UAE and French presidents discuss bilateral relations and situation in the Middle East on phone call

During a phone call on Friday, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and his French counterpart, HE Emmanuel Macron, discussed bilateral relations, steps to further enhance cooperation and pressing crises engulfing the Middle East.

The leaders reviewed the latest regional and international developments, particularly in the Middle East, emphasising that diplomacy and dialogue are immensely important for overcoming the different tough crises threatening global peace and stability.

Mohamed bin Zayed and Macron discuss Sudan crisis

The call covered the results of the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan, recently hosted by Paris to intensify international and regional efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the raging conflict in Sudan.

The brutal Sudan fighting is just days short of reaching its first anniversary. It is a civil war between rival factions of the military government of Sudan – the Sudanese Armed Forces under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under Hemedti.

The conference in Paris explored ways to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan and stressed the importance of a diplomatic path to ensure an immediate and permanent truce that meets the aspirations of the people of Sudan.

During its participation in the conference, the UAE promised $100 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan and neighbouring nations, as the total amount of aid already offered to those in need has reached $150 million.

The UAE has been providing medical, food and relief supplies to people affected by the conflict. In addition, the Gulf state has established a comprehensive field hospital in Chad at an expense of $20 million, the second hospital opened by the UAE for Sudanese refugees.

US veto of Palestine’s UN membership bid

In another important update from the Middle East, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, said that the US veto of the Palestinian membership application to the UN is a step backward in the efforts to achieve peace.

He urged the international community to not make any delay in ensuring the recognition of the State of Palestine and grant the people there their basic and legitimate rights, keeping a close eye on UN resolutions and international law.