NEW YORK – H.E. Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, headed the UAE delegation to the two-day United Nations’ High-Level Meeting convened by the President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace.
“This meeting has come at a critical time when our world is marred by violence, extremism, and catastrophic losses of life. This makes it all the more critical to explore new approaches to sustaining peace and preventing conflict,” said Minister Nusseibeh. He stressed, “Peacebuilding is not a one-time action, but a continuous effort to combine and deploy the tools of prevention, sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping, and reconstruction in crisis-affected and conflict-riven countries, as well as maintaining those efforts post-conflict.”
At the Meeting, Minister Nusseibeh urged UN agencies and Member States to take collective action to identify countries that support and finance terrorism, and hold them accountable, consult with all stakeholders to improve and implement policy, use data to make evidence-based assessments for sustainable financing, and deepen global strategic partnerships to maximize impact.
During the high-level meeting, Minister Nusseibeh also engaged in bilateral meetings with various Heads of Delegations on strengthening the UN’s efforts to sustain peace and counter extremism, including Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, British Minister of State for the Commonwealth and UN, and Ambassador Fernando Magalhães, Brazil’s Undersecretary General for Multilateral Political Affairs, Europe & North America.
“By meeting here to discuss new approaches, share best practice and hear from experts in their fields, we hope to support the UN’s renewed efforts in conflict prevention and peacebuilding spearheaded by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly,” expressed Minister Nusseibeh.
Minister Nusseibeh also met with members of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN and the UAE Consulate in New York, where he gave a comprehensive presentation on the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan. He reminded all that the purpose of the Year of Zayed is not only to celebrate his legacy, but more importantly to learn from his wisdom and experience. Minister Nusseibeh shared how the late leader brought his vision of a stable, progressive, and tolerant UAE to reality through his extraordinary leadership, compassion, and humility.
On the sidelines of the High-Level Meeting, Minister Nusseibeh also met with numerous leaders in the arts and cultural sector in New York as part of his mandate on public and cultural diplomacy, highlighting the UAE’s evolving role as an international crossroads and hub for arts and culture. He visited The Juilliard School for Dance, Drama, and Music; The Museum of Modern Art; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art and met with their Directors to explore the potential for partnerships in the field of cultural and public diplomacy.
“Through cultural diplomacy, we can recognize and celebrate our common global humanity while also highlighting the unique identity and cultural contributions of the UAE – not only in the region but around the world,” said Minister Nusseibeh. “The exchange of culture and art fosters the sharing of values and knowledge. Creating a climate where the values of cultural openness, inclusivity, and diversity can flourish is an essential and lasting contribution that we can make for the betterment of all societies and for future generations.”