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Gulf states have the expertise that could help end the war in Gaza and pave the way for a two-state solution, the EU’s representative to the Gulf Region, Luigi Di Maio, told The National on Thursday.
“The international community knows very well that without the countries of the GCC, it's very difficult to grasp the regional dynamics and understand how to solve the issue of the Gaza conflict,” Mr Di Maio said during a visit to Dubai.
The war in Gaza has refocused international attention on the need for a long-term solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with western diplomats travelling to the region to discuss postwar scenarios. The two-state solution has long been held up as an answer and envisages the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel.
“At the world level, everyone is coming to the region to meet many leaders because what they are saying ... is creating a precious expertise and know-how in terms of how to set the path for the two-state solutions,” Mr Di Maio said.
The former Italian foreign minister praised the initiatives led by GCC countries that have pushed for a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as a two-state solution.
“We have to continue to support any kind of initiative that the GCC countries are leading in terms of normalisation and de-escalation in the region,” Mr Di Maio said.
He hailed the role of the UAE, which has been working on a long-term solution including an independent Palestinian state that is fully integrated into the wider region.
"I think that the role [the UAE] plays in the region is not only in leadership to help regional prosperity, but also as an important role in facilitating the diplomatic channels with some countries in the region,” he said.
EU mission in Red Sea
Mr Di Maio also said a new EU defensive mission in the Red Sea was necessary to protect commercial shipping.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have launched a campaign of attacks against ships in the Red Sea they say are linked to Israel. It has caused major shipping companies to stop using the Red Sea – through which almost 15 per cent of global seaborne trade usually passes – and forced them to use a much longer route round southern Africa instead.
The US has led efforts to combat the Houthis in the region and led the creation of a new maritime coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian, in December.
The coalition has failed to prevent further attacks on shipping and was followed up by US and UK air strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen.
Last month, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced the EU would be establishing a maritime mission to the region called Aspides, the ancient Greek word for shield.
Mr Di Maio agreed that the mission would be purely defensive.
“This is why, as the European Union, we are about to officially decide a new autonomous and defensive maritime mission in the Red Sea, called Aspides, in order to protect respective commercial ships that are going through Bab Al Mandab, Red Sea and Suez Canal,” he said.
The mission is expected to be officially launched at a meeting of the EU's 27 foreign ministers on Monday.
Mr Di Maio said the mission was aimed at defending trade and the freedom of navigation, and would benefit from collaboration.
“EU and its Member States want to send a strong message about our clear commitment to defending the freedom of navigation, including in the Red Sea, which is of direct relevance for the GCC countries,” he said.
He said the EU was willing to work closely with the Gulf states “to de-escalate and work for the peace and prosperity of the region”.
THREE
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Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20Profile
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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