Wednesday, Apr 18, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yesterday threw its weight behind the UAE, extending its full support to restore its rights to, and sovereignty over its three occupied islands of Abu Mousa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs.
At an emergency meeting in Doha, ministers from the six-member council condemned as “provocative” a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the UAE island of Abu Mousa.
A statement yesterday by the council told Iran that any perceived aggression against the UAE is considered an affront to the entire bloc.
The GCC “strongly condemns the Iranian president’s visit to Abu Mousa which is a provocative act and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the UAE over its three islands,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
The visit, last week, “contradicts good neighbourly policies,” they said and demanded Iran “end its occupation of these islands and respond to calls by the UAE to find a peaceful and just solution through negotiations or by resorting to the international court.”
Deceit exposed
They also pledged their “full support to the UAE in all actions it takes to regain its rights and sovereignty over its islands.”
Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the UAE delegation to the meeting which was convened under the chairmanship of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, and attended by GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdul Latif Al Zayani.
In Cairo, an advisory council to the Arab League criticised Ahmadinejad for visiting the island.
“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 in a statement.
The UAE last week recalled its ambassador to Tehran and cancelled a friendly football match in protest.
Iran’s state-run news agency said on Sunday that an Iranian tour company would start arranging trips to the Abu Mousa island.
Gulf News Report
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
