Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, has stressed that the UAE is the central pillar of regional and international security and peace and that its foreign policy serves this purpose in a major way.

She highlighted that the UAE is considered a leading international symbol of tolerance and co-existence between civilisations and cultures and that the country supports dialogue, understanding, peace, stability, security and development of international relations.

Speaking on the International Day of Peace, celebrated by the United Nations on 21st September every year, Al Qubaisi said that the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had a vision for the future, which led to the building of a leading developmental model. This has helped contribute to the achievement of international security and peace. The country continues to attract those interested in peace from all parts of the world to help attain humanity’s dream of co-existence without any discrimination based on race, gender, and religion.

She added that the vision of the founding father was carried forward by the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their brothers Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and the Rulers of the UAE.

The UAE exerts all its efforts to fight terrorism, which is the biggest threat to international peace and security. The country also participates efficiently and persistently in international efforts aimed at combating terrorism, stopping its funding, and standing up against its supporters. It believes that this is the battle of humanity against its enemies, she added.

The country also works on spreading the values of tolerance and moderation in facing extremism and hatred. The UAE has launched many initiatives in cooperation with friendly brotherly countries and has also hosted important international forums such as The Forum for Promoting Peace, Sawab Centre, and Hedayah Centre to promote a culture of tolerance.

The UAE continues to offer humanitarian and rescue aid as part of its efforts to strengthen international peace. It has become the humanitarian capital of the world and has taken the lead in various international indexes in offering developmental humanitarian aid for the year 2016 in ratio to its national income. The value of the country’s humanitarian aid reached AED4.48 billion in three years from 2015 until July 2017.

Al Qubaisi reiterated that the UAE is a sponsor of peace and an international model to be followed for cultural harmony, co-existence, respect for religions, and rejection of violence, hatred, harshness, extremism and bias, relying on a legal base which guarantees justice, equality and human rights. This approach has been deep-rooted in the UAE since its establishment as the forefathers believed in the values of peace and the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundation for these principles, she explained.