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UAE, EU sign MoU to combat terrorism, help war victims

Abu Dhabi - Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, speaker of FNC, and Antonio López-Istúriz, Member of the European Parliament, said the agreement signed will help combat terrorism, as well as help those who were displaced due to war and conflict.

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The UAE and the European Union (EU) Parliament have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, during the very first visit of a EU parliament member to the UAE.
During a press conference held at the Federal National Council (FNC) headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, speaker of FNC, and Antonio López-Istúriz, Member of the European Parliament, said the agreement signed will help combat terrorism, as well as help those who were displaced due to war and conflict.
"We have the same objectives as the EU, to minimise the suffering of the people in the world and find solutions. We are trying our best to find a better future that we can build together," said Dr Al Qubaisi.
She said the agreement is based on the mutual conviction that today's world will witness crises that require greater understanding, cooperation and coordination between parliaments that share similar principles and foreign policies.
Dr Al Qubaisi stressed that the MoU will help combat terrorism around the world. "When we talk about terrorism we should remember it is a result of a root cause and deal with it. We need to stand firmly against all entities that are supporting terrorism, not only in the region but also around the world." 

Fruitful discussion

López-Istúriz said the UAE and the EU had "very fruitful discussions on a wide range of issues to fight extremism". "Terrorism is always the same, no matter what ideology - whether it is nationalistic or religious terrorism."
He said the visit to the refugee camp in Jordan will not only allow the EU to witness the UAE's role in spreading peace but also help the EU come address issues related to refugees and immigrants. "There is a big debate on refugees and immigration in the EU, so to visit the camps will give us a first-hand experience.
López-Istúriz said the EU is planning on helping the refugees across Europe, which is why Sunday's visit to the UAE Capital is an imperative step of action. He highlighted that the UAE thus plays a strategic importance in the EU.
"The EU is not only representing the 500 million Europeans in the world, but also the 200,000 Europeans living in the UAE and the two million European tourists visiting the UAE every year," he added. 
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, López-Istúriz said the EU condemns the slaughter of the thousands of Rohingya people, including women and children.
"We are absolutely against the genocide that is happening, and we have condemned it. We are following everything very closely and will continue to denounce what's going on in Myanmar."
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com