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EU-GCC Joint Council praises UAE initiatives on clean energy
posted on 28/05/2008: 30 views
The 18th Session of the EU-GCC Joint Council concluded in Brussels on Monday with a note of commendation for the UAE's initiatives on clean energy, notably the Masdar City project. In a joint communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the EU and the GCC expressed concern at the lack of progress towards resolution of the territorial conflict between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over Abu Musa and the Tunbs Islands.
"The EU and the GCC support a peaceful solution to the conflict in accordance with internationa1law, either through direct negotiations or by referring the issues to the international Court of Justice", said the communiqué. The Joint Council agreed that both sides need to take active steps to work thoroughly towards the implementation of the 1988 Cooperation Agreement in all areas covered. The EU and the GCC look forward to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 and expressed determination to work towards a new global, comprehensive and ambitious climate change agreement to be agreed in Copenhagen.
Both sides agreed to take forward the cooperation on energy by facilitating the work of the identification study for a future EU-GCC energy cooperation project.
The Joint Council reviewed the progress made on the negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement and encouraged negotiators from both sides to further intensify their efforts to reach a mutually agreed text before the end of July 2008 and undertake to prepare the agreement for initialling before the end of 2008.
On regional issues, the EU and the GCC reiterated their determination to develop and advance this political dialogue on the basis of mutual respect in order to seek common solutions to the common challenges facing their respective regions and peoples, fully respecting international law and the UNSC resolutions.
On developments in the Middle East, the EU and the GCC confirmed their shared positions not to recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both parties. They expressed their full support to the Annapolis process and called on Israelis and Palestinians to pursue constructive negotiations Including on all final status issues, with a view to concluding a peace agreement before the end of 2008. The GCC and EU recalled their support for the Arab Peace Initiative as reaffirmed in the declarations of the Arab League Summits of 29 March 2007 in Riyadh and of 30th March 2008 in Damascus.
The EU and the GCC stated that peace in the Middle East requires a comprehensive solution through a lasting and just settlement of the conflict in all its tracks based on the principles of land for peace, the relevant UNSC resolutions, the Road Map, and previous agreements reached between the parties.
The EU and the GCC expressed their full support for "Doha Agreement that ended the Lebanese crisis and welcomed the election of Michel Sleimane as president of Lebanon.
On Iraq, the EU and the GCC reaffirmed their commitment to support all initiatives aiming at strengthening dialogue, co-operation and stability in and around Iraq. They reaffirmed that national reconciliation is the key to the solution of Iraq's problems and reiterated their call on the Iraqi government to do its utmost for the establishment of 'a safe, stable, independent, prosperous and democratic Iraq that upholds international law and human rights.
With respect to Iran, the EU and the GCC expressed their concern at the Iranian nuclear programme and their commitment to a diplomatic solution. They reaffirmed the importance of reaching a negotiated solution to the crisis and in this regard urged for full compliance with the requirements set forth by the IAEA and the UNSC. The EU and the GCC underlined that the international community is united and determined to uphold the authority of the IAEA and the UNSC. They emphasized their commitment to fully implement all relevant UNSC resolutions.
The EU and the GCC reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their commitment to the further development of international standards for counter-terrorism within the framework of the UN. They also agreed to continue to work towards conclusion of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, including a legal definition of terrorist acts.
The GCC and the EU reiterated their shared objective to pursue the establishment of a zone free of WMD and their means of delivery in the Middle East, including the Gulf region, inter alia through facilitating discussions on this issue among government officials and academics.
Taking note of the great interest of countries in the region in resorting to nuclear energy, for exclusively peaceful purposes, the GCC and the ED underlined that when countries make the choice of nuclear energy, the nuclear energy programme shall be developed in accordance with the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. The EU therefore welcomes the GCC's intention to closely co-operate with the IAEA in accordance with the international standards and regularisations in developing a joint programme for the region.
The EU and the GCC reaffirmed their respect for universal human rights and democratic principles and agreed on the continued need to focus on and to promote values of tolerance and moderation. They reiterated their support to the Alliance of Civilisation (AOC) initiative as an important tool to build bridges between different cultures and to counter stereotypes and misconceptions of cross cultural nature.
The EU and the GCC reiterated their shared commitment to support Yemen's development as a stable and prosperous state. They welcomed the fact that the recent Qatari led mediation effort achieved a pause in the fighting in the Sa'ada region. The 19th meeting of the Joint Council will be held in the GCC in 2009. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
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