Iran nuclear plant may pose risk to Gulf region

Abu Dhabi: Gulf countries expressed serious concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and called on the Islamic Republic to provide guarantees against "any radioactive leakage," UAE Foreign Minister Rashid Abdullah said on Monday.

"We are asking for guarantees to protect ourselves," he told a press conference held at the end of the Fahd Summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

"We are asking Iran to join the [international] early warning agreement to alert us in case of any leakage, God forbid," he added in reference to the agreement, which was signed by all GCC states and which calls upon signed countries to notify others in case of nuclear radioactive leakage.

The minister was responding to a question on a memorandum sent by Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Mousa to the Gulf States, which reportedly criticised the Gulf positions visa-a-vis several issues, including the Iranian nuclear programme.

The memorandum, which a Kuwaiti Arabic-language newspaper published its content yesterday, was met with strong criticism from the GCC states.

Tehran, which is scheduled to resume its nuclear talks with EU on Wednesday, has insisted that its nuclear programme is of a peaceful nature.

"GCC countries realise Mousa's concern over the Israeli nuclear reactor and we share with him these concerns. But we also in the Gulf region have legitimate fears and concerns over the Iranian programme," explained Rashid Abdullah.

"We are in a region that is close to the Iranian nuclear reactor in Busheher, and we don't have any protection. Iran is not a member of the early warning system."

The tone and wording of the GCC final communique towards Iran was described however as "soft" after several calls from Al Attiyah during the past few days to Iran to join efforts to make the Gulf region free of weapons of mass destruction.

In the communiqué, Iran was not mentioned in the part on nuclear weapons, as the focus was on Israel.

"I think they got the GCC message," Al Attiyah told journalists after the conclusion of the summit, referring to several Iranian statements on Sunday.

Several officials and analysts in Tehran announced their country's readiness to cooperate with their Arab neighbours.

"Nuclear weapons has no space in our policy," said the Iranian Foreign ministry spokesperson, Hamid Reza Assefi on Sunday. Tehran is ready to sign a joint defence pact with the Gulf States, he added.

Apart from the nuclear issue, the three UAE islands , occupied by Iran, is also considered one of the main issues that need to be solved between Tehran and the capitals of the GCC.

The UAE again expressed its hope that Iran will reciprocate its calls to solve the issue peacefully.

"The UAE is a peaceful state and it believes in justice, rights and the rule of law. And it is looking forward to others who believe in the same principles of justice," Rashid Abdullah said.

An Iranian positive response to solve the issue in "a peaceful and just manner through the peaceful means" is what the UAE is looking forward to, he added.

Much ado about non-existent border dispute

Rashid Abdullah Foreign Minister, denied there is any border dispute between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

"Have you seen any dispute? I myself have never seen one. If you do see one please tell me," Rashid Abdullah said as he called the journalist who asked the question close to the podium as the microphone was off.

The minister asked the journalist to repeat the question several times as he did not hear it very well, before he answered it in a very political manner.

It seems he did not want to hurt the feelings of the journalist.

The minister loudly called on journalists at the press briefing in the Emirates palace on Monday to "please tell me if you heard of any such dispute!"

Samir Salama, Bureau Chief