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UAE for peaceful resolution of all issues with Iran
UAE for peaceful resolution of all issues with Iran Staff Reporter / 25 June 2013 The UAE is for long-lasting and effective confidence-building measures (CBMs) and peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with its neighbour Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued to Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Monday. The ministry statement said the UAE also continues to contribute to the international efforts aimed at securing global peace and prosperity. “Despite the long-running dispute with Iran on the question of the three occupied UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs and worries about Iran’s nuclear programme, the UAE has kept open all channels of constructive engagement that could result in a mechanism for confidence-building measures and the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues,” the statement added. However, the ministry affirmed that while continuing to demand the restoration of the UAE’s full sovereignty over the three islands, the country remains committed to its proposal that the issue should be settled either through direct, serious negotiations or by referral to the International Court of Justice. About Syria, the ministry said the UAE was concerned about the appalling and dangerous conflict there. “As has been noted by the Foreign Minister, the UAE supports the emergence of a non-sectarian government in the country which will protect the rights of its various communities. With regards to the current and escalating civil conflict, the UAE has provided substantial support for refugees in neighbouring countries, while participating in the Friends of Syria group, supporting Arab and international initiatives to bring the bloodshed to an end and in the work of the Task Force entrusted with future reconstruction of the Syrian economy,” the policy statement added. The UAE is one of the major contributors to humanitarian assistance and development projects in Palestine, as well as to the direct budget of the Palestinian Authority. Overall, the UAE has provided over $3 billion in aid to the Palestinians, including development funds for infrastructure, housing, hospital and school projects. In addition, the country donated $174 million towards reconstruction in Gaza. Aid to Afghanistan, Pakistan About peace efforts in Afghanistan, the statement said the UAE continues to contribute constructively to the international efforts aimed at stabilising war-torn country. “Besides the active role played by units of the UAE Armed Forces in supporting the Afghan Governments to restore the security, the UAE has also provided Dh5.5 billion in aid to Afghanistan, mainly devoted to infrastructure: road-building, schools, mosques and hospitals,” the ministry said in the statement. The UAE is the only Arab country performing humanitarian activities on the ground in Afghanistan. The country also emphasises the importance of achieving harmony, building confidence and strengthening cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours, particularly Pakistan. Given Pakistan’s proximity to the Gulf region, the UAE has continued to affirm the importance of that country’s stability. The Project to Assist Pakistan is carrying out 28 development and humanitarian projects worth $54.5 million in South Waziristan province, including schools and colleges. Beyond the region, the UAE’s foreign policy continues to adapt to accommodate the evolving changes in the global community. As part of its pragmatic approach, the UAE is building bilateral and multilateral relations with both industrialised and developing countries, while strengthening ties both with its traditional allies in the West and with those in South and East Asia. Referring to the country’s nuclear energy policy, the ministry statement said the country’s quest for nuclear energy also witnessed intense diplomatic efforts to develop cooperation mechanisms to guarantee a credible and comprehensive civilian programme. news@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Primary physicians’ role in cancer detection stressed
Primary physicians’ role in cancer detection stressed Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 25 June 2013 Primary care physicians (PCP) play an important role as the initial point of contact for patients in early detection of breast cancer. However, culture, busy clinic time, lack of resources and absence of standard referral process deter them from taking a pro-active role. PCPs identified these barriers to proper care during the third Global Breast Health Lecture Series hosted by Mafraq Hospital on Sunday. Dr Naha Dolle, primary care physician at Mafraq Hospital, said there is currently a shortcoming among primary physicians in suggesting mammogram or breast screening. “It’s not my specialty, I don’t have enough time (and) I will wait for the patient to ask,” were often the reasons cited by doctors, according to Dr Dolle. In addition, male physicians ‘feel unsure’ of how to propose screening or mammogram to female patients due to cultural sensitivity. According to Dr Farah Al Zaabi, family physician at the Zayed Military Hospital, patients also still ‘underestimate’ their role and would often prefer to travel abroad for ‘screening and further management.’ As PCP, she said their hours are often occupied with patients seeking immediate care leaving them no time to “make an appointment for women’s health.” Lack of resources or knowledge of whom to refer patients to for diagnosis also compounds the problem. And when they get diagnosed, “none of the patients come back to us and we don’t know what happened to them,” she pointed out. The speakers underscored the need to empower family physicians to contribute to the early detection of breast cancer and educate them on how to approach women in suggesting screening. Dr Denise Howard, gynaecologist at Al Noor Hospital, said that OB/GYN often serves as PCP and is crucial in breast cancer screening. “OB/GYN tends to be the person a woman goes to see when she has a problem related to breast cancer treatment,” she stated. However the challenge was where to refer patients for quality mammogram services. “It took me two years to find out about the national breast cancer screening, and that’s a shame,” she said, noting the importance of having a list of breast health services providers, including qualified breast surgeons and counsellors. Breast cancer is the leading cancer in the UAE, accounting for a quarter of all cancers. Reports confirm that it is the second killer of women, after cardiovascular diseases. “Most of the diagnosed breast cancer cases in Abu Dhabi are in late stages and this has a negative impact on morbidity and mortality. Without collaborative intervention, many women will continue to die from a disease, which all over the world is seeing increasingly high survival rates,” said Dr Rola Shaheen, organiser of the lecture series, acting chair of Radiology and chief of Women’s Imaging at Mafraq Hospital. olivia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Qatari Amir set to hand over power to son
Qatari Amir set to hand over power to son (Reuters) / 25 June 2013 The Amir of Qatar, His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, 61, informed members of the ruling family on Monday of his decision to hand over power to Crown Prince Shaikh Tamim after a meeting in Doha, the Qatari-owned television channel Al Jazeera said. A Gulf official said the announcement of the transfer of power would be made later on Monday. The royal court said in a statement that the Amir would make a speech later and Tuesday would be a national holiday. Qatari political analyst Mohammed Al Misfer told Al Jazeera that he did not expect major changes in the event of a handover, adding that Shaikh Tamim was already involved in running the country under his father’s direction. Diplomats said earlier this month that he Amir was considering an orderly transfer of power that would probably begin with the departure of the powerful Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani. Arab and Western diplomats said they understood the motive was the Amir’s desire to have a smooth transition to a younger generation. The Amir has elevated Qatar’s international profile in recent years through the launch and development of the Al Jazeera television network, as well as its successful bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup tournament. Qatar has played a substantial role in promoting Arab Spring protests, lending significant support to rebels who toppled and killed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and to a continuing uprising against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. It has also played host to a delegation of the Afghan Taleban, which opened an office in Doha last week in preparation for expected talks with the United States about how to end a 12-year-old conflict in Afghanistan. Eman Ebed Alkadi of the Eurasia Group consultants wrote that she did not expect Qatari domestic priorities or its foreign policies to change significantly with a change of ruler. “Tamim has controlled key policies in Qatar for some time, and shares his father’s views on political development in Qatar and economic diversification,” Alkadi wrote. National budgets had been agreed up until 2016-2017, Alkadi said, and with preparations for the World Cup in full swing, much change in domestic momentum was unlikely. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of LNG, an achievement that set the country on a track to achieve double-digit economic growth for several consecutive years, during a time when many Western nations were mired in recession. This spurred a population boom, with inhabitants surging from 500,000 to 1.9 million in the last decade. Continue reading
