ABU DHABI // Italy and the UAE are united in their opposition to military intervention in Syria, a delegation of Italian politicians said after meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs this week.
The members of Italy's Chamber of Deputies met Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in the capital on Wednesday to discuss ways the two nations could bring together Syria's splintered opposition and change Russia's position.
"We both agree that by no means can we take up a military intervention," said Federica Mogherini, secretary of the defence committee at the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
"This is because of its geographical position. It would absolutely be counterproductive.
"The Italian and UAE positions are aligned, and we are both very worried of the current situation in Syria.
"We agreed that the priority is to increase international pressure on Russia, so it joins the international community on Syria. Italy decided to expel the Syrian ambassador a few days ago and we are acting with the United Nations on increasing the international pressure on the regime."
Ms Mogherini said Italy and the Emirates had different roles to play in their diplomatic efforts to bring the country's opposition leaders closer together.
"We discussed the problems that cause the divisions within the opposition, which obviously concerns us," she said. "Any alternative to the regime now looks fragmented.
"There are different roles for our two countries. Obviously, the Emirates being in the region and an Arab country, it will play a different role."
Also in the Italian delegation were: Gianfranco Conte, president of the finance committee of the Chamber of Deputies; Erica Rivolta, member of its committee on culture, science and education; and Maria Teresa Calabro, adviser to the chamber on bilateral talks concerning Syria, Iran and Libya.
The delegation discussed its concern over the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
"We and all of Europe think a nuclear-armed Iran is a danger to us," Ms Mogherini said.
The delegation discussed with Sheikh Abdullah ways of strengthening the International Atomic Energy Agency's role and supporting its inspection missions.
Ms Mogherini said Italy agreed with the UAE that a military strike on Iran was not the answer.
"We both agreed there are possibilities within Iranian society to create political change," she said.
Mr Conte said the UAE and Italy had reached an agreement during the visit to cooperate in rebuilding Libya.
"We have established a commitment for reconstruction together in Libya," he said. "We agreed with Sheikh Abdullah to focus on reconstruction of infrastructure."
The delegation did not provide details of the agreement.
"The UAE and Italy were involved side by side in the intervention and now we are looking to cooperate more in a bilateral way in reconstruction, as Italy is very close to Libya and has a strong physical presence there, while the Emirates have a very strong financial and business presence there," Ms Mogherini said.
The Italian delegation also spent time meeting with members of the FNC, and with Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
"We discussed with the UAE parliamentary members ways to enhance further cooperation between us, and discussed issues relating to the Arab Spring, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and the Palestinian-Israeli situation," Ms Mogherini said.
amustafa@thenational.ae
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
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What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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