• Home

UAE Committed to Arab Peace Initiative

Speaking at a joint Press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazin in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Shaikh Abdullah said he was honoured to meet Abbas and the Palestinian people.

“It is my honour to meet the Palestinian President and the Palestinian people who have a special place in the hearts of UAE leaders. I am also delighted to be with you in these glorious days,” Shaikh Abdullah said.

Shaikh Abdullah said: “Your policy and your government played a major role in encouraging your Arab brethren in general and the UAE in particular to provide support and trust to your government.”

“I am here to meet President Abu Mazin who received the support of Arab countries and their confidence in his government.

“There are some parties that try to either extend or shorten Abu Mazin’s presidency term. We feel that it is in the interest of the Palestinian people and of the region at large that Abu Mazin should continue to lead his people, regardless of what effect this labourious task might have to his health and efforts,” Shaikh Abdullah said.

He went on to say that Abu Mazin was seen as a “persistent, patient and caring leader.”

“The international community has lent its confidence in the (Palestinian National Authority) in the person of Abu Mazin. That is why we lay stress on his leadership.” Shaikh Abdullah said the Israeli occupation was considered a major impediment to the Palestinian President’s peace efforts.

“This is my first visit to Palestine by land. I have seen the huge number road blocks, border posts, checkpoints and illegal (Israeli) settlements,” he added.

“With the determination of your people, and the support of your Arab brothers, we feel that we very close to persuading the international community and the Israeli people of how important the Arab peace initiative is.”

“The initiative is considered the solution to the region’s problems, to make our region a safe and stable place, enjoying development and prosperity, a place in which, our children could have a bright future.”

Addressing Abu Mazin, Shaikh Abdullah said: “We, in the UAE, will always seek to earn your trust and, in keeping with the directives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will always stand by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.”

Shaikh Abdullah urged Barack Obama, the president-elect of the United States, to adopt the Arab peace initiative.

“We should bear in mind that the initiative has been driven, not only by Arab countries, but also by the Islamic countries who unanimously adopted it during their conference in Teheran.”

Shaikh Abdullah called for bold steps to accelerate the Arab peace initiative after the upcoming Israeli elections.

“We need to show the Israeli people that the majority of Arabs and Muslims believe in setting up a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, the return of occupied Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories and, of course an explicit vision for the refugees issue.”

He added that the West and the United States have no excuse in saying that they could not identify a Palestinian negotiating party. “In fact, there is no Israeli negotiating party.’

Shaikh Abdullah said despite the difficult situation, due to the separation wall and Israeli settlement, a solution could be reached if Israel was seriously keen on ending the conflict.

“There are 57 Islamic countries ready to normalise relations with Israel if the latter is willing to find peace, to return the occupied Arab territories and to accept the arab initiative,” he added. —

• UAE