Be reasonable, UAE tells Iran

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Monday that the occupation of the UAE Islands by Iran could affect the international security and peace as the Islands are located at the strategic zone and 40 per cent of the world’s energy passes from there. The three islands are the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa. “I call upon Iran to listen to voice of reason and put an end to the standoff whose repercussions could not be contained by either the UAE or Iran in future,” he added. Sheikh Abdullah said at a press conference held at the ministry with Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna that “we in the UAE are serious to settle the dispute about the UAE Islands occupied by Iran.” Saudi stand The Saudi Cabinet has denounced the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Abu Mousa. The UAE minister said, “but due to the internal Iranian issues, among others, drop of Iranian currency and economy,  avoiding tackling of the European and world stance, Iran seems resolved to export its concerns to a marginal issue,” Sheikh Abdullah said at the conclusion of 10th UAE-India’s Joint Committee meeting. “It is with regret that a Muslim and neighbour country with civilisation and traditions behaves in such a manner. It is supposed to behave rationally and not to project its internal concerns abroad. In this case consequences can be dangerous,” he added. Sheikh Abdullah said that Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, State Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned on Sunday, Iranian Ambassador to UAE and handed him a strong protest memorandum over the visit of Iran’s President Ahmedinejad to Abu Mousa. Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE deems the visit an infringement to the truce. The UAE foreign minister stressed that the conduct of Iran depicts that it does not heed repetitive initiatives to resolve the issue and put an end to the occupation of the three UAE Islands either through dialogue or the International Court of Justice or United Nations Security Council. “I request Iranian brothers to ease tension and return to the negotiation table with specified scheduled and clear agenda whose resolutions will be clear. The occupation of the UAE Islands by a neighbour over the last 40years had culminated in great disappointment,” Sheikh Abdullah remarked. He underlined that the issue could not be left unresolved as it could jeopardise the international security and peace, indicating that it could not be seen only as an issue between the UAE and Iran. In reply to a question on stance of India over the visit of Ahmadinejad, Krishna said “we read about the visit on newspapers, and we are closely following up the issue in this respect.” In a statement issued following a regular session chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Cabinet said the visit was a flagrant violation of the UAE’s sovereignty and a blow to the efforts made to arrive at a peaceful settlement to the issue of UAE’s island either through direct negotiations or by referring it to the International Court of Justice. Regarding the joint committee meetings, Sheikh Abdullah said, “It is a great honour to me personally to host in the UAE and at the ministry my friend the Indian FM,” stressing the depth of historic ties with India, which is the major economic partner to the UAE. He added that the two sides discussed new measures to boost the relations, adding that they also tackled investment opportunities and Indian requirements in the energy sector. Sheikh Abdullah said the visit and joint meeting reflect the level of friendship, partnership and strategic ties between the two countries. Krishna said the two countries have historic ties, and India looks to Arab Gulf region as a strategic region. “We are grateful to the UAE which hosts huge Indian community.” He added that the Indian petroleum demands are growing as the country continues in more investments touching $10 billion in the next 10 years. “We are looking forward to investment of the UAE sovereign funds in India in all fields.” Sheikh Abdullah reiterated that India is a strategic trade partner, citing that non oil trade for first 10 months of 2011 between the two countries stood at $46 billion. The total mutual trade stood at $67 billion. Thus, India ranks on top of the countries dealing with the UAE. Krishna thanked Sheikh Abdullah for the UAE’s hosting of the joint committee meetings, good hospitality and reception. He added that the two sides discussed the bilateral relations and ways to boost them in the areas of trade investment, culture, energy, transport, telecommunications, oil, gas, business and consular affairs. The Indian minister lauded the role played by the UAE in the regional and international arenas, especially in combating the maritime piracy and terrorism in order to achieve the international security and peace. He hoped that the volume of mutual trade would grow with the next years, in addition to setting up of support team to back the trade, investment, economic and energy fields. Sheikh Abdullah and Krishna signed the minutes of meeting of the joint committee on the cooperation in the economic, trade, investment, security, judicial, educational, customs and energy fields. Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian Ambassador to UAE MK Lokesh signed the memorandum of understanding for setting up the joint consular committee. Musbeh Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and the Indian Ambassador also signed the second protocol on amendment of the agreement between the two governments on avoiding double taxation and financial evasion regarding taxes on the income and capital.