Doha: Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held here yesterday an emergency meeting to discuss the latest developments regarding a visit made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the UAE island of Abu Mousa last week.
They reiterated their solidarity with the UAE and all the steps it has taken in order to regain its rights and sovereignty over the three UAE islands of Abu Mousa, and Greater and Lesser Tunbs occupied by Iran.
In its final communique, the 39th extraordinary meeting strongly condemned Ahmadinejad's visit as a provocative act and a flagrant violation of the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands.
"The visit comes in contradiction of the good neighbour policy embraced by the GCC countries in dealing with Iran, as well as of peaceful efforts to end the issue of the occupation of the three islands," the statement said.
The ministers called on Iran to end its occupation and respond to the UAE's call for finding a peaceful and just solution to the issue through bilateral negotiations, or by referring it to the International Court of Justice
Security challenges
Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the UAE delegation to the 39th extraordinary meeting convened under the chairmanship of Saudi Foreign Minister,
Prince Saud Al Faisal, earlier said that the occupation of the three UAE islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa by Iran could threaten international security and peace as the three islands are located in a strategic zone, and 40 per cent of the world's energy passes near the mouth of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In Tehran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that Iran will respond with force to any threats to its territorial integrity. Ahmadinejad did not explicitly refer to fresh tensions with Gulf Arab nations over an April 11 visit he made to the island of Abu Mousa.
He said Iran would prefer to cooperate with its Arab neighbours to maintain security in the Gulf. "The armed forces and the army will inflict heavy regret and shame in case of any aggression against Iranian lands and interests," Ahmadinejad told military commanders and personnel on the occasion of Iran's annual Army Day.
He said the key to lasting stability in the Gulf was regional cooperation.
"When it comes to the Gulf, security is achieved only through the collective cooperation of all nations and governments," he said, while lashing out at "foreign interference which only causes destruction and division."
An advisory council to the Arab League on Sunday criticised President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for visiting an UAE island, accusing him of trying to provoke Gulf countries.
"This provocative visit has stirred up feelings of Arab anger toward Iran and exposed deceit and falsehood in Iran's claims that its relations with the Arab Gulf countries are friendly and peaceful," Arab Parliament speaker Ali Salem Al Diqbassi said.
"Iran must realise that the security of the Arab countries is indivisible," Al Diqbassi added following a meeting of Arab lawmakers in Cairo.
— With additional inputs from Agencies
