New York: United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has reiterated the government’s regrets over the continuing Iranian occupation of the three islands: Abu Musa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.
He expressed demands for the restoration of the UAE’s full sovereignty over these islands.
“We emphasise that all actions and measures taken by the Iranian occupation authorities are null and void, and are contrary to international law and to all norms and common human values,” the UAE official said in a statement he gave before the General Debate of the 67th session of the United Nations published by Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“Therefore, we call upon the international community to urge Iran to respond to the repeated peaceful, sincere calls of the United Arab Emirates for a just settlement of this issue, either through direct, serious negotiations or by referral to the International Court of Justice to settle this dispute in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of international law,” he added.
In this regard, he stressed the prioritisation of security and stability in the Gulf.
On the situation in Syria, the UAE Foreign Minister called on the international community to “consider with seriousness and commitment to what is happening to our brothers in Syria, and to shoulder its humanitarian and political responsibilities towards stopping the heinous tragedies committed against the peaceful people of Syria.”
“We are convinced that the solution to this crisis will only be achieved through an orderly transition of power,” he said.
As for the Middle East’s state of affairs, he remarked that the UAE believes peace and stability cannot be achieved without resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict as it is “a central and vital issue to the people of the entire region, and reaching a just solution is the key for bringing peace and stability to the whole region.”
This cannot be achieved, he asserted, “without putting an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian and Arab territories through Israel’s withdrawal to the lines of the 4th of June 1967, including from East Jerusalem, the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the remaining occupied Lebanese territories, and through achievement of a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with resolutions of international legitimacy, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds as its capital.”
QNA
