UAE clears doubt on Iran sanctions

Abu Dhabi: The UAE will respect any sanctions imposed on Iran if the problem between the international community and Tehran over its nuclear ambitions is not resolved diplomatically, said UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday.

Shaikh Abdullah was referring to Iran's nuclear programme, during a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart, Markos Kyprionou.

However, Shaikh Abdullah expressed hope the dispute "could be resolved in diplomatic manners".

The Cypriot Foreign Minister supported Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and said: "Any decision on sanctions has to go through the UN Security Council".

Al Mabhouh killing

On the assassination of a Hamas leader in Dubai on January 19, Shaikh Abdullah reiterated that all people behind the crime will be brought to justice.

Stressing that the crime and the abuse of passports poses a global threat, affecting both countries' national security as well as the personal security of travellers, Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE is going to pursue this crime very aggressively to bring to justice in the UAE whoever was behind it.

Shaikh Abdullah said the UAE will not tolerate any such criminal acts be committed on its soil, adding his country is in good contacts with the concerned European governments.

Shaikh Abdullah also urged the European Union countries to "work even more seriously" to conclude a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

"After 20 years of negotiations, I hope we could sign the free trade agreement between the EU and the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council as soon as possible," Shaikh Abdullah said.

He also expressed hope that the UAE and Cyprus will soon sign investment protection as well as double taxation avoidance agreements to promote bilateral trade between the two countries.