New York: The League of Arab States urged the UN Security Council on Thursday to place less emphasis on the Ukraine conflict than on other international conflicts and the ensuing humanitarian crises, particularly in the Arab world, which includes Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and Sudan.
The world was at a "very critical juncture," according to the secretary-general of the league, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, where there were increased tensions and polarisation among the superpowers. As a result, the likelihood of collective action having any mitigating effects has increased, bringing the world "to the brink of a nuclear confrontation."
This, according to Aboul Gheit, has led to an insufficient response to contemporary issues like counterterrorism, climate change, disruptions brought on by technological advancements, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
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Aboul Gheit made his comments during a council meeting that the UAE, the Security Council's president for June, called to discuss ways to improve cooperation between the UN and Arab League on a variety of issues, such as regional security concerns and humanitarian issues.
In its concept note for the meeting, the UAE emphasised that such issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing conflicts in Libya, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen, "have resulted in unimaginable suffering for millions of people.
As a result of their severe economic crises, high unemployment rates, and spiralling inflation, nations like Somalia and Lebanon are also in need of humanitarian aid.
The earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkey earlier this year, according to the note, added to the suffering in the area by causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, a high death toll, and the eviction of millions of people.
"The humanitarian response was significant, but it faced significant challenges, particularly in coordinating aid from different donors,"
According to Aboul Gheit, "any opportunities to address regional conflicts are diminished by the current tension at the top of the international order. Additionally, it detracts from the attention that should be given to humanitarian and relief efforts on a global scale.
According to Aboul Gheit, for the past two months, Sudan has been experiencing a "unprecedented situation in its contemporary history with Khartoum turning into a battlefield," where looting, killings, and the destruction of state institutions have continued.
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The League of Arab States is actively working in coordination with other regional organisations, particularly the African Union, to achieve a complete cessation of hostilities and to create an environment that is conducive to the resumption of political action because it recognises the seriousness of this situation for both Sudan and its neighbouring countries.
He pleaded with the other members to continue working towards "a unified Sudan as our aim without any threats to its territorial integrity and without weakening its national institutions."
Additionally, Israeli government policies and practises that "reflect an unprecedented turn to the right" and "increased oppression and violence on the part of the Israeli government" continue to cause suffering for Palestinians.
"This is a government that chooses annexation and settlement instead of peace," Aboul Gheit said to the world.
Every single day, this government implements laws and procedures that are completely at odds with international law, destroying any chance of a two-state solution in the future.
The Palestinian people's current sense of hopelessness and despair as they have given up all hope of advancing the political settlement process is what is most alarming today.
He urged the council to reaffirm its support for the two-state solution, which he described as one of the "mainstays" of the Arab League and the "only path, and I do repeat the only path, for sustainable peace."
According to Aboul Gheit, Syria's rejoining the Arab League should be a step towards resolving its protracted crisis.
Perhaps taking this action would compel everyone to actively work towards a political solution in Syria in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254.
He expressed optimism that Arab nations taking in Syrian refugees would be able to "reach a solution for the voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees by creating the environment conducive for this return."
Despite the Houthis' violations, the cease-fire in Yemen has greatly helped to deescalate tensions, according to Aboul Gheit.
A political resolution is still feasible, "especially if enough efforts were made on the part of the Houthis," said Aboul Gheit, despite the country's ongoing "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis. The agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalise relations, he continued, "opens new prospects that should be optimised to achieve de-escalation and perhaps even settlement in Yemen."
He expressed the Arab League's support for UN efforts in Libya and reaffirmed that the only way to a lasting resolution to the country's protracted crisis is through elections there.
According to Rosemary DiCarlo, the under-secretary-general of the UN for political and peacebuilding affairs, "multilateralism has come under great strain in recent years. Trust in systems and procedures has been severely put to the test. International and regional cooperation to maintain peace and security is becoming increasingly challenging due to violations of international law and the norms that bind us.
The relationship between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, she continued, "remains robust in such a delicate context, which is heartening."
As she praised the Arab league, the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and other partners for their peace efforts, DiCarlo stated that the role of Arab countries would be "key" to ending the conflict in Sudan.
The Jeddah Agreement, which was mediated on May 20 by Saudi Arabia and the US, "gave rise to much hope (but) unfortunately, the parties have failed to implement (it)," the UN official stated.
"Also, citing the Rapid Support Forces' violations of the ceasefire, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced the suspension of their participation in the negotiations.
The parties' commitment to the cease-fire agreement is crucial. However, this won't be sufficient. The political process must eventually resume after a definitive end to hostilities.
DiCarlo also praised the Arab League's efforts to find a solution to the Libyan crisis and echoed Aboul Gheit's call for a reaffirmed commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
When discussing Syria, DiCarlo referred to the Arab summits in Amman and Jeddah as well as the resolution passed at the Jeddah Summit, which "reflected the importance of Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), the only internationally recognised roadmap to resolve the Syrian conflict."
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She added that "address[ing] the fate of the detained, the disappeared, and the missing is essential to move closer to sustainable peace," adding that "if the renewed regional attention on Syria is translated into action, we could see momentum build towards a negotiated political settlement of the conflict."
She urged member states to support the creation of a body tasked with determining the fate of the missing and urged all parties to "take meaningful steps to this end.