Cairo - The Arab League council threw yesterday its weight behind the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa and its peaceful measures and means to restore its occupied islands. In a statement issued at the end of its 133rd meeting here today, the council denounced Iran's continued occupation of the islands and breaching of the UAE's sovereignty in a way that threatens security and stability in the region as well as international security and peace. The council also condemned Iran for building housing facilities on the UAE islands, conducting military manoeuvres on the islands and their territorial waters, air space and continental shelf and economic zone of the islands which are considered part and parcel of the UAE territory.
The statement demanded Iran to cease such provocative violations and acts which are considered interference into the internal affairs of an independent state. The council also condemned Iran for opening two offices on Abu Musa island and demanded it to remove these illegitimate facilities and respect sovereignty of the UAE over its territory.
The council reiterated its call to Iran to end its occupation of the UAE islands, refrain from imposing the policy of fait accompli and stop building any utilities aimed at upsetting the demographic structure of the islands. The council expressed its hope that Iran would reconsider its stance refusing a settlement of the case either by serious and direct negotiations or resort to the International Court of Justice.
The council demanded Iran to translate its desire for improving its relations with the Arab countries, dialogue and defusing tension with them into practical and tangible measures by responding to the sincere calls made by UAE President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, GCC, Arab countries, international groups, friendly countries and the UN Secretary General for resolving the dispute over the three occupied islands by peaceful means.
On the other hand, the Arab foreign ministers condemned the assassination of the Hamas commander Mahmoud Al Mabhouh on 19 January in Dubai on as a violation of the sovereignty and security of the UAE. In a resolution concerning terrorism, the ministers backed UAE's investigations to unravel the circumstances of the crime. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
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