The UN official in charge of the International Maritime Organisation is planning to strengthen the agency in Egypt in response to the Red Sea crisis and 70 per cent fall in freight traffic through the Suez Canal.
Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary general of the IMO, told reporters in London that the disruption of global trade caused by Yemeni Houthi rebel attacks on Israel and its allies was a primary concern for his organisation.
In particular, the impact on Egypt was something he was determined to address alongside the fate of the 25 crew on the hostage ship Galaxy Leader, which has been held by the Houthis since late 2023. He pointed out the enormous climate change damage by traffic diverting to sail around Africa.
“Sailing around the Cape of Good Hope increases emissions by 70 per cent, the cost of goods and trade is expected to go up 0.6 per cent this year, that's even though shipping is necessary and trade is expected to increase two per cent.
“The Suez Canal continues to suffer particularly with transit down around 70 per cent.”
The visit scheduled for next week follows diplomacy across the region last year, including talks with Iran and other regional powers, for conversations with those with influence over the situation in Yemen.
“I'm opening a regional co-ordination office for tanker co-operation activities,” Mr Dominguez said. “Meeting with the authorities to follow up the conversations I have had [already] and follow up with the actions that they are taking as part of the negotiations.
“I'll secure any additional advice that they can give me. With the Suez Canal, it is important for me to go there to see and listen to the consensus approach on 2025.”
The plight of the Galaxy Leader presents a problem for the UN body. “As we start again, I'm going back to Iran and all the countries I have conversations with to see what actions they're taking.”
Although there have been no attacks on merchant shipping since November that does not mean the threats are resolved in the area.
Houthi rebels disrupt ships in the Red Sea – in pictures
“I am campaigning very hard about one ship and a number of seafarers. There are 35 seafarers involved with the Galaxy Leader and a larger negative effect of what’s happening to it. My perspective is that we should not forget the dangers and assume that when everything comes back to normality the Galaxy Leader will be released. We would like that to happen beforehand.”
The Panamanian diplomat, who has led the IMO since last year, said he was in discussions with the special representative of the UN secretary general on Yemen to overcome some of the obstacles to his diplomacy.
The IMO cannot have a direct relationship with the Houthis who control the capital, Sanaa, and the port of Hodeidah because they are in conflict with the internationally recognised government of Yemen based in Aden.
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The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
Turkish Ladies
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Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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