Permanent Mission of the

UNITED ARAB EMIFATES

to the United NATIONS

New York

Statement

By

His Highness

,Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al-Sharqi

Member of the U.A.E. Supreme Council,

Ruler of the Emirate of Al-Fujairah

And

Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Delegation

To

The United Nations Millenium Summit

New York, 7 September 2000

747ThirdAvenue * NewYork,NY10017 + Tel:(212)371-0480 * Fax:(212)371-4923

In The Name of God,

The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate

Mr. President.

On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Zayid Bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, President of the State of the United Arab Emirates, I have the honour to convey his greetings and regards to the President of the Republic of Namibia and the President of Finland for co-chairing this historic Summit.

Mr. President,

The United Arab Emirates looks to this Millennium Summit with high hopes for achieving justice and equality among all the peoples of the world and for reinforcing the bonds of joint cooperation in dealing with injustice, violence, terrorism, illiteracy, organized crime, the elimination of poverty and contagious diseases and a horde of other contemporary international problems.

While we emphasize our true desire to seriously work with all the nations and peoples of the world in attaining the goals and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and for the prevalence of security, peace and stability in our region and in the world at large, we call for respect for the renunciation of violence, nonuse of force and the resolution of disputes through dialogue and by peaceful means.

Hence, the United Arab Emirates is still persisting in its endeavours to find a peaceful solution to the dispute with the Islamic Republic of Iran arising from Iran's occupation in 1971 of the three islands pertaining to the United Arab Emirates - Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu-Moussa. We call upon Iran to respond to our declared initiative to peacefully resolve this dispute in accordance with the principles and rules of international law, either through direct negotiations, or by resorting to the International Court of Justice. We are confident that such a step would strengthen and cement the bilateral and collective relations between the States of the region, and indeed contribute to consolidating the foundations of regional and international peace, security and stability.

I In this context also, we call upon the international community, including Iraq, to exert further political and diplomatic efforts to alleviate the human suffering of the fraternal Iraqi people. In doing so we underline the need for the Iraqi Government to complete its implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly regarding the prisoners of war and other detainees who are citizens of the sisterly State of Kuwait and other countries, and the restitution of Kuwaiti property.

Mr. President,

Achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East requires a comn-fitment on the part of the Israeli Government to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly Security Council resolutions 242(1967) and 338(1973) which call for ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian and other Arab occupied territories, particularly AI-Quds Ash-Sharif (Jerusalem) and the Syrian Golan, the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland and the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital.

In welcoming the efforts made by the United States of America and countries in order to arrive at a just and equitable solution of the Palestine issue, we call for sustaining those efforts for the resumption of negotiations on the Syrian track, so that the countries and peoples of that region can enjoy security, stability and prosperity. Also in this regard, we would like to express our congratulations to fraternal Lebanon on regaining its territories, wishing it continued prosperity and progress.

Mr. President,

Despite the multi-dimensional economic growth that has characterized developments in international economic relations, we are concerned at the series of problems and challenges that the developing countries have to endure, particularly at a time when global events have proved that the international economic stability require the participation of both the developing and developed countries. Globalization, also, represents both a phenomenon and an important event in international relations. Accordingly, it must utilize to serve the common interests and objectives of humanity.

Mr. President,

The United Nations still represents the most appropriate international forum for dealing with contemporary regional and international issues such as limiting the proliferation of proscribed weapons, situations of foreign occupation, poverty and debt, environmental pollution and similar issues. Therefore, we call for the reform of the Organization, especially the General Assembly and the Security Council in order to enable them to effectively deal with those challenges and phenomena.

In closing, we trust that this Millennium Summit will mark the start of a new era in international relations, wherein tolerance, peaceful coexistence, stability and respect for international law would prevail, leading to a better life for all humankind.

Peace and the grace and blessings of God be with you.