UAE mediation efforts succeed with new exchange of 410 captives between Russia, Ukraine
The United Arab Emirates has announced the success of mediation efforts in a new exchange of war captives between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, which included 205 Ukrainian captives and 205 Russian captives, bringing the overall number exchanged through UAE mediation efforts to 4,181.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its appreciation to the two countries for their cooperation with the UAE's mediation endeavors. This reflects the confidence and appreciation of both countries for the UAE's role in supporting all efforts to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
The Ministry emphasised that the success of this mediation, the fifteenth, reflects the distinguished ties between the UAE and the two countries.
Furthermore, the Ministry reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to ensuring the success of all efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, and mitigating the humanitarian impacts as a result of the crisis, including on refugees and captives.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
38 minutes ago
- The National
Nawaf Salam pledges to build 'Lebanon 3.0' but warns citizens' resilience alone will not fix country
Lebanon cannot rely solely on the 'remarkable resilience' of its people and must address corruption, institutional failure and political paralysis, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday at a conference in Beirut. The reformist leader said Lebanon must transition to a state that inspires confidence in its citizens as well as investors. He criticised historic corruption, nepotism and 'gross mismanagement' that he blamed for the virtual collapse of the country, and pledged to build 'Lebanon 3.0". At an event in downtown Beirut organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Mr Salam said the resilience of citizens could not be a substitute for a responsible state. The word 'resilience' has been repeatedly bandied around in Lebanon as a compliment and a damning sign of hardships afflicting the country, but Mr Salam said 'no society can rely indefinitely on the strength of its people to compensate for institutional failure'. 'It's time for Lebanon to transition from survival through personal resilience, to progress through collective strength … grounded in the rule of law, modern institutions, sustainable economic policies and full respect for national sovereignty,' he said. Mr Salam, a former head judge of the International Court of Justice, came to power this year following the election of President Joseph Aoun in January. Mr Salam has pursued a break from the past and created a reformist government made up of ministers who were not members of Lebanon's political parties – even if they were nominated by them. Coming in the wake of Israel's brutal war on Lebanon, years of economic crises and ineffective governance, many Lebanese hold high hopes that the country's new leaders can bring about a new dawn in national development. Diplomats and humanitarian officials have generally praised practical steps taken by the government so far against the formidable tasks ahead. But with parliamentary elections set for next year, its mandate may be short. In his speech, Mr Salam criticised what he called a culture of impunity and said the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion was a 'powerful symbol' of the urgent need for accountability. The blast killed more than 200 people and was one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions ever recorded. Mr Salam said his government was working hard to bring about 'Lebanon 3.0" through its reforms. If Lebanon 1.0 was characterised by the post-independence period, and 2.0 the aftermath of the 1975-1990 civil war, 3.0 'must be defined by the creation of a stable and lasting framework that inspires trust among citizens and investors, empowers all citizens to live with dignity and security, draws strength from our diversity and ensures economic opportunity', he said. Mr Salam said his government was making meaningful progress, pointing to the recent passing of a banking secrecy law that marked a 'decisive shift away from outdated practices'. He also insisted the state must have a monopoly over arms and on its own 'decide matters of war and peace' – one of the most divisive issues in Lebanese political discourse. There is pressure from both abroad and at home for Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group and political party, to be disarmed following its devastating war with Israel last year. While battered and bruised from the conflict, Hezbollah remains a potent force. Israel also continues to bomb southern Lebanon daily and occupy positions on Lebanese territory, demanding that Hezbollah be fully stripped of its weapons.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Lebanon cannot rely on resilience alone and must fix state failures, says Prime Minister Salam
Lebanon cannot rely solely on the 'remarkable resilience' of its people and must address corruption, institutional failure and political paralysis, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday at a conference in Beirut. The reformist leader said Lebanon must transition to a state that inspires confidence in its citizens as well as investors. He criticised historic corruption, nepotism and 'gross mismanagement' that he blamed for the virtual collapse of the country, pledging to build ' Lebanon 3.0". Speaking at an event in downtown Beirut organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Mr Salam said the resilience of Lebanese citizens could not be a substitute for a responsible state. The word 'resilience' has been repeatedly bandied around in Lebanon as both a compliment and a damning sign of hardships afflicting the country, but Mr Salam said 'no society can rely indefinitely on the strength of its people to compensate for institutional failure'. 'It's time for Lebanon to transition from survival through personal resilience, to progress through collective strength … grounded in the rule of law, modern institutions, sustainable economic policies and full respect for national sovereignty,' he said. Mr Salam, a former head judge of the International Court of Justice, came to power earlier this year following the election of President Joseph Aoun in January. Mr Salam has pursued a break from the past and created a reformist government made up of ministers who were not members of Lebanon's political parties – even if they were nominated by them. Coming in the wake of Israel's brutal war on Lebanon, years of economic crises and ineffective governance, many Lebanese hold high hopes that the country's new leaders can bring about a new dawn in national development. Diplomats and humanitarian officials have generally praised practical steps taken by the government so far against the formidable tasks ahead. But with parliamentary elections set for next year, its mandate may be short. In his speech, Mr Salam criticised what he called a culture of impunity and said the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion was a 'powerful symbol' of the urgent need for accountability. The blast killed more than 200 people and was one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions ever recorded. Mr Salam said his government was working hard to bring about 'Lebanon 3.0" through its reforms. If Lebanon 1.0 was characterised by the post-independence period, and 2.0 the aftermath of the 1975-1990 civil war, 3.0 'must be defined by the creation of a stable and lasting framework that inspires trust among citizens and investors, empowers all citizens to live with dignity and security, draws strength from our diversity and ensures economic opportunity', he said. Mr Salam said his government was making meaningful progress, pointing to the recent passing of a banking secrecy law that marked a 'decisive shift away from outdated practices'. He also insisted the state must have a monopoly over arms and on its own 'decide matters of war and peace' – one of the most divisive issues in Lebanese political discourse. There is pressure from both abroad and at home for Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group and political party, to be disarmed following its devastating war with Israel last year. While battered and bruised from the conflict, Hezbollah remains a potent force. Israel also continues to bomb southern Lebanon daily and occupy positions on Lebanese territory, demanding that Hezbollah be fully stripped of its weapons.
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Gaza war hurts my whole body, says Man City manager Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester on Monday and used his acceptance speech to address the war in Gaza. The war erupted after Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, in the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel's military campaign has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. "It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body," Guardiola said. "It's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour. "Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it's not a hospital anymore. It's not our business. "But be careful. The next four- or five-year-old kids will be ours. Sorry, but I see my kids, Maria, Marius and Valentina. When I see every morning since the nightmare started the infants in Gaza, and I'm so scared." Guardiola was recognised for his contribution to the city, including guiding his team to six Premier League titles in nine years with the club, along with his charitable work through his Guardiola Sala Foundation. The 54-year-old Spaniard was presented with his honorary degree by the University's Chancellor Nazir Afzal at Whitworth Hall.
