The Political Awareness Forum for University Students launched its sixth edition on Monday, 27th November 27, which explored the role of the Federal National Council (FNC) in boosting UAE diplomacy in the region and the world.

The Forum was organised by the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and the United Arab Emirates University under the theme "UAE Parliamentary Diplomacy".

Speaking at the Forum’s opening ceremony, Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, said: "As we launch the forum today, we prepare to embark on a new phase of building political awareness among university students in the UAE. The Forum actively promotes political participation in the UAE by educating young people about issues of national interest, empowering them to play a role in political life."

"The activities of this year’s Forum highlight the pivotal role that members of the Federal National Council play in the UAE, while also shedding a light on the Council’s great achievements in enhancing the country’s standing in regional and international forums," Al Owais added.

For his part, Prof. Mohamed Albaili, Vice-Chancellor of UAE University, said: "Holding the sixth Political Awareness Forum for University Students here at UAE University is a testament that raising the political awareness of students and deepening their involvement in society’s progress are substantive inputs for achieving stability, prosperity and sustainable development, and vital objectives in the empowerment process launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan."

"In its sixth cycle, the Forum is considered a key pillar in building students’ political awareness, enhancing their political engagement and promoting their national identity and loyalty to their country," Prof. Albaili added. "Convinced that the youth is the hope and future of the nation, our wise leadership has worked on human development and provided the people of the UAE with the necessary requirements to contribute in building the present, envisioning the future and maintaining the achievements of the nation."

Dr Maryam Sultan Lootah, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in the UAE University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, spoke during the first session, titled "The Theoretical Dimension of Parliamentary Diplomacy". Chaired by Dr Mohammed bin Huwaiden, Head of the Department of Political Science at UAE University, the session provided an overview of parliamentary diplomacy, revealing that rapid international developments have sparked new forms of diplomacy. In addition to official diplomacy carried out by ambassadors appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, we now have a new concept known as parliamentary diplomacy.

Also speaking during the first session, Hamad bin Salmeen Al Suwaidi, Director of the Parliamentary Division at the FNC’s General Secretariat, introduced the institutional framework of UAE parliamentary diplomacy. Al Suwaidi pointed out that national parliaments today are actively practicing in diplomatic efforts, adding that the FNC has developed its foreign parliamentary relations, strengthening cooperation with other parliaments around the world.

The second session, titled "The Practical Dimension of UAE Parliamentary Diplomacy", was moderated by Dr Saeed Mohammad Al Ghafli, Assistant Undersecretary for FNC Affairs in the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs.

Speaking at the session, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Legal Affairs, addressed the relationship between parliamentary diplomacy and the UAE’s foreign policy. Al Jarman explained that the FNC’s parliamentary diplomacy played an important role in raising the issues facing the UAE with other parliaments around the region and the world. Foremost among these issues was the status of the three UAE islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.

Ali Jassem, FNC Member and Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), spoke on behalf of the Arab Group, lauded the FNC’s influential role in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the impact of the UAE Parliamentary Division in the IPU on promoting parliamentary diplomacy.

Source: Wam