Backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, the Yemeni popular resistance today took full control of the liberated city of Al Mokha while scores of Houthi militias were killed or taken prisoners as others fled the city.

The resistance, supported by the Coalition forces, executed a three-front offensive from the east, south and north, after laying siege to the whole city.

The UAE Armed Forces played a key role in liberating Al Mokha, taking part in the land operations and providing massive firepower, air and intelligence support to the resistance forces.

The resistance forces managed to liberate large numbers of civilians, including women, children and the aged who were detained by the militias as hostages and human shields. Meanwhile, the operations to clear the mines and booby traps, laid by the militias before fleeing, continued, coupled with measures to secure the city and its perimeters.

Citizens in Al Mokha welcomed the resistance and Coalition forces and expressed their happiness over the liberation of the city.

As per the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has announced that a large number of Yemeni people, who suffered injuries during the war in that country, would receive medical treatment in the UAE hospitals.

This comes as a part of the ERC s pledge to provide treatment to 1,500 wounded Yemenis, and a continuation of the President s initiative to mark 2017 as the “Year of Giving.”

It is also an implementation of the directives of Vice President and 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.

The move is an integral part of the continuous support provided by the UAE to reduce the suffering of Yemenis and strengthen their resilience in the face of the difficult circumstances due to the ongoing crisis in the country.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler s Representative in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the ERC, said, “The compassion and generosity are not alien to the UAE s leadership, who follows the path of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

“Day by day, the UAE is reinforcing its pioneering role in the humanitarian fields through innovative solutions to ease the suffering, enhance the development process in the brotherly and friendly countries and help the people in need, including the injured,” he said.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan added that the Year of Giving initiative acts as a catalyst for new initiatives and sets a strategic framework for the country s humanitarian and charitable efforts.

The ERC has put in place all the facilities required to immediately airlift the wounded to the designated hospitals.

It will also bear the expenses of the health escorts travelling with the wounded as part of its psychological and moral support programme for the patients.

The ERC is also providing assistance to the Yemeni healthcare sector as part of its efforts to remove obstacles it is facing and enable it to deliver healthcare services to Yemenis. The organisation is deploying its aid workers in Yemen to assess the requirements.

The ERC has previously provided treatment to scores of Yemenis injured in the war and sent medical and relief convoys to support them.

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Russia is a key political and economic partner in the endeavours to realise the comprehensive development of the Middle East and support its stability, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said during the opening speech of the 4th session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Abu Dhabi, which he presided over today.

Sheikh Abdullah also emphasised the importance of strengthening joint Arab-Russian cooperation and taking it to a new level of building a true and meaningful partnership.

In his speech, Sheikh Abdullah also referred to Iran’s adoption of a sectarian approach and its support of terrorist and extremist groups, while endangering stability in the Arab world by interfering in its affairs He opened his speech by welcoming Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign minister, Ahmed Abul Al Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, Arab Foreign Ministers and other delegates attending the Forum.

Sheikh Abdullah also praised the growing Arab-Russian cooperation, saying trade between the two sides rose to about US$ 15 billion.

“Still, such cooperation remains below our ambitions, given the huge potentials Arab countries and Russia have, particularly in the areas of agriculture, industry, tourism, energy, renewable energy, transport, telecommunications, environment and technology transfer,” he added.

He called for further efforts by business and industrial sectors to explore more opportunities for joint investments that are protected by advanced and flexible legislations to allow smooth flow of capitals, and to address obstacles relating to customs and taxes.

“our region and the whole world endured several crises and conflicts during this decade. That led to the emergence of new and gruesome forms of terrorism and extremism, which wreaked havoc on Arab states and squandered opportunities for development,” he said.

“The past few years,” he continued, saw an unprecedented collapse of stability in the Middle East that required rallying efforts of the international community to find solutions to the crises.

“In this context, we recognise the importance of strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation between Arab countries and Russia, and to develop them into a true partnership. We believe that Russia is a key political and economic partner, capable of playing an effective role in the efforts to realise the comprehensive development of, and maintain stability in the region.

Sheikh Abdullah went on to say that terrorism and extremism have become a global plague that endangers the age old Arab values, including respect for diversity and tolerance.

“This is further aggravated by the Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the dangers it poses on regional security and peace,” he noted.

He added that such an intervention needs to be addressed to prevent its expansion into the Arab region.

“This is clearly evident in Iran’s continuing occupation of the UAE’s three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa,” he explained.

Sheikh Abdullah also said the Iranian adoption of a sectarian approach and policy, and its support of extremist and terrorist groups, endangers security and stability in the Arab world.

The Foreign Minister lamented the international community’s failure to address the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and its flagrant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people.

On the situation in Yemen, he stressed the importance of committing to supporting its legitimacy, and maintain the country’s unity, as well as reject Iran’s intervention in its internal affairs. He also stressed his support for a political solution in Yemen, based on GCC initiatives and Yemeni dialogue, as well as international resolutions, including the Security Council resolution 2216.

Sheikh Abdullah referred to the dangerous situation in Syria and Iran’s intervention which undermined the political solution for the Syrian crisis.

Sheikh Abdullah also welcomed the Libyan political agreement, which was reached in Skhirat, among the different Libyan parties, saying there was no alternative to dialogue to address difficulties facing implementation of the agreement.

He went on to express his concern over the deteriorating economic situation in Libya, and emphasised the need to continue providing humanitarian aid to all areas in Libya.

Sheikh Abdullah then expressed hope that the Arab-Russian Forum will support the Arab measures, aimed at maintaining sovereignty and territory integrity of Arab states.

