Sheikh Mohammed Q&A: On Iran's relationship with UAE

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Your Highness, I would like to ask you about the UAE's relations with Iran. At one level, the UAE maintains strong trade relations with Iran. But we see that Iran insists on its occupation of the islands and rejects any negotiations. Whenever there is an Arab or Gulf statement on this issue supporting the legitimate right of the UAE, Iran responds aggressively and promptly. Can you kindly explain this uncertain situation to us? Aren't you concerned about the Iran Nuclear Programme? If Iran manufactures a nuclear weapon, how will the UAE and the region deal with that? -Khalid Abu Dawood, Saudi Arabia
Ever since the establishment of the UAE, one of the main anchors of the UAE's foreign policy has been building co-operation-based relations with all countries. This policy is based on mutual respect, balanced interests, peaceful interaction, non-interference in the internal matters of other states, rejection of violence, and resolution of conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means.

Given that we adopt the principle of not interfering in the internal matters of others, then our adoption of the same principle should be much stronger with a Muslim friend that also happens to be a neighbouring country.

Iran's nuclear programme is an internal matter of the nation of Iran, as long as our brothers in Iran continue to reassure the world that the programme is peaceful. Our firm and announced position concerning all kinds of weapons of mass destruction - whether nuclear, chemical, or biological - is that we call for freeing the Middle East from all such weapons.

As for the occupation of the three islands, we do not need mediators with Iran. Our position is clear: We are eager to reach a peaceful settlement of the matter with our neighbour. We pray that we will find a solution to this issue as per the articles of international law. If this issue is solved as such, we could together avoid all what could possibly disturb the security and stability of this region and the relationship between the two countries. As for our trade relations with Iran, I would say that all the countries of the region maintain trade relations with Iran.

These are long-standing relations, dating back hundreds of years. Trade has never ceased across the Arabian Gulf.

I would also like to note that conflicts over territories and national borders exist between many neighbouring countries in the world. Therefore, if conflicts over national borders were the only basis of political relations among countries, we would have seen endless aggressions and countless enemies all over the world.

To the contrary, conflicts over national borders have never prevented trade and human exchange.

Trade relations between any two nations always leads to better relations and facilitates the resolution of conflicts. After all, is it easier to resolve your conflicts with friends or with enemies?

Friendly relations allow nations to contain the issue and prevent having it develop into a crisis that grows in magnitude beyond national border conflicts that cannot be solved smoothly and fairly. Such crisis scenarios allow third parties to intervene and pursue their own interests on the account of the conflicting parties and the entire region.

By Staff Writer

© Emirates Business 24/7 2009