NEW YORK – H.E. Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, and H.E. Majid Al Suwaidi, Consul General of the UAE in New York, co-hosted a reception on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.
In attendance was President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, H.E. Miroslav Lajčák, ambassadors and delegates of UN Member States, senior officials from the UN, business and civil society leaders in New York City, and members of the press. The reception was held at Gotham Hall, a historic bank building in the heart of Manhattan.
As part of the evening’s program, the UAE’s national anthem was performed by students from the Juilliard School. On display at the reception was a collection of art work by emerging artists from the UAE and the Middle East from the Maraya Art Center in Sharjah, including work by Emirati artist, Rashid Khalfan Al Mansouri. This exhibit reflected the UAE’s aim to promote the arts through the exchange of traditions and art forms to celebrate both differences and similarities between cultures in understanding our common humanity.
In her remarks welcoming guests, Ambassador Nusseibeh highlighted that in 2018, the UAE will celebrate the “Year of Zayed,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the nation, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
“Our nation was founded 46 years ago, based on Sheikh Zayed’s vision for a dynamic, tolerant, and pluralistic society that embraces people of all walks of life and offers them a genuine opportunity to participate in building our nation. This nation-wide initiative will highlight his role in establishing our nation, as well as the values and principles that underpinned his leadership. We believe Sheikh Zayed’s vision offers a model of a moderate, peaceful, and modern country to the Middle East and the world,” highlighted Ambassador Nusseibeh. She reaffirmed the values and principles of Sheikh Zayed are all the more important in the Middle East, where crisis and conflict are too pervasive. She emphasized that the UAE is playing an active role to ensure the security and stability of the region by supporting political resolutions to conflicts, offering humanitarian aid, and promoting sustainable development.
In discussing the UAE’s cultural diplomacy, Ambassador Nusseibeh also highlighted the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The first universal museum in the Arab World, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is curated to share the story of humankind in a new light, drawing on shared themes and ideas between peoples, civilizations, religions, and cultures.
President Lajčák addressed the reception, congratulating the UAE government and its people on their National Day.
“This day celebrates that the modern history of the Emirates begun with consensus,” he shared, and expressed his admiration for the wisdom adopted by the UAE towards its citizens, particularly in the field of youth empowerment and sustainable development.