At the end of his speech, the UAE Minister welcomed again the Russian Foreign Minister and praised Russia’s stances in support of the Arab world, and thanked President Vladimir Putin of Russia for his keen interest in deepening ties with Arab countries.

In his speech, Lavrov expressed sincere gratitude to the UAE for hosting the Forum.

“We met in Moscow a year ago, when the last session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum was held. We approved a Plan of Action to implement the principles, aims and goals of our joint mechanism for 2016-2018,” he said.

“It is gratifying that the majority of this plan s provisions are being implemented in practice and are facilitating both cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Arab world and the efforts to settle the many conflicts that, regrettably, have emerged in this region. I mean Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq,” he added.

He also highlighted the need to cooperate to counter terrorism and to prevent funding of terrorist activities.

It is of importance to continue working for the destruction of terrorist organisations military and economic potential and, of course, to counter the funding of terrorism, he said..

He continued by saying that showing more resolve in combatting the spread of terrorist ideology and radicalisation is another essential task. Russia has submitted to the UN Security Council a draft resolution on combatting terrorist and extremist ideologies.

“We hope that these efforts too will be coordinated with our Arab friends. Russia firmly believes that traditional religious denominations are the key allies states can rely on as they seek to counter the spread of terrorist ideology and prevent people from becoming radicalised. We attach great importance to promoting dialogue among civilisations as part of global efforts to preserve traditional values and counter all forms of intolerance, discrimination and attempts to achieve superiority.

Ahmed Abu Al Gheit said the historic ties between the Arab world and Russia provide a solid base for building a bridges of cooperation and for establishing a true partnership in political, economic, cultural, social and scientific fields.

He applauded Russian recent efforts in the Middle East and in the Arab world.
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US President Donald Trump was within his sovereign rights when he issued Executive Orders to ban citizens from seven Muslim majority countries from getting entry visas to the United States, said H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Sheikh Abdullah made those remarks while talking to reporters after the 4th session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, held in Abu Dhabi today.

“The impression that the order is targeted against certain group is not right, especially after the US Administration asserted that Muslims are not targeted by that order,” Sheikh Abdullah said.
He added that the majority of Muslim countries are not affected by that decision.

“We have to consider that this ban is just temporary and the seven countries are facing many challenges that need to be addressed before resolving the issue with the US Administration,” he said.

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Board members of the Anti-Smoking International Alliance, ASIA, has issued a resolution confirming Dubai as the regional headquarters for the alliance.

In a recent meeting held in London, presided by the Emirati Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, ASIA Chairman, members voted unanimously for the decision, which will see Dubai become the location for the office which will cover all anti-smoking activities and initiatives held in the country and within its members in the Arab World, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The decision was based on Dubai’s geographical and strategic location being a hub and a meeting point that connects the entire world together through a number of national airlines. The city is also well known for its outstanding infrastructure, airports, ports and transportation services, in addition to its investment and commercial facilities and, most importantly, the safety and security that the United Arab Emirates provides.

Dr. Al Madani said, “The UAE is one of the countries that combats smoking, and the government has issued very strict directives to ban smoking in public areas, malls, governmental entities, ministries and hospitals. All of these factors have marked Dubai as a prime location for the International Smoking Alliance to make the city its regional headquarters for supporting individuals and associations.”

“I am very proud of being the first personality to be elected from outside Europe and the first Arab to hold this position. Since I was elected, I have strived to introduce changes in the alliance and adopt a number of activities that help in banning smoking, and the first resolution that I introduced when I was elected is making Arabic language as the second official language after English. We have also accepted more members on board who were diligent and excited to work with us from different countries,” he added.

ASIA members decided to divide the alliance’s activities among three regions, where the office in London will cover all the activities in Europe, the Arizona office will cover the activities of the United States, and the Dubai office will cover the rest of the world.

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Arab Coalition Forces with the help of UAE Air Force in Yemen have destroyed an Iranian military drone in north Mokha port city in Yemen, a Yemeni military source has said.

The aircraft was at a mobile launching platform, intended to target Yemeni forces participating in the liberation of Mokha city and Port.

General Ahmed Saif Al Yafei, Deputy Chief of General Staff of Yemeni Armed Forces said that Yemeni forces detected the aircraft during surveillance of North Mokha Area, adding that the aircraft was about to take off for its mission when it was destroyed by an air to surface missile in coordination with the UAE Air Force operating in Yemen.

He said that the rebel militias after being trapped have started using the smuggled weapons from Iran to Yemen, including this unmanned aircraft.

He also stressed that the presence of these Iranian weapons in Yemen, clearly show the blatant Iranian interference in Yemen’s crisis, and attempts by Tehran to destabilise the region and threaten peace in Yemen. Supply of sophisticated weapons and equipment to rebel militias by Iran is a desperate attempt to undermine the successive victories of forces that support legitimate government of Yemen backed by the Arab Coalition.

General Al Yafei called on the international community to take on its shoulders the responsibility of foiling Iranian attempts to exacerbate the worsening internal security situation in Yemen.

He added that Iran is trying to eliminate any chance for the success of the political process, and keep aflame the crisis in the Arab Republic in an attempt to impose sinister agenda and create a model similar to the Lebanese Hezbollah in Yemen.

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H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance (C), stands for a group photo, with the participants of the Gulf Christian Fellowship meeting 2017, on Sir Bani Yas Island. - ( Mohamed Al Suwaidi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi )

By Emirates News Agency (WAM)
SIR BANI YAS, UAE, Jan 18 2017 (WAM)

The UAE’s Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, has invited leaders of the country’s Christian communities to play their part in contributing to the promotion of the country’s recently-announced National Programme for Tolerance.

