New York, UN
Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Thank you, Madam President,
Excellencies,
I would like to thank the French Presidency of the Security Council for convening this meeting. This is a valuable opportunity to deepen our ongoing dialogue with the League of Arab States.
Cooperation with the League remains a priority for the United Nations. Our cooperation serves as a force multiplier, enabling us to advance shared objectives more effectively and deliver more meaningful and lasting benefits for the people that we serve.
By showcasing the effectiveness of this partnership, we are also advancing the broader cause of multilateralism at a time when collective action is sorely needed in many places around the world.
Excellencies,
As we meet today, the US-Iran conflict continues. The ongoing escalation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is deeply concerning. The only viable way out is through dialogue and negotiations. Diplomacy must be given every opportunity to succeed.
We stand ready to support all efforts to reduce tension and prevent further escalation. All parties must refrain from actions or rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions and resolve disputes by peaceful means. Navigational rights and freedoms must be fully restored and respected by all, in accordance with international law.
We also remain deeply alarmed by the renewed escalation in Yemen, including intensifying hostilities across multiple frontlines and Houthi attacks against civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
These developments pose a serious threat to civilian lives and undermine regional stability and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandab Strait. They risk drawing Yemen further into an expanding regional confrontation.
We condemn the Houthi cross-border attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. We call on Yemeni parties to exercise restraint and uphold international law. In this regard, the engagement of the League and its members is indispensable. We count on their support for United Nations efforts to achieve an inclusive and sustainable negotiated settlement in Yemen.
In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the continued close cooperation between the United Nations and the League remains essential to supporting Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction and ensuring that attention remains focused on the broader challenges threatening the viability of a future Palestinian State.
Consolidating the Gaza ceasefire and implementing the United States Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, as endorsed by Security Council resolution 2803 (2025) remain critical to advancing stabilization and recovery, as well as preserving a path to ending the occupation and enacting a viable two-State solution. Gaza’s recovery must be Palestinian-led, consistent with international law, and preserve the political, geographic, and territorial unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
At the same time, we must not lose sight of the escalating violence, increasing settler attacks, and Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which further entrenches the occupation and undermines the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the broader region, UNRWA remains a vital lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees but is facing serious political and financial challenges. It needs the full support and funding of League members and the wider international community.
The stability of Lebanon remains closely linked to broader regional peace and security. Israeli military presence and attacks in southern Lebanon are deeply concerning. Continued attacks by Hizbullah and its maintenance of weapons outside State authority are also of serious concern. We continue to call for de-escalation and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).
Supporting Lebanese state institutions, including efforts to extend state authority throughout Lebanese territory, are essential to consolidating stability. At the same time, sustained progress on recovery, on reconstruction, and economic reform will be key to building a more secure future for Lebanon.
We value our close partnership with the League in support of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability. Through our continued cooperation, we must help galvanize international support for Lebanon and strengthen regional backing for the country’s recovery and reform.
Syria is steadily regaining its position in the region and the international community. We continue to engage closely with the Government and members of the League to coordinate support for an inclusive, Syrian-owned and -led political transition, while helping to ensure that Syria remains stable and insulated from the broader regional tensions.
Excellencies,
The devastating conflict in Sudan tragically continues to exact an intolerable toll on civilians and threatens wider regional stability. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians.
The parties must engage in good faith towards a comprehensive ceasefire and an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process. There can be no military solution to this conflict. We welcome the close cooperation between the United Nations and the League, including through the Quintet, whose recent engagements in Sudan are helping advance coordinated international support for dialogue, de-escalation and a credible political path.
In Libya, the recent agreement on the electoral framework offers renewed momentum towards national elections and restoring the legitimacy of Libyan institutions. The League and its members are key partners of the United Nations in facilitating the next steps and encouraging Libyan stakeholders to remain committed to dialogue and compromise.
The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) will close on 31 October 2026, marking the conclusion of a chapter in our close cooperation with Somalia and its people.
At the same time, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) remains indispensable for Somalia’s security. Its effectiveness depends on continued logistical support from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), as well as sustainable financing.
It is therefore important to ensure a structured and orderly drawdown of UNSOS that preserves an appropriate level of support to AUSSOM, facilitates a smooth security transition and safeguards the progress achieved over the past decade. I urge partners to continue providing support for the sustainability of AUSSOM.
As the United Nations reshapes its engagement in the country, I wish to reaffirm that the UN remains firmly committed to supporting Somalia and the Somali people as a steadfast partner.
Excellencies,
The United Nations and the League of Arab States have worked in close partnership for more than eight decades across a wide range of priorities, with the promotion of peace and security at the heart of this enduring relationship. At a time of mounting global challenges and increasingly constrained resources, the value of this partnership has never been greater.
We look forward to further deepening and expanding our partnership, building on our respective strengths and comparative advantages to maximize our collective impact for the people of the Arab region and the wider world. In an increasingly fragmented world, such cooperation is not merely valuable; it is a strategic imperative.
Thank you.