Cooperation will be the key word in Tehran, Damascus

Dubai: Economic cooperation and coordination on security and stability issues between the UAE, Iran and Syria will receive a fresh boost today.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will head a high-level delegation to Tehran and Damascus during which he will initiate major cooperation plans with the leaders of the two countries.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday received Shaikh Mohammad and emphasised the need to enhance ties with both Iran and Syria.

In the past few weeks, the UAE was involved in a number of diplomatic efforts to ensure stability in the region.

Support

Shaikh Mohammad met with US President George W. Bush during Bush's visit to Dubai, and he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

During his visit to Germany, Shaikh Mohammad reiterated the UAE's firm stand against the launching of a military strike on Iran.

Shaikh Mohammad said he could see the promising signs of an approaching resolution of the Iranian nuclear crisis and urged all countries to exert more efforts to this end.

The delegation includes Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Department, and a number of ministers and senior officials.

The two visits come in line with the UAE's keen interest in exerting every possible effort to achieve stability and security in the region and serve the common interests of all.

Shaikh Mohammad's visits to Tehran and Damascus are at the invitations of the leaderships of both countries. During his visit, Shaikh Mohammad will hold talks with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran, and will meet later with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Damascus.

Summit

Shaikh Mohammad's talks in Syria will stress ways to achieve Arab interests and provide the foundation for a successful Arab summit in Damascus in March.

Gulf News learnt that the situation in Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine will be high on the agenda of the UAE delegation's talks with officials in Tehran and Damascus.

Shaikh Mohammad's visit to Tehran is the highest-level contact between the UAE and Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran.

Team: High-level delegation

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will leave today for Tehran where he will hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Shaikh Mohammad will be accompanied by a high-profile delegation including Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler; Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister; Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group; Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials.

- WAM