NEW YORK: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya participated in the annual consultative ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Arab League, which took place Monday on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Yahya headed the Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting, where various issues were discussed, including the current UN General Assembly session work. One of the persistent issues examined during the meeting was Palestine, the peace process in the Middle East, and the current developments in the region and international arena. Ways to enhance coordination between the Arab League and United Nations was also tackled during the meeting.

Minister Al-Yahya also co-hosted a working dinner for the ten non-permanent members of the UNSC (E10), along with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero, the E10 coordinator for the month. Discussions at the event focused on key issues and challenges facing the Middle East, which constitutes a third of the topics on the Security Council’s agenda, with particular emphasis on the Palestinian issue. The participating foreign ministers exchanged views on strategies to address the region’s threats and discussed the international community’s actions in this regard.

The meeting also explored ways to empower non-permanent members of the Security Council to take measures ensuring adherence to the UN Charter and international law, while promoting transparency and effectiveness in the council’s operations. The five newly elected members set to join the Security Council were also in attendance, as they engaged in discussions on enhancing the role of non-permanent members in global peace and security efforts. — KUNA