Arab and western officials urged greater international co-operation on Saturday, to confront challenges posed by climate change, terrorism, conflicts and the energy crisis.
Ministers and policy makers were attending the annual Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, where policies on security were being discussed.
“Let us join forces for our collective security. Gulf security matters to Europe, as Europe’s security matters to the Gulf,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her opening speech.
Ms von der Leyen said the EU was ready to do its part in strengthening economic and security engagement with the region.
“The world needs a stronger security architecture, against the spread of chaos. We know this in Europe and it matters also here in the Gulf,” she said.
The EU leader’s remarks were echoed by Gulf Co-operation Council Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf.
“Working together is a must, to address such challenges, we are much stronger and better off if we start to work together to maximise our resilience,” he said.
Mr Al Hajraf said crises in the Middle East spanned from Yemen to Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon and Palestine. Beyond the region he spoke about the Russia-Ukraine war, cyber security and terrorist threats, as well as climate change.
“Restoring peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East requires respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs,"he said. "Working together is a must."
Arab and Gulf states have voiced concerns about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the international community, including rising food prices that have affected the region.
Developing countries have the highest exposure to regional conflicts, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al Khuraiji said.
“Geopolitical conflicts are not limited to the warring parties, they have wide-ranging consequences for food and energy security, with developing countries most exposed,” Mr Al Khuraiji said.
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah said that "no region is immune to the consequences of conflict".
"Energy prices march forward to the beat of war drums. It is precisely for this reason that de-escalation and dialogue are vital," Sheikh Salem said.
"As energy markets brace for what is to come, as conflicts intensify, and a global recession looms, let us unite. For it is through our friendships that we flourish, and through our partnerships that we prosper," Sheikh Salem said.
Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said her country was ready to become a hub for mediation and de-escalation of conflicts.
"Peace is within our self interest," she said.
"Norway can never force anyone through military means. But we can facilitate talks. For us, that’s a long-term investment, aimed at contributing to a more stable world," Ms Huitfeldt said.
Consequences of conflicts in the region span far beyond the Middle East, she said.
"Just as conflicts in Europe have consequences far beyond Europe. In Europe we have taken peace almost for granted since 1945. Not anymore," said the minister.
Russia's war in Ukraine is felt not only in Europe but "everywhere", she said.
"In the Middle East it affects markets, energy prices and food security. But the consequences of this war could also be an incentive for more regional co-operation."
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Russia's war was a concern for the whole world.
"Russia’s war of aggression is truly a global issue. It is responsible for the current food crisis. It is using food dependencies to further its military goals," Mr Haavisto said.
Moscow has chosen to attack not only Ukraine, but also the entire international order, he said.
On Iran's regional threat, the US Central Command Chief, Gen Michael Kurilla, said more than 100 unmanned vessels would be deployed in Gulf waters by next year to starve off maritime threats.
The announcement in Bahrain came after Israel and the US blamed Iran for a drone strike off the coast of Oman this week that hit a tanker operated by an Israeli-owned company.
The attack, which coincided with heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, was the latest in a string of disruptions in Gulf waters that are a key route for world energy supplies.
"By this time next year, Task Force 59 will bring together a fleet of over 100 unmanned surface and subsurface vessels operating together, communicating together and providing maritime domain awareness," General Kurilla said.
HOW TO WATCH
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Brief scores
Day 1
Toss England, chose to bat
England, 1st innings 357-5 (87 overs): Root 184 not out, Moeen 61 not out, Stokes 56; Philander 3-46
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
SHAITTAN
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')
Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')
Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
