Saqr Ghobash calls for the meeting of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Baghdad to coordinate parliamentary work

Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, stressed that today more than ever we are required to coordinate our parliamentary work, unify our positions on all common issues, activate the role of parliamentary diplomacy, open the doors of cooperation and solidarity in order to achieve the integration to which our peoples aspire, and also contribute to activating the role of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union as the umbrella for Arab parliaments.

This came in a speech before the thirty-fourth meeting of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, hosted by the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in the presence of Their Excellencies, heads and members of Arab parliamentary delegations and His Excellency Fayez Al-Shawabkeh, Secretary-General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The meeting was attended by members of the UAE Parliamentary Division Group in the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, HE Naema Abdul Rahman Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Group, Obaid Khalfan Al Salami, Vice Chairman of the Group, Nasser Mohammed Al Yamahi, Aisha Rashid Letim, and Ahmed Abdullah Al Shehhi, members of the Council, and the meeting was also attended by: Dr. Omar Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Council, Afra Rashid Al Basti, Assistant Secretary-General for Parliamentary Communication, and Tariq Ahmed Al Marzouqi, Assistant Secretary-General for Presidency Affairs.

His Excellency Saqr Ghobash said: "I am honored to convey the sincere feelings of brotherhood and love of the United Arab Emirates, from the people of the UAE and their wise leadership, headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, (may God protect him) to brotherly Iraq, as he hosts, after a long absence, our thirty-fourth meeting with all that we have known and experienced about the people of Iraq of the generous hospitality and warm reception of the Arabs. From the land of the cradle of civilizations and the capital of Al-Rashid, I am pleased to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, the presidency and secretariat, for the good organization and management of this forum.

He stressed that many Arab countries are still facing and suffering from the scourges of terrorism and extremism that cross borders with all the threats they carry and cause to Arab and international peace and national security, expressing the condolences of the leadership and people of the United Arab Emirates to brotherly Syria on the tragedy of the recent earthquake.

His Excellency said that I have chosen today to begin my speech with you, as we are the representatives of our Arab peoples and the expression of their voices, by remembering and drawing inspiration from some of our Arab values and achievements that have left their mark on all peoples of the earth throughout different periods of history. From our Arab land, the paths of civilization, culture and science were launched, and from our Arab land the values of tolerance, justice and equality were founded and spread. Perhaps suffice it to say here that we have brought from this land on which we are gathered today to all humanity the first letter and word, the first law and legislation.

His Excellency stressed the importance of coming up with unified positions that live up to the level of his ambitions and the aspirations of our peoples regarding their fateful issues, especially the Palestinian cause, which has formed, and will remain, the compass of the foreign policy of the United Arab Emirates since its establishment in 1971, and has been at the forefront of the attention and support of the UAE leadership since the era of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) until the present day under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE (may God protect him), who has spared no effort and has spared no effort. Spares no effort to support the Palestinian people and their just cause, so that they can establish their independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.