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ABU DHABI / WAM
Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), received Helene Quilter, Secretary of Defence New Zealand, and her accompanying delegation at FNC headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
The FNC Speaker commenced the meeting by first expressing her condolences to the government of New Zealand and its people, and the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch. She praised the New Zealand government’s actions carried out to stand by the families of the victims following the violent terrorist attack.
Dr Al Qubaisi affirmed that the UAE’s stance towards ending crises, both regionally and globally, is through political and diplomatic solutions. She went on to note UAE’s commitment to spreading ideas and values of understanding, peaceful co-existence, and respect for the other within society. The FNC Speaker said that UAE is a model for tolerance and co-existence, noting that the country was the first in the world to form a Ministry of Tolerance. The UAE also declared 2019 as the ‘Year of Tolerance’, and witnessed the historic signing of the ‘Human Fraternity’ document by His Holiness Pope Francis, and His Eminence Dr Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, in the nation’s capital, Abu Dhabi,
Dr Al Qubaisi noted.
For her part, the New Zealand Secretary of Defence lauded the status of Emirati women, especially regarding the empowerment and raising their representation to 50 percent within the FNC for the next parliamentary session.
The two sides also discussed means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly concerning political ties.
Quilter also expressed her appreciation of the UAE’s role to combatting terrorism and extremism, as well as its support for refugees and its global humanitarian initiatives. Like the FNC Speaker, Quilter also affirmed New Zealand’s firm belief in the role of diplomatic and parliamentary work to resolve crises.
The two sides also discussed means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly concerning political ties.
Various FNC members and representatives attended the meeting.
The meeting’s proceedings also included a showcase of the UAE’s parliamentary progress and the “empowerment programme” announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2005 to bolster women’s involvement within the Federal National Council.