She was speaking during a free-ranging discussion with participants in the annual meeting of the Gulf Christian Fellowship, GCF, on the UAE’s western island of Sir Bani Yas yesterday.

The visit was jointly organised by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court and the National Programme for Tolerance.

The Minister outlined to participants in the meeting the pillars of the country’s philosophy of tolerance, as outlined in the National Programme.

It was built, she said, on a combination of the Islamic faith, the UAE Constitution, the legacy of the country’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the ethics that underpin UAE society. It also included, she noted, the UAE’s heritage, as reflected through archaeology and history, the fundamental elements of human nature and the shared, common values of humanity.

“As we work in the Emirates to promote our commitment to, and understanding of, the philosophy of tolerance in all walks of life, we encourage those from expatriate communities, of all origins and beliefs, to play their part in helping us to strengthen our tolerant society,” Sheikha Lubna said. “We invite you, as leaders of the varied Christian communities in the UAE to encourage your communities to play their part Every day must be tolerance day. Be positive, open to all you meet, live and work with, and be enriched by every person in our diverse society.” In response, Bishop Paul Hinder, Vicar Apostolic for the UAE, Oman and Yemen for the Catholic Church, thanked Sheikha Lubna and asked her to pass the gratitude of participants in the meeting to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose support had made it possible for the meeting to take place.

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance speaks at the Gulf Christian Fellowship meeting 2017, on Sir Bani Yas Island.

He went on to comment on the significance of Sir Bani Yas and its ancient Christian monastery in terms of events in the wider region.

“The visit to Sir Bani Yas Island has a deep meaning for me. That we are visiting the Island under the patronage of the Minister of State for Tolerance underlines the importance. The discovery of the Christian monastery at Sir Bani Yas reminds us that Christianity was present in the region very early and coexisted with Islam for a long period. This is a strong sign for what is again happening in recent times, thanks to the open-minded rulers of the UAE.”

“Looking at what is happening in the wider region, I have noticed,” Bishop Hinder said, “that where there is radicalism, one of the first things is to eradicate the memory of the others, as we have seen in Palmyra and in other places. And when I heard about the reaction of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan when he heard about the presence of the old monastery on this island, he had just the opposite reaction: to maintain this site in the memory of the history of this country. I think that this is important for all of us. It also points,” he said, “to the fact that there is a history that has common roots, not only here on this island, but in the whole region.”

“We, the expatriate Christians in the UAE, want to contribute to a society which shows that religions even in their diversity must not be a reason for war but can be a strong sign of building up justice and peace,” Bishop Hinder added.

“We are grateful for the hospitality we enjoy and willing to contribute our part so that the UAE remains a model of tolerance and mutual respect, founded in our common belief in God, which is for us all a constant incentive for goodness I can only pray that this is reflected in other parts, as I am also Bishop also for Yemen, I know that it can be tragic when people are no more able to accept one another, and we have to learn to exercise this every day.”

In another comment, Archbishop Makarios, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Qatar, said that the GCF was “encouraged and enthusiastic about the steps that the UAE National Programme for Tolerance has taken toward promoting ethics and human values in terms of religious co-existence, in particular, its recognition of Christian heritage in this region and giving it its rightful place in the historical narrative.”

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance (2nd from L) with participants at the Gulf Christian Fellowship meeting 2017, on Sir Bani Yas Island.

“To educate the world about the rich diversity that characterised this land long ago, is to do justice to those who came before us, and to set a critical example for our brothers and sisters around the world,” he added.

“At a time of violent tumult in the Middle East, which has devastated the vibrant cultural, ethnic, and religious tapestry, the Christian communities are willing to work in our respective capacities and locations, in conjunction with the National Programme for Tolerance to promote this region as a beacon of hope and tolerance,” he said. “We hope that all people of good will may visit the ancient Monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island to see the interaction between Christian and Muslim, and to witness the potential of humanity when mutual respect is our foundation.

The Very Reverend Mesrob Sarkissian, UAE and Qatar representative for the Catholicos of the Armenian Church, described the meeting as ‘extraordinary.’ Thanking His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for facilitating the visit to Sir Bani Yas, he added, “I would like to express my gratitude to the UAE government and leaders for their hospitality and for the respect they offer to the Christian communities in the region, and for the freedom that we enjoy to worship God through our churches. The UAE is a model country because of the way it provides land to Christian communities so that they may build their places of worship.”

In subsequent discussion, one participant commented that, “The value of tolerance is simple to understand but so elusive when putting it into practice. I was not prepared for the breadth and boldness of the National Programme for Toleranc +e. The UAE’s plan to strategically and intentionally implement the value of tolerance was deeply encouraging.”

The Gulf Christian Fellowship, founded in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi in 2012, brings together leaders from a wide range of Christian churches, drawn from the five main groups of Christianity, the Catholic, the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, the Episcopal Churches and the Anglicans.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the GCF Executive Committee said, “Leaders of Churches in the GCC countries welcome opportunities to increase cooperation between our Churches, and between peoples of different religious and social traditions within the incredibly diverse mix of nationalities who find themselves living and working in the Gulf. Although each ethnic and religious grouping strongly desires to be understood by others, the leaders of the Churches are working together to encourage movements toward mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and strengthening the social dynamics that make up the societies where we live. The annual meeting of the Gulf Churches Fellowship is greatly facilitated by the intentional and direct policies of the UAE government regarding tolerance of non-Muslims living in the country, for which we are very grateful.”

