UAE | General
Continuing occupation of UAE islands condemned
) Iran's failure to respond to the Gulf Cooperation Council's condemnation of its setting up of installations on UAE's Abu Mousa Island shows the absence of a constructive view by the Iranian side.
- WAM
- Published: 23:43 August 20, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Iran's failure to respond to the Gulf Cooperation Council's condemnation of its setting up of installations on UAE's Abu Mousa Island shows the absence of a constructive view by the Iranian side.
In a telephone interview with the Abu Dhabi television programme Al Madar, Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, GCC Secretary-General, said Iran did not reply to the GCC's communiqué condemning Iran's setting up of two offices, a marine rescue centre and a registration office for ships and sailors on UAE's Abu Mousa Island.
The GCC called on Iran to remove all illegal installations and stop illegal procedures on the island.
Al Attiyah said historical facts assert the legal status of the three UAE islands that were occupied by Iran, despite British indifference at the time of their pullout from the region and the subsequent Iranian occupation.
He added that the Iranian occupation was not accepted and is being condemned by all Arabs, and Iran has failed until this moment to get international consent for its occupation.
Al Attiyah asserted that there are sincere hopes and wishes in the UAE and GCC countries as a whole to build positive relations with Iran.
"There are only two obstacles that may jeopardise these hopes, one is undermining the building of bridges of trust and the other is solving the issue of the three islands that belong to the UAE, in addition to respecting the sovereignty of neighbouring states ... and their regional waters," he added.
"For us to build a serious partnership that preserves the rights of every country in the region, it is essential to take the case to an international arbitration level. Such procedures have proven their validity over time, and it is the best way to solve problems ... and [its rulings] are never biased," Al Attiyah said.
Al Attiyah said GCC countries have opened their doors, stressing their good intentions, and invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the last GCC summit. He said Iran should put more emphasis on good neighbourly relations.
"It is inconceivable in this time and age that a country occupies the land of another country, as ... in the Israeli-Arab dispute."
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