New York, Oct 29. Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates’ candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, has pledged to make conflict prevention, mediation and reforming the world body central to her leadership. She said that the UN must act earlier and more decisively to prevent disputes from escalating into wars.
Speaking to the media, Nusseibeh said the organisation existed because countries disagreed, but its purpose was to help them find common ground and act despite their differences. She said her candidacy was built around the belief that even seemingly irreconcilable differences could be bridged through sustained diplomacy.
“I am firmly committed to this organisation and its principles, and I believe, in fact, that this organisation exists because we disagree,” she said. “Our purpose is to help it agree and act anyway.”
Nusseibeh highlighted three points: preventing conflict, advancing universal human rights and sustainable development, while reforming the UN to make it more effective as the principal priorities of her vision. She said the international system was experiencing deep geopolitical fractures and warned of the consequences when the Security Council and the UN were unable to act. Such failures came at an unacceptable cost to affected populations and were not a legacy the world should leave to younger generations.
Responding to a question about the powers available to a Secretary-General, Nusseibeh said “The Secretary-General has no army and no vote, but the Secretary-General has one incredible attribute and asset, and that’s trust in this organisation.” Its influence, she added, lay in the trust it commanded, its independence and its ability to bring governments together through mediation and good offices.
She pledged to engage frequently with the Security Council and work with its members to address major conflicts and humanitarian crises. She said she would pursue mediation as a priority, take political risks when necessary and seek practical agreements that could save lives and create opportunities for wider peace settlements.
Nusseibeh said her experience of more than a decade at the United Nations, including her work with the Security Council, had given her an understanding of the difficulties involved in building consensus amid international divisions. She cited her record of helping bridge differences on key issues and said persistence, diplomatic engagement and optimism would be essential qualities for the next Secretary-General.
Asked about the conflict in Sudan, she described the humanitarian catastrophe as a critical test for the incoming Secretary-General, calling for an end to hostilities and a political process leading to a mediated transition that reflected the Sudanese people’s civilian and democratic aspirations. There is need to uphold international law and the UN Charter while respecting mediation efforts.
On questions concerning Gaza and the future of the Palestinians, Nusseibeh said she would address matters before the Security Council in accordance with the Charter and the Council’s mandates. The principles of the Charter required support for people to live in freedom and dignity.
She said she had taken a leave of absence from her ministerial role in the UAE government to pursue the campaign. She emphasised that she was seeking to become Secretary-General for all Member States and intended to serve the organisation independently.
Referring to former Secretaries-General U Thant, Dag Hammarskjöld and Kofi Annan, she highlighted the importance of quiet diplomacy, moral clarity and a willingness to make personal sacrifices in the service of the public good.
She said the next Secretary-General would need energy, determination and a clear sense of purpose to navigate the current international crisis. Ultimately, success should be measured by whether diplomacy produced lasting peace for people living through conflict and whether the organisation demonstrated to younger generations that the UN Charter and its principles were worth defending.
Nusseibeh formally entered the race on October 21 after being nominated by the UAE. The next Secretary-General will succeed António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.