The statement added, “We hail the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his vision and commitment to building a society where the value of tolerance is not just mere talk but is a lived and shared experience. Giving thanks to God, we continue to pray for God’s blessings on the wise leadership of the nation with thanksgiving.”

The meeting was attended by over thirty participants from the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Among them were several archbishops and bishops, including Dr. Joseph, the Metropolitan of the Indian-based Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Archbishop Nathaniel, Patriarchal-Vicar in the Gulf of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Bishop Khoury Gregorios, Greek Orthodox Bishop in the Emirates, and Bishop Michael Lewis, Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf.

Other denominations present included the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Armenian Church, the Evangelical Church and the Reformed Church in America.

The Gulf Christian leaders at the Sir Bani Yas monastery site (Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority)

By Emirates News Agency (WAM)
SIR BANI YAS, UAE, Jan 18 2017 (WAM)

The UAE’s Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, and around 30 Christian leaders from the Gulf, yesterday visited the site of the early Christian monastery on Abu Dhabi’s western island of Sir Bani Yas. The visit was the first part of a day of discussions on ways in which Christian communities in the Emirates can contribute to the promotion of the UAE government’s Tolerance Agenda.

The clergymen, including several archbishops and bishops, were drawn from a total of nine different denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Evangelical Church, the Reformed Church in America, the Coptic and Greek Orthodox Churches, the Mar Thoma Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Syrian Orthodox Church.

On arrival at the site of the monastery, they were briefed by archaeologists working for the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, which is responsible for investigations into and the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

While at the site, the visitors performed an impromptu prayer.

“This site is a symbol of the diversity we have in the UAE,” Sheikha Lubna told the visitors. “Nations develop and flourish when they accept differences and work on their similarities.”

“The emphasis being placed on this site is evidence of the commitment of the UAE towards its archaeology and history, particularly for sites such as this which represent our values of tolerance, co-existence and peace,” she added.

Early excavations at the Sir Bani Yas monastery (Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority)

Commenting on the significance of the visit, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “The archaeological sites on Sir Bani Yas Island which were part of the Church of the East, dated to the 7th and 8th century CE/AD, attest to the long history of religious tolerance in the UAE. The monastery and church are one of dozens of archaeological and heritage sites in this part of the country and this rich and unique history contribute to the cultural heritage of the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi.

“The excavations at the monastery and church, undertaken by TCA Abu Dhabi archaeologists, form part of a major publication of all archaeological and heritage sites on Sir Bani Yas, and have provided an excellent opportunity to engage and train a younger generation of Emirati archaeologists. They will be at the forefront of future work at the site and in so doing will play a critical role in investigating their country’s heritage.”

The site of the monastery was first identified in 1992 during a survey undertaken by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS, on the instructions of former UAE President, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Studies of the finds from the excavations as well as other research suggests that the Sir Bani Yas church and monastery may have been founded some time in the early to mid- 7th Century CE, at a time when, prior to the coming of Islam, Christianity was present throughout eastern Arabia. Although there is evidence in ancient documents of the historical presence of Christianity in the UAE, the Sir Bani Yas monastery is, so far, the first physical evidence to have been discovered.

It is believed to have been part of a network of churches and monasteries spread throughout the Arabian Gulf at the time, with other sites having been found in Kuwait (Akaz and Al Qusur on Failaka Island), Saudi Arabia (Jubail) and Iran (Kharg Island).

Early excavations at the Sir Bani Yas monastery in 1995 (Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority)

Founded in the 5th Century CE, the Church of the East spread throughout Iraq and Iran, down through the Arabian Gulf and away to India. It also expanded throughout Central Asia as far as western China before beginning to decline in the 14th Century CE.

Three successor churches survive today, although much reduced in numbers, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Ancient Church of the East. They all use the Syriac language in their services.

The particular significance of the Sir Bani Yas site, and the plaster objects uncovered during the excavations, stems from their date and context, which roughly coincides with the beginning of Islam’s spread into southeastern Arabia. The discovery of the church and monastery, along with its series of associated courtyard houses and other buildings, is evidence that a significant Christian community was living on Sir Bani Yas at this time, living side by side with the country’s Muslim inhabitants. This reflects a prevailing spirit of religious tolerance and the peaceful coexistence of diverse religious communities. The excavations at the site have shown that it was eventually abandoned, with the buildings eventually collapsing.

Following the initial discovery, the late Sheikh Zayed personally encouraged the continued archaeological excavation and preservation of this internationally important site. Today, it is a central focus of plans by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority to promote Sir Bani Yas not only as a key element in the UAE’s cultural heritage but also as a tourist destination.

Other sites for tourists are also being developed on the island.

Sir Bani Yas, which has recently opened a dedicated terminal for cruise ships, is also home to a large collection of endangered species of animals, originally established by Sheikh Zayed, with special safari-type excursions for tourists through the island’s wildlife park.

On the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, a United Nations-led campaign celebrated on November 16th each year, the UAE’s Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, has issued a statement on how the state follows the values of tolerance, as laid down by the founding fathers of the nation.

In an opinion piece released this morning, the Minister of State gives her thoughts about the nation’s noble pursuit of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among people of the state, the region and the world.

The Minister wrote, “Many members of the political, social and economic elite in the West beg the question, ‘What do you know about tolerance in the UAE?’ It is also a big question for peoples of the world who seek to know more facts about the tolerance in the UAE.

In this article, I refer to tolerance as a noble human value that brings all people together as one international family and global community upholding the values of love, friendliness, cooperation as well as respect. The deep foundations of the values of tolerance and coexistence in the UAE were laid by the wise leadership of the country, namely the founding father of the Federation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who launched the journey of modernisation.

The UAE continues to pursue the same approach in its humanitarian and moral journey to further consolidate the values of tolerance and concord, thanks to the keen interest and support of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.”

Speaking about the UAE Cabinet’s historic decision to create the Ministry of Tolerance, in a world’s first, Sheikha Lubna said, “Because the world and the Arab region in particular need intellectual reconstruction to further establish the values of tolerance, plurality and acceptance of others who are different in terms of thought, culture, sect or religion. This is especially important because the world today is facing challenges and problems caused by hate, extremist, discriminatory and violent rhetoric.

In light of all this, the UAE spares no efforts to shoulder its historic national and human responsibility of preserving normal common sense of co-existence, tolerance and harmony, as well as uphold the common global values of unity and togetherness. To achieve that, the UAE has taken the relevant measures, enacted legislation and launched plans and strategies to achieve happiness and well-being for all people from all races and cultures within its borders.

The UAE is an ideal home for nationals of more than 200 countries who live, work and interact in peace and harmony, which means these people consider the UAE an ideal environment for dignified life, religious tolerance, cultural acceptance and intellectual diversity.

Moreover, Islam is a tolerant religion that promotes the values of peaceful coexistence, dialogue, understanding, cooperation and harmony, while rejecting violence, extremism, hate, fanaticism and discrimination.

The constitution of the UAE states that the country’s relations with all other countries is based on mutual respect. It also provides for equality and indiscrimination, upholds rights and duties and protects the right to worship which is guaranteed by law.

The UAE has enacted legislation and laws to promote tolerance in society and deter the spread of wrong thoughts that incite hate, violence, discrimination and extremism.

Federal Decree No. 02 of 2015 was enacted to criminalise all forms of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin, as well as combat the use of religion by individuals or groups to term other religious groups or individuals as infidels or unbelievers.

The government and people of the UAE extend a helping hand to the needy and those affected by crises, conflicts and wars, regardless of their colour, race, gender or religious sect. This has led to the UAE being the world’s largest donor country of Official Development Assistance, ODA, in proportion to its Gross National Income, GNI, in 2013 and 2014.

The UAE is committed to international charters and agreements on tolerance and coexistence as well as those that reject extremism and violence. The UAE joined the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and took measures to implement this convention.

The constitution, criminal, civilian and economic laws of the UAE uphold the rules of the convention and the principle of equal rights and duties while banning all forms of racial discrimination.
Article 15 of Federal Law No. 02 of 2008, regarding public-benefit establishments and associations, prevents any such body from violating the goals stated in their bylaws and inciting sectarian, racial and religious conflicts.

Furthermore, the UAE is making regional and international contributions to promote tolerance and coexistence while rejecting violence and terrorism, for instance, the Sawab Centre, which is a joint UAE-US initiative to harness means of communication and social media to correct wrong ideology and give more space to moderate voices.

Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, was created as a partnership between the UAE and the UK as the first independent research and training centre for combating all forms of violent extremism by offering activities such as dialogue, training and researches.”

Sheikha Lubna concluded her article by saying, “In summary, the UAE has a strong belief in preparing man and humanity, takes a keen interest in coexistence, harmony, respect for cultural pluralism and acceptance of others from different cultures and races, and provides the best services in the sectors of education, healthcare, economy, entertainment, housing, infrastructure, technology and telecommunications.”

The UAE has taken practical steps to enable religious minorities to meet, teach, worship and express themselves, the Archbishop of Canterbury said in his opening keynote address on Wednesday at a dialogue on integration, religious freedom and flourishing societies organised by the Muslim Council of Elders and with Christian leaders from the Anglican Communion.

“I am delighted to be here, and profoundly honoured to have the opportunity to continue the process of relationship and dialogue with Al Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders that began in 2002, and which has continued since through good times and bad.

We owe much to the wisdom and courage of our predecessors. We are also indebted to other work, notably the Marrakesh Declaration on the protection of Minorities in Muslim majority lands. These relationships and declarations must always be upheld and their spirit followed through, because they are good, and because of our deep respect for those who have gone before us,” he told the gathering.

Present were Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and President of the Muslims Council of Elders, Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Council, Dr. Mohammed Matar Al Kaabi, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, along with a number of religious and cultural figures from around the world.

“It is fitting too that we meet in a country (UAE) which has taken practical steps to enable religious minorities to meet, teach, worship and express themselves. It shows a confidence in granting freedom, and a self confidence which is fitting and proper. We can only be grateful for the clear thinking expressed here. This freedom cannot be taken for granted in a world currently beset by a crisis of confidence in the rights it pledged itself to uphold in the aftermath of the Second World War,” he added.

Archbishop Justin Welby, also Head of the Anglican Communion, said,” The crisis is affecting all faith groups, deepening nationalist tensions, and leaking across from the approach to faith into the most acute challenges to international law, human flourishing and stability. It has renewed permission for those in political campaigns to condemn all Muslims, or other groups they dislike.” ” The historic centre of the Christian Church in the Middle East has never felt so threatened, but is also under attack in countries as diverse as North Korea, where Christians are harassed, imprisoned, persecuted and killed. We are grateful for the protection of the Church and advocacy of the rights of Christians in majority Muslim lands and I want to say thank you,” he said.

