the ceasefire.
We commend the development model launched by the Kingdom of Morocco to improve the living standards of the population of the Moroccan Sahara, which has contributed to raising human development indicators in the region.
Mr. President,
The UAE reiterates its unstinting commitment to the principles of international law, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and non-interference in their internal affairs.
Based on this steadfast approach, the UAE affirms its full sovereign right over its three occupied islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which are an integral part of the UAE’s territory. We reiterate our demands that Iran end its occupation of these islands and respond to our repeated calls to resolve this dispute through direct negotiations or by resorting to the International Court of Justice.
In conclusion, Mr. President, my country will continue to cooperate with you and all other Member States of this Committee to achieve our common goals.
Thank you, Mr. President.