UN Arab Group backs UAE

The Arab Group at the United Nations has adopted the UAE’s stance deploring the visit made by Iranian President Ahmadinejad to the UAE’s Abu Mousa Island under occupation by Iran since 1971.

The group, represented by Arab member states at the UN, made a statement after a meeting chaired by UAE’s permanent representative to UN Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jaramain on Friday, condemning the unjustified visit by Ahmadinejad to UAE’s Abu Mousa Island.

“The Arab Group condemns this unfortunate and unjustified action by the Iranian President, as it represents a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United Arab Emirates and of the principles of the UN Charter and international law,” said the statement.

The visit also demonstrates Iran’s blatant disregard of the UAE’s efforts and endeavours to resolve this issue by peaceful means, it added.

The group affirmed its full support for the UAE in claiming its full sovereignty on the island of Abu Mousa as well as the Islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs which have been occupied by Iran since 1971.

“The Arab Group considers Iran’s occupation of these islands or taking any unilateral actions towards these Islands to be null and void and undermine the security and stability in the region,” it said.

The Arab Group at the United Nations stresses the need for Iran to refrain from repeating such actions which increase tensions in the region and impair the development of Arab-Iranian relations.

It emphasises the need for Iran to demonstrate its good intentions towards the initiative launched by the UAE, which is backed by the League of Arab States and calls for resolving this issue by peaceful means through direct negotiations or by resorting to the International Court of Justice, in order to achieve a just and permanent settlement for this issue.

It also calls for strengthening friendly relations and cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab States.

Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states plan to meet next week to discuss Iranian president’s provocative visit to the UAE’s Abu Mousa Island, a source familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

According to Reuters report, a meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council will be held on Wednesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh. “This will be an extraordinary meeting which was called for by the UAE following Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit,” a source said.

news@khaleejtimes.com

(With inputs from Wam)