Sixty eight years after the United Nations agreed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he noted, this situation is intolerable and as faith communities we must step up and hold governments to account. This is a challenge for us all everywhere but none-more-so than in countries where faith communities have serious power through numerical, political or civic strength.

“Within the United Kingdom, Christians and Muslims have worked together on a government funded initiative, run by the Church of England, called Near Neighbours which has catalysed hundreds of grassroots socially transformative projects. We have also worked together to provide a clear moral voice on political and legislative decision-making,” he further added.

According to him, the Church of England is at the forefront of advocating the rights of Muslim communities to establish schools and mosques across the country. We have established and participated in faiths forums where the collective voice of faith communities in a largely secular society, can be heard more clearly. It is a cause for celebration that faith communities play such a vibrant role in every strata of British life and society.

“It was a joy to worship today at St Andrew s Church here in Abu Dhabi and it is to the credit of the authorities and government here that Christian worship has been allowed to flourish and grow and we thank you again. I am concerned that this is becoming the exception rather than the rule though in many parts of the world.

“The challenge then is for all of us at this conference to make some serious progress in establishing not just the theological foundations for flourishing and integrated societies where freedom of religion and belief is a given, but to go much further and to establish practical steps to ensure this happens in the societies and countries we represent and live in,” the Archbishop of Canterbury concluded.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and President of the Muslims Council of Elders, said the meeting, the first of its kind in the Arab World and Middle East, aims to take new steps towards building a more understanding and integrated world that works to alleviate suffering of the mankind from terror, pain, bloodshed and wars.

“Spread of materialism, atheism and anti-religious and oppressive policies were behind many tragedies the humanity is enduring today,” he noted.

“Humanity today is yearning to go back to the essence of heavenly religions and their human and moral teachings after it tested and experienced many destructive, tyrant, arrogant and expansionist experiments,” he added.

Dr. Al-Tayeb regretted that the impressive scientific advancements and breakthroughs had not matched by parallel progress in ethics. “On the contrary, the technological progress, notably in lethal weapon industry, has come void of any values to regulate its steps towards the right humanitarian path,” he noted.

The first panel discussion addressed religious multilateralism and freedom of belief.

Voicing her concern about a recently passed law by the US Congress, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), has urged parliamentarians to protect the sovereignty of states and prevent their being subjected to other countries’ judiciary systems.

She added that a number of coordinating meetings had been held at the levels of the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States (GCC), Arab and Islamic states to unify the positions on an emergency issue submitted by the GCC bloc, in coordination with the UAE FNC and the Saudi Shura Council, to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

“This is a clear response to the JASTA Act, issued recently by the US Congress, and seen as infringing on all United Nations and international conventions,” the FNC speaker said. “It is time for the parliamentarians to tackle whatever violates the sovereignty of our countries, and world at large”, she said.

Dr. Al Qubaisi made the remarks after holding meetings with the heads of the GCC, Arab and Islamic states’ parliamentary delegations, on the sidelines of the 135th session of IPU and 199th session of the Governing Council of IPU in Geneva.

Dr. Al Qubaisi said she held discussions with Saber Chowdhury, President of IPU, on the need to represent Yemen’s parliament with one delegation that represents the legitimacy in Yemen, to restore security and stability to the country.

She also stressed the importance of raising a motion in IPU meetings, so the world’s largest parliamentary gathering adopts it to defend countries from being held responsible by the rulings of courts in other countries. This can compromise national sovereignty, international peace and security, Dr. Al Qubaisi warned.

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) is a law passed by the United States Congress that narrows the scope of the legal doctrine of foreign sovereign immunity. It amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act in regards to civil claims against a foreign state for injuries, deaths, or damages from acts of international terrorism.

(WAM) — The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has stressed that the civilian ship (Swift) which was targeted by the Houthi and Saleh militias off the coast of Mocha, Yemen, was carrying assistance, wounded Yemenis and passengers.

Credit: WAM

In a statement issued today, the ministry said that the ship, which is unarmed and has no military protection, is passing through the Bab al Mandab Strait like any other civilian and commercial ships. It has been conducting routine trips to Aden for one year and that all its crew members are civilians.

The statement said that the civilian ship is owned by the UAE National Marine Dredging Company and does not have any military capacity, a fact which is confirmed by the vessel’s inability to counter the attack it came under during an international sea voyage governed by the norms and charters that ensure the freedom of navigation in international waters.

The ministry went on to affirm that the attack on the civilian ship will have serious repercussions on the freedom of navigation if the Houthi-Saleh militias continue to pursue maritime piracy tactics and carry out attacks on civilian ships dedicated to transporting aid and injured people with the aim of exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people and using this as a card to play to make fake gains even at the expense of their compatriots.

The ministry’s statement revealed that the crew of the ship comprises 24 civilians of six nationalities: 10 Indians, seven Ukrainians, four Egyptians, and three from Jordan, the Philippines and Lithuania.

”In more than a year of operating routine journeys to Aden, the civilian ship has carried some 100,000 food packages, and more than 1,000 wounded people, along with their companions, in addition to large equipment for the electricity, water and healthcare sectors which had significantly eased the suffering of the residents of Aden through the restoration of the infrastructure in these vital sectors,” the statement explained.

The ministry stressed that the Houthi-Saleh militias know very well that the civilian ship was dedicated for humanitarian missions and that it had not conducted any military missions in Yemen, which affirms that these militias ignore all international norms and charters that were agreed upon for wars and international conflicts.

