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ZAYED URGES IRAQ TO CO-OPERATE
With rising tension in the region over the possibility of the current impasse between the United Nations and Iraq leading to heavy air-strikes on Iraq, President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan yesterday made an urgent appeal to the Iraqi leadership to offer the fullest possible collaboration to the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, during his visit to Baghdad.
Annan arrived in the Iraqi capital yesterday, on a last-ditch mission to avoid conflict. Only thus would it be possible to reach a diplomatic solution to the crisis, Sheikh Zayed said, adding that such a solution required "a full compliance by Iraq with all relevant resolutions of the United Nations."
He also pledged that "the United Arab Emirates is ready to undertake whatever steps may be required of it in order to help Iraq pass through this crisis," WAM reported.
In his appeal, Sheikh Zayed warned that the only way to achieve a solution by diplomatic means was for Iraq's leadership to offer the maximum co-operation possible to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and to other international parties in order to resolve the present crisis between the United States and Iraq.
"This would save Iraq and the region as a whole from the anticipated negative effects that would follow if there were to be a resort to military action (by the United States)," WAM quoted him as saying. (This report from the Emirates News; news carried in all papers)
The Emirates News Agency, WAM, adds: "Only thus can the present crisis between the United States and Iraq be resolved," Sheikh Zayed said. "This would, in turn, improve the possibility of the lifting of the sanctions imposed upon Iraq, the continuation of which will exacerbate the tragedies currently being suffered by the Iraqi people."
The President went on to note that "our various initiatives and the diplomatic efforts made by the UAE have all emphasised the necessity of seeking a political resolution of the current international crisis between the United States and Iraq. A diplomatic solution to the crisis is the most appropriate one," Sheikh Zayed said.
"Such a solution would help the international community to avert the rifts and divisions that might erupt if there is a resort to military action, for such action would lead to a limiting of the opportunities for joint co-operation and co-ordination between the major powers aimed at enhancing their efforts to achieve international peace and security. A resort to military action (in the current crisis) would have repercussions on the stability and security of the Arabian Gulf in general and the Middle East region in general," Sheikh Zayed said.
The President went on to call upon all concerned parties "to allow the maximum time possible for diplomatic efforts, the most important of which is the current mission of the United Nations Secretary General. This would remove any reason for military action," he added.
He went on to say that "such (military) action would be a retrograde step for the region, and is not in the interests of any party. It would also have an adverse effect upon current and future relations between East and West, and would destroy the many positive achievements of trust and co-operation that have been built up over the past few years. Nobody can prophesy the extent to which the fire will spread if, God forbid, it is permitted to start," he added.
"A resort to military action is not in the interests of any party to the crisis," Sheikh Zayed said. "Instead, a hasty rush to military action will have unforeseeable results. Everyone should seek to avoid that. Such a speeding up of a resort to a military strike would be a blow against the justice that mankind seeks from God Almighty."
"The Iraqi people are the main party that would be harmed by any use of force,because any such use of force would increase the magnitude of their suffering, both in material terms and in terms of the loss of life," Sheikh Zayed continued.
"The Arab Gulf region and the Arab world in general would also be directly harmed, because such an action would inevitably reflect in a negative manner upon a variety of Arab issues, such as the future of the Palestine question and the floundering of the Middle East peace process, especially because of the failure of efforts by the United States to move the peace process forward to its desired conclusion, quite apart from the impact on the future for peace and security in the Arab Gulf region."
"The leadership of Iraq must do everything possible in order to remove any justification for war and the destruction that would inevitably result," the President said. "Out of the concept of Arab and Islamic brotherhood, we appeal to the leadership of Iraq, in particular, to listen to the voice of reason," Sheikh Zayed said.
"We ask God Almighty that He may instill prudence, wisdom and good judgement in all those concerned, so that we may escape from this crisis and its repercussions, and its adverse effects upon the future of the security and stability of the countries of the region and their peoples." (The Emirates News and the Emirates News Agency, WAM)
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UN ALLOWS UAE TO SEND AID TO IRAQ
The United Nations, UN, Security Council Committee for Sanctions Imposed on Iraq yesterday approved an official application which had been presented by the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to allow two, or possibly three, UAE planes carrying some 80.0 tonnes of relief aid, including medicines, to land in Iraq today.
In line with the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the President, Chairwoman of the UAE Women's Union and honorary head of the UAE Red Crescent Women's Committee, a number of Committee members will leave today for Baghdad. The delegation will be led by the Women's Committee's