Dubai: Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has called on Iran to enter into negotiations with the UAE over the three UAE islands, occupied by Iran, and to refrain from using arrogant language.
"The UAE today is not that small baby which was born on 2nd December 1971, rather it's a key state with huge potentials," Dr Gargash said, calling on Iran to be a mature state and to take into consideration "neighbour relationships that link the two countries."
"We will remain neighbours forever despite our differences," the minister told Dubai TV.
The UAE, he said, is a wise, respectable state adopting civilised approaches to restore its rights.
"We are following a long-patience policy."
The minister's statement came within the UAE's reaction to the recent visit made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Abu Mousa Island, which Iran occupied along with Greater and Lesser Tunbs, since 1971 on the eve of the birth of the UAE Federation.
Dr Gargash unveiled in an interview with Dubai TV, which will be broadcast today evening, that the UAE will adopt a new political strategy in handing the issue of its occupied islands to press for its demands through peaceful diplomatic channels under the umbrella of the international law.
Mulling all options
"We are mulling all possible options before us in this respect," he said, adding that the next phase will see an intensive drive for UAE diplomacy.
He emphasised that it's not in the interest of either UAE or Iran to escalate the situation because solution of a bilateral problem will not be reached through provocative statements.
Dr Gargash noted that UAE's firm and decisive reaction to the Iranian violation of its sovereignty has nothing to do with what the Iranians were talking about a foreign move.
"We are fed up with the record of foreign pressure which the Iranians kept parroting."
The UAE's reaction was strong, he went on to say, because Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Mousa was an "unprecedented development".
"It is the first time an Iranian president pays a visit to our occupied islands".
The visit, he said, has circumvented all efforts to initiate bilateral negotiations over a whole year.
The minister said the UAE was shocked by Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Mousa island, which undermined Tehran's credibility.
He attributed the UAE's surprise to the fact that "the visit was conducted at a time when the two countries reached an understanding on negotiation over the islands. After arduous efforts for months, the two sides agreed that it was time to solve the problem. They even went further with the UAE naming its negotiator and Iran assigning senior adviser to Ahmadinejad to the mission."
Evidence of ownership
Dr Gargash expressed his confidence at the solidity of the UAE historic and legal attitude because "it is based on realistic and tangible historic evidence that prove the UAE's ownership of the islands."
The UAE stands ready to risk its historic and legal facts and win or lose at the International Court of Justice.
Refuting any sense of reality about Iran's allegations of having historic facts confirming their ownership of the islands, Dr Gargash said, "He who has such facts is supposed to accept international arbitration."
Ajman streets renamed after islands
His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman and Member of Supreme Council, has ordered renaming three main streets in the emirate of Ajman after the three UAE occupied Islands.
In accordance with the order, Abu Mousa Street will be in Mushairif district, the Greater Tunb in Al Jurf district and the Lesser Tunb in Al Humaidiya district. The move reflects the UAE's identity over the occupied islands and keenness by the Ajman Ruler to inculcate them in Emirati citizens.
Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, has instructed the engineering affairs section at the civic body to implement the directives of the Ruler of Ajman to rename the three main streets.
Arab foreign ministers to discuss Ahmadinejad visit
Implications of the recent visit made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the UAE's Island of Abu Mousa will top the agenda of the extraordinary meeting of the Arab foreign ministers scheduled on Thursday, a senior Arab League official announced yesterday. Deputy Secretary General of Arab League Ahmad Bin Heli said that the item (Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Mousa) was included in the agenda of the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers so as to take a common Arab stance in that regard.
Kuwait will chair the meeting which will also look into the latest developments in Syria and Sudan.