The statement said: “While the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Yemen is working to launch a new round of negotiations and the reiteration of the Arab Coalition that a peaceful settlement is its best choice, the Houthi-Saleh militias are working to undermine peace efforts and insist on disregarding all efforts being exerted. This affirms that peace is not a choice for the Houthis and Saleh and that the course of military conflict is the agenda that these militias believe in.”

In light of this dangerous escalation, the ministry views with appreciation all international reactions and statements of condemnation against this threat. These statements warned the rebels not to pursue their attempts to undermine international peace efforts.

The ministry urges the international community to condemn these dangerous practices which violate international laws and charters, especially the coup militias are pursuing a policy of blocking aid, siege and starving the Yemeni people in many cities as a military tool to break the will of the people of Yemen, without taking into consideration the suffering that Yemenis, children and women in particular, are going through. (WAM).

News provided by WAM, the United Srab Emirates news agency. Go to Original.

By Emirates News Agency (WAM)
MUKALLA, Yemen, Jun 2 2016 (WAM)

General Faraj Salmin, who commands Yemen’s Second Military Zone in the eastern province of Hadramaut, revealed today that the authorities had foiled a massive terrorist attack aimed at the local administrative headquarters in Mukalla. He said a car loaded with 15 high-explosive bombs had been detected in time before an individual linked to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP, had been able to carry out the attack, averting a major disaster.

Explaining how the attack was foiled, General Salmin said: “We received intelligence about Al Qaeda’s plans to launch a major terrorist attack in Al Mukalla aimed at destabilising the city and creating panic amongst its residents.”

“With the help of intelligence efforts that were ably assisted by a special team from the Coalition forces, we learnt on Monday that the plan was to target the local administrative headquarters in Al Mukalla city in order to liquidate the staff, destroy the infrastructure and paralyse the local government authorities. Following an extensive search, the car, loaded with a huge quantity of explosives, was found.”

Concurrently, Yemeni forces, assisted by the Coalition, conducted extensive search operations throughout Mukalla to flush out Al Qaeda elements. During these searches, they arrested a computer expert known as Abu Hafs Al Shahri, who is a key figure in AQAP activities. The arrest of Abu Hafs helped the authorities unearth vital information about the terrorist outfit’s plans to target peace and stability in the region.

Special teams from the UAE Armed Forces working as part of the Coalition are providing operational assistance to the Yemeni forces in cleansing the city of AQAP members. They are also providing much-needed intelligence for the operations. The expertise of the UAE forces in counter-terrorism operations has helped to liberate the city of Mukalla from Al Qaeda and to thwart their plans to establish a quasi-state in the region, the General said.

He added that the purpose behind the thwarted attack was to strike at a prominent symbol of the Yemeni state and to give the people of the city the idea that the recent expulsion of AQAP from Mukalla would be followed by chaos and instability.

“They also wanted to threaten the people with reprisals for cooperating with the Yemeni and Coalition forces,” he explained.

During the capture of Abu Hafs, the AQAP IT expert, who was caught in a hideout in the city, a large quantity of CDs were found that contained vital data on plans to destabilise and terrorise southern Yemen. A resident of Shihr province, Abu Hafs has been identified as a key AQAP functionary, whose role was to use his technical expertise in executing the outfit’s plans in Yemen and in using social media for propaganda.

The search operations in Mukalla have also uncovered large quantities of lethal weapons, indicative of AQAP’s continued ability to launch attacks targeted against the civilian population of the city.

WAM/MMYS (END/2016)

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By Emirates News Agency (WAM)
ABU DHABI, Dec 22 2015 (IPS)

(WAM) – The Gulf Today, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper has said that years of strife and with millions of its people scattered across the globe, peace is what Syrians yearn for. The country is in ruins and the spreading of radicalism poses major security challenges regionally and globally.

“The Syrian conflict has rattled the world so much that any initiative aimed to restore peace in that country should be welcomed without any hesitation,” said ‘The Gulf Today’ in an editorial published on Monday.

“In this context it is good that in its first resolution that focuses on ending Syria’s five-year-long war, the Security Council has now given the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices.

“Also to give the Syrian peace prospects a strong push, foreign ministers from 17 countries gathered in New York before the council’s session. The UAE has always been a peace-loving country and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, also took part in the meeting, presided over by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

“As Kerry put it, the UNSC has sent a clear message to all concerned that the time is now to stop the killing in Syria and lay the groundwork for a government that the long-suffering people of that battered land can support.

“More than 250,000 people have been killed since Syria’s conflict erupted in March 2011. The civil war has been the main driver of mass displacement, with more than 4.2 million Syrian refugees having fled abroad and 7.6 million uprooted within their shattered homeland as of mid-year.

“An opportunity for peace has at last emerged. All parties involved in the talks should seize the chance. There is a dire need for leaders deliberating on the Syrian issue to take a flexible approach.

“The unambiguous goal is end to violence and a negotiated peace solution. The participating leaders should leave no stone unturned in achieving that,” concluded the Sharjah-based daily. (WAM) (END/2015)

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(WAM) — Arab and Yemeni human rights activist monitoring the civil war in Yemen say that women have been subjected to grave human right violations at the hands of the rebel Houthi militia and an allied insurgent group under the command of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The human rights defenders were speaking at a landmark event organised by the Arab Federation for Human Rights (AFHR) on the sidelines of the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Dr. Mona Hejres, a member of the AFHR and head of “Together for Human Rights,” noted in her presentation at the event that that women were active participants in the revolution that drove Saleh out of power and that many had faced human rights crimes including killing, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and use of excessive force during that struggle. She said that today, in rebel-held areas, women suffer greatly at the hands of the Houthi militia and Saleh group, with widespread murders, forced disappearances, kidnappings, deprivation of basic educational and health services, bombardment of residential districts, and other atrocities targeting them in the capital Sana’a, Aden and other cities.

She called upon the international community to live up to its responsibilities in protecting the Yemeni people, especially women, and to back the Arab Coalition’s operations seeking to protect the Yemeni people. She also appealed to the UN Security Council to enforce its resolutions on Yemen and ensure protection, safety and security for its people, and particularly women.

During the event, a number of heads of Yemeni human rights associations and organisations pointed to a recent report by the Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV) as further evidence of the suffering caused by the Houthi militia and Saleh group in Yemen, particularly with regard to women.

Representatives of the AFHR and the YCMHRV also reiterated their rejection of the western countries’ request to establish a fact finding committee, which they said would dilute and ignore what they termed a human tragedy fomented by the rebel militias. Instead, they said, the international community should focus on prosecuting war criminals in the conflict, and to uphold its responsibilities to protect women during armed and military conflicts and disputes.

Maryam bin Tawq, Coordinator at the AFHR, spoke about the importance of establishing the international coalition “Operation Restoring Hope” aimed at protecting the Yemeni people from violations and crimes against humanity being carried out by al-Houthi group and the Saleh Militia. She said that the Euro-Mediterranean Center for Human Rights had found that the rebel militias had committed more than 4,500 human rights violations within the course of just one month of their control of Sana’a. (END)

(WAM) – A new report from a human rights group operating in Yemen says that human rights violations have reached unprecedented levels, with more than 3,000 people murdered by the insurgent Houthi militia and its allies in Yemen.

The report by the Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (YCMHRV), prepared from
reports by the organisation’s field monitors in Yemen, outlines a series of atrocities committed over the
past year in Sana’a, the capital, Aden, Taiz, Lahej, Hodiedah, Addali’e, Abyan, Dhamar and Shabwa,
governorates (see full report in report. http://www.wam.ae/en/news/international/1395286001275.html).

The report tied the Houthi militia and an allied group operating under the command of former Yemeni
president Ali Abdullah Saleh with unconstitutional overthrow of the legitimate government that has
resulted in human rights violations that have afflicted men, women, children, property and the
environment.

The findings show that between September 2014 and August 2015, 3,074 people were murdered, about
20 percent of whom were women and children, and 7,347 civilians were wounded due to random
shelling, at least 25 percent of whom were women and children. A total of 5,894 people were arbitrarily
detained during the monitoring period – 4,640 of them were released and 1,254 people remain in
captivity.

The report also focuses on arbitrary detention, forcible disappearances and hostage taking violations,
which the monitors said have been carried out regularly by the rebel militia against politicians,
journalists, and human rights and political activists. It said detainees are frequently mistreated and
deprived of basic needs such as food, water and proper hygiene and sanitation. Monitors also reported
that some detainees are used as human shields at military sites that have been targeted by the Coalition
airstrikes.

“This is a clear violation of both national and international legislation,” said the report. “The de facto
forces, the Houthis, failed to observe their commitment towards human rights and humanitarian law,
being the power in control that practices the state’s functions. Rather, the Houthis-Saleh showed total
recklessness towards human rights and human suffering.”

The report concludes with recommendations, calling on the Houthi-Saleh militia, Yemeni government
and the international community to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It also calls on
the international community to support the newly established National Commission to investigate
alleged human rights Violations with all needed technical assistance. (END)

By Emirates News Agency (WAM)
ABU DHABI, Sep 12 2015 (IPS)

(WAM) – Under the directives of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), efforts are underway to provide relief to the Syrian refugees in Lebanon. A strategic humanitarian plan has been put in place by the country which includes shelter to refugees closer to Lebanon in order to facilitate their return home when the crisis is over.

According to reports issued by the UAE news agency WAM, since the crisis began in 2011, the Gulf countries received more than 100,000 Syrian refugees. Earlier 140,000 refugees were accomodated in the region.

The UAE was one of the first countries to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis, providing more than USD530 million in direct aid, mainly through the Syria Recovery Trust Fund.

Since January 2015, the UAE provided an additional USD44 million as part of a new aid commitment of USD100 million, reported WAM.

The UAE is also working towards peace and stability in Syria, by supporting the Global Coalition Against Daesh and as a co-leader for the Coalition Working Groups on Stabilisation and Strategic Communications in the region.

Commenting on the UAE humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees, Hamad Saeed Sultan Al Shamsi, Ambassador of UAE to Lebanon, said “The UAE government, its humanitarian institutions and organisations through direct initiatives and its offices have continued their support for the displaced Syrians in Lebanon.”

Ambassador Al Shamsi added that the UAE Embassy in Lebanon, in cooperation with the UN and other international organisations including Dar Al Fatwa, Orphanage House and municipalities, have provided humanitarian and relief assistance to the Syrian refugees with included medical treatment, date food packages, drinking water and food supplements for children, blankets and mattresses, and, during Iftar and Eid ul Fitr, distributed clothes, gifts and sacrificial meat. He also pointed out that the UAE Embassy in Beirut purchases goods from the local markets to support the Lebanese economy.

Millions of Syrians fled their homes as the conflict in their country escalated. By the summer of 2014, more than 11 million people — nearly half the population of Syria — had either been internally displaced or fled the country altogether. More than four million sought refuge in neighbouring countries, where they were sheltered in refugee camps, such as the UAE-funded Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp in Jordan, that is home now to more than 4,000 Syrian refugees, and other refugee camps in Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. (WAM) (END/2015)

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