
Oman reaffirms commitment to anti-personnel mine ban treaty
Geneva, Switzerland – Oman has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the principles of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and its continued cooperation with the international community to safeguard civilians and enhance human security.
This pledge was reiterated during Oman's participation in the 12th Preparatory Session of the convention, held in Geneva, Switzerland, with broad participation from State Parties and representatives of international and humanitarian organisations.
Delivering Oman's national statement, H E Idris bin Abdul Rahman al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, underscored Oman's steadfast support for the convention's core principles.
He also announced that Oman has fully met the requirements of Article 5 of the convention, highlighting the sultanate's firm commitment to implementing its provisions and actively engaging with its executive mechanisms.
An official delegation from the Ministry of Defence, including Staff Colonel Khalid bin Abbas al Balushi and Staff Colonel Mohammed al Kaabi, attended the technical sessions.
© Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
a day ago
- The National
No plans for new US nuclear talks, says Iran's FM
Iran's foreign minister denied his country was set to resume nuclear talks with the US after the end of a deadly 12-day war with Israel. Nuclear talks were under way when Israel launched attacks on Iran on June 13, derailing the process aimed at achieving a new deal. US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two foes on Tuesday, and the next day said Washington would pick up talks with Tehran "next week." But Abbas Araghchi labelled that as "speculation" and shut down the prospect of Iran returning to the table. "No agreement has been made to restart negotiations, and there has not even been talk of negotiations. There is no point in negotiating now," the top diplomat said. "We have an experience where America betrayed us in the middle of negotiations," he said of the US involvement in Israel's war in Iran. A sixth round of nuclear talks had been scheduled but were cancelled when the war started two days before. Mr Araghchi stated that "diplomacy still exists" and that messages continued to be exchanged between both sides but that Iran was still weighing whether it should return to the table. He highlighted the role of the Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, the mediator of the five rounds of talks, saying he had done his best to "actively mediate between the two sides." The foreign minister said the nuclear issue had become more difficult to negotiate because of the war. "The situation has completely changed and it is not possible to reach an agreement as easily as in the past." Iran retaliated to the US strikes by launching an attack on Washington's largest air base in the region - Al Udeid. Qatar intercepted the majority of the missiles and no damage was caused as the base had been emptied. It also condemned the Iranian attack on its territory. "Iran's recent attack on US military bases in the region was merely a response to the US threat and not against neighbouring Arab countries," Mr Aragchi said. "After the attack, countries like Qatar were upset, which is natural but we emphasised that this reaction was direct at America." Qatar revealed it helped broker the ceasefire announced by Mr Trump. He called on Israel to respect the truce and said "third parties" had been instructed to pass on the message that "Iran is not Lebanon" and Tehran would not tolerate a resumption in hostilities. "I clearly said tell them that Iran is not Lebanon and if they violate the ceasefire, we will respond." Israel has continued its bombardment of Lebanon despite a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah in November. It has also violated previous truce agreements in the Gaza Strip by resuming attacks. Hostilities were close to breaking out just hours after Mr Trump announced the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, with the former accusing the latter of violating the agreement by launching missiles. Tehran was quick to issue a denial but Israel still launched a limited strike on Tehran. Mr Trump then issued several strong-worded statements calling on both sides, particularly Israel, for restraint. Damage to nuclear sites As the truce holds and fighting has come to an end, questions have emerged on the state of Iran's nuclear programme in the aftermath of US strikes and the war with Israel. Mr Trump and his administration are furious after a preliminary assessment leaked to the presss suggested the attacks may not have fully destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites had been "a resounding success', angrily pushing back against the 'fake news' media for questioning how effective the attacks were. Mr Araghchi said "the damage has not been small and is being assessed," a stark difference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who said Mr Trump had "exaggerated" the outcome of the strikes which had "done nothing significant" to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. "The damages, in general, are assessed as high and serious," Mr Araghchi said, adding that Iran had was not planning on allowing back inspectors, rejecting the UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi's request to travel to Tehran. "We currently do not have a building to receive Grossi," he said. The war has further strained Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency which it blamed for fuelling unease about its nuclear activities. Iran's parliament approved a bill on Wednesday to suspend co-operation with the IAEA. The decision was approved on Thursday by the Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists that vets legislation. Mr Araghchi said the decision was legally binding.


Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Chair United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Support Group for 2025–2026 Term
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Support Group unanimously endorsed the appointment of His Excellency Ambassador Jamal Jama Al Musharakh, UAE's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, as Chair of the Support Group for the 2025–2026 term, as of August 2025. The UAE will assume the Chairmanship from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which currently holds the position for the 2024–2025 term. This appointment marks a significant milestone, as the UAE becomes the first Arab country to assume this role. The UAE's leadership reflects the country's strong commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and proactive engagement in tackling the rising risks posed by climate change and disasters. Addressing the group during the meeting, H.E. Al Musharakh stated: "The UAE is fully committed to leveraging its leadership of the UNDRR Support Group to drive forward practical, long-term disaster risk reduction strategies. The UAE's priority will be to enhance international cooperation, ensuring that disaster resilience becomes integrated into every aspect of development. Furthermore, the country is committed to working closely with all partners to protect the most vulnerable groups and mitigate the growing challenges posed by climate change and disasters." The UNDRR Support Group plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue among Member States and supporting the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It also serves as a vital platform for strengthening international coordination and cooperation to reduce disaster risks and enhance resilience to both natural disasters. As the incoming Chair, the UAE will work to set priorities and guide discussions aimed at addressing the increasing challenges posed by such disasters, including those exacerbated by climate change. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Oman: Majlis A'Shura refers draft heritage, cybercrime laws to State Council
Muscat – Majlis A'Shura on Tuesday concluded discussions on key legislative proposals, referring draft amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law and the Cybercrime Law to the State Council for further review. The session was chaired by Tahir Mabkhout al Junaibi, Deputy Chairman of the Council, with full attendance from council members. At the opening of the session, Junaibi reaffirmed the Shura's solidarity with Qatar and condemned any violations of the sovereignty of Gulf Cooperation Council states. He reiterated Oman's commitment to peace and stability in the region, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold international law. The proposed changes to the Cultural Heritage Law were presented by Abdullah Hamad al Harthy, Chairman of the Media, Tourism and Culture Committee. The amendments aim to improve the protection and management of Oman's archaeological and historical sites. They include stricter penalties for violations and propose mechanisms for the registration and preservation of cultural landmarks, while encouraging private sector investment aligned with conservation goals. Dr Talal Said al Mahabai, Deputy Chairman of the Legal Committee, provided legal analysis to ensure the amendments align with Oman's broader legal framework. Members of the council supported the proposal, highlighting the urgency of updating legislation to reflect global standards in heritage preservation. The Shura also reviewed the draft Cybercrime Law, presented by Dr Ahmed Said al Saadi, Chairman of the Legislative and Legal Committee. The law addresses issues such as financial fraud, data breaches, cyber sabotage, hacking, and online hate speech. It broadens the scope of punishable offences, increases penalties, and seeks to balance cybersecurity enforcement with individual rights. The Shura approved a report by the Public Services and Utilities Committee on a draft air services agreement between Oman and the Netherlands covering the territory of Curaçao. The agreement is intended to enhance civil aviation ties and support Oman's positioning as a regional logistics hub. In other discussions, the council reviewed and approved committee reports on several development areas. A report on telecommunications, presented by Dr Hamoud Ahmed al Yahyai, called for expanded infrastructure, improved service quality, and digital access in rural areas. The Health and Social Committee, through Mansour Zaher al Hajri, recommended greater investment incentives in private healthcare, along with a call for balanced public-private healthcare services. The Education, Research and Innovation Committee, represented by Dr Mohammed Nasser al Mahrouqi, urged stronger links between academic research and economic outputs, proposing greater private sector collaboration and support for entrepreneurship. Abdullah Zaher al Hinai, speaking for the Digital Economy Taskforce, proposed a digital economy governance framework, legislation for tech startups, and investment in sectors like semiconductors. The report also suggested establishing a sovereign digital assets registry and modernising e-commerce regulations. The Social Protection Taskforce, led by Dr Hamoud Mohammed al Yahyai, highlighted gaps in benefit distribution and called for the formation of a national entitlements committee. It recommended aligning benefits with inflation and consolidating welfare responsibilities under the Social Protection Fund. Finally, the Youth and Human Resources Committee, presented by Younis Ali al Mandhari, addressed wage protection in the private sector. It proposed legal reforms and technical measures to ensure timely wage payments and enhance labour rights enforcement. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (