UAE bats for a peaceful world on International Day of Peace
The UAE celebrates the event ater making the sovereign decision to sign a peace accord with Israel, which is a real opportunity for Mideast countries to enjoy peace and stability ater decades of conflict
The UAE on Monday (Sept.21) will celebrate the annual International Day of Peace launched by the United Nations General Assembly.
The country, which has a long history of promoting peace and reinforcing stability around the world, will celebrate the event ater making the sovereign decision to sign a peace accord with Israel, which is a real opportunity for Middle Eastern countries to enjoy peace and stability ater decades of conflict and tensions that have negatively affected the future of the region’s people.
The UAE affirms that the accord will enable it to beter support the Palestinian people and achieve their aspirations to have an independent nation in a stable and prosperous region.
Since the era of the Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has been a key player and important partner, helping peace initiatives succeed both regionally and internationally.
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is spreading its message of peace to the entire world and contributing to the global efforts aimed at achieving security, stability and development.
Since its establishment, the UAE has adopted a successful foreign policy and established relations with all countries based on peace, mutual respect and not intervening in other countries’ internal affairs.
Over the past decades, the UAE has participated in peacekeeping operations as part of many international initiatives.
In 1976, the country took part in the Arab Deterrent Force in Lebanon to prevent the eruption of a civil war and maintain peace. In 1991, it participated in the Peninsula Shield Force to liberate Kuwait with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and under the framework of the global alliance.
The UAE is also commited to supporting other countries and rebuilding the damage caused by conflicts in Somalia, where it sent an army batalion in 1993 as part of a UN force, upon a Security Council resolution.
In 1994, the UAE supported Bosnia ater its war with Serbia and expressed concerns for the suffering of Bosnian Muslims, as well as contributed to many humanitarian projects aimed at helping rebuild Bosnia.
In 1999, the UAE Armed Forces constructed camp in Kukes, Albania to shelter thousands of Kosovan refugees in Albania and participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, being the only Muslim country to send forces to join peacekeeping forces in Kosovo upon Nato’s approval.
In 2003, the UAE participated in peacekeeping operations with over 1,200 soldiers, who played a key role in securing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.
Ater the riots in Bahrain and the foreign interventions in its internal affairs in March 2011, the UAE participated in the Peninsula Shield Force to support the country, which maintained the security, stability and unity of its people.
In 2014, the UAE joined the global alliance against Daesh and participated in military operations against the terrorist group in Syria, along with other Arab and foreign countries.
In March 2015, the UAE participated in the military campaign, entitled, “Operation Decisive Storm’,’ which is a Saudi-led coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen.
CROSS-BORDER PEACE: Bernardino Leon Director-general, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, EDA, has affirmed that the UAE has certainly demonstrated, and distinctly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that it is essential for a nation’s prosperity to initiate and promote peace across its borders, through cooperation, dialogue, compassion and understanding.
“Due to its unique sot power approach, based on tolerance and partnership, the UAE has considerably proven that its influence on the global stage holds an immense value,” he said in his statement to mark United Nations - International Day of Peace.
“At the EDA, our mission is to ensure that the UAE’S diplomatic corps learn the key skills and gain monumental insight, to maintain the country’s status as an active global player taking leadership positions on key issues, and chiefly, the call for peace,” he went on to say.