Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari
Remarks to the General Cooperation Meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States
Geneva, 27 July 2026
Your Excellencies,
I am honoured to welcome you all once again to Geneva for the 17th biennial General Cooperation Meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.
I want to begin by congratulating His Excellency Mr. Nabil Fahmy, the new Secretary-General of the League. We wish him all the best as he takes up this very important role.
Excellencies,
The region today is once again embroiled in a tragic conflict with far-reaching consequences for the Arab region and beyond. The United Nations continues to follow with deep concern the current conflict in the Middle East and its direct impact on the Arab region.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has struck at the heart of Arab economies, disrupted food and water supply chains, and led to downward revisions to growth forecasts, some facing outright contraction.
We recognize the leadership shown by Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and others in the region in mediating a path toward de-escalation, and the vital role of the region in preserving space for diplomacy. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, remains actively engaged with capitals across the region in support of a durable political resolution, and stands ready to work closely with the League in this effort.
I reaffirm the United Nations' call for restraint, protection of civilians, and a resolution grounded in international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory also continues to demand the region and the world’s attention.
Consolidating the Gaza ceasefire and implementing Security Council resolution 2803 (2025) remain critical to advancing stabilization and recovery, as well as the path to an end to occupation and a viable two-State solution.
Gaza’s recovery must be Palestinian-led, consistent with international law, and preserving of the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, we must not lose sight of the escalating violence, settler attacks and settlement expansion in the West Bank – which continue to entrench the occupation and undermine Palestinian self-determination.
Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the broader region, UNRWA continues to play a critical role as a pillar of stability. However, the Agency is facing serious political and financial challenges. It needs the full support and funding of the international community.
In this challenging context, close cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States remains essential to support Gaza’s recovery and sustain attention to broader challenges across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The 26 June Trilateral Framework between Lebanon, Israel and the United States is a significant milestone towards ending the cycles of violence and advancing sustainable stability across the Blue Line. At the same time, significant challenges remain regarding implementation, including the security arrangements envisaged under the framework and the need to preserve national consensus and stability.
The United Nations continues to support Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and state institutions, and remains committed to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.
We welcome the continued engagement of regional partners, including the League of Arab States, in supporting dialogue, strengthening state institutions and advancing conditions for a durable peace and stability in Lebanon.
The League of Arab States is also a critical component in the international community’s efforts to address the situation in Sudan, which continues to deteriorate with civilians bearing the heaviest burden.
Over the past year, the Quintet -- comprising the African Union, the European Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and the United Nations -- has provided an important framework for strengthening multilateral engagement in support of an inclusive, Sudanese-led civilian dialogue and a future credible political process.
Looking ahead, the Quintet will continue to work in close coordination to bolster support for Sudanese civilian stakeholders and advance collective efforts to resolve the crisis, laying the groundwork for lasting peace and the stability which Sudan deserves.
We are working together in other difficult settings across the Arab region as well, searching for durable solutions to conflicts in Libya, Yemen and elsewhere while also working to help other countries address challenges that threaten all too fragile stability, including through supporting sustainable development, providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable and promoting human rights for all.
Excellencies,
This 17th General Meeting of Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States comes at a time of increasingly constrained resources and diminishing political will to seek durable political solutions through multilateralism.
This meeting offers us a unique platform to review our cooperation, coordinate our ongoing work and explore new opportunities for joint action in a strategic manner. In the current international climate, this platform only becomes more important.
We have a significant amount of work ahead of us and our shared agenda is remarkably broad. Closer cooperation and coordinated action serve as force multipliers, enabling both our Organizations to achieve a far greater impact together than either could alone, for the benefit of the people we serve.
I wish you all success in your discussions.
Thank you.
