Abu Dhabi: Michel Montas, spokeswoman for UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, stressed the importance of the Gulf states in solving a number of problems facing the Middle East.
"The secretary-general has been receiving positive feedback from the UAE government and depends on the UAE greatly to help make a difference and play an active role in the peace process." she said in an exclusive interview with Gulf News,.
The meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi resulted in the backing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The meeting also discussed ways to incorporate Hamas into a solution to curtail Iran's influence in the region.
Reiterating the secretary-general's commitment to peace, Montas pointed to Ban's initiative to raise a $620 million emergency fund for Gaza and pointed to the presence of 9,000 UN humanitarian workers in Gaza.
