The
Arab League Ministerial Council has stressed the UAE’s "absolute
sovereignty" to three islands occupied by Iran and expressed support to
all peaceful measures being taken by the UAE to regain its sovereignty over its
occupied islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.
At
the end of the Arab League’s 144TH session today, which chaired by Dr. Anwar
bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the council, in a
resolution, condemned Iranian government's step to perpetuate occupation of the
islands and violation of the UAE sovereignty in a way that destabilises
regional security and stability and threatens international peace and security.
It
strongly criticised the actions of Iran, including construction of settlements
for Iranian citizens on the UAE's three islands and conducting military
exercises covering the islands, the territorial waters, the airspace,
continental shelf and the economic region belonging to the three islands. The
council emphasised that the islands are integral part of the UAE.
It
asked Iran to stop such violations and provocative actions which are considered
an interference in the internal affairs of an independent, sovereign state.
They noted that such actions will never promote mutual trust as they threaten
peace and security in the region, and expose the safety of territorial and
international navigation in the Arabian Gulf to danger.
The
resolution also denounced Iran's action of building two offices on the UAE's
Abu Musa Island, and asked Iran to immediately remove those illegal structures.
They called upon Iran to end occupation of the UAE's three islands, to refrain
from attempting to impose a fait accompli situation and to remove all
settlements, built on the islands with the aim of arbitrarily changing their
demographic structure.
The
Council expressed the hope that Iran will reconsider its stand on finding a
peaceful solution to the issue of the UAE's three occupied islands either by
direct negotiations or by referring the issue to the International Court of
Justice.
The
Council called upon Iran to translate its desire to improve relations with Arab
countries into sincere and solid action, and to respond to the calls of
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the GCC countries,
the Arab countries, the international groups and the UN Secretary General to
resolve the issue of occupied islands peacefully.
It
also stressed the need for the Arab countries to highlight the issue of UAE's
three occupied islands during their contacts with Iran, based on the fact that
they are occupied Arab territories. –End-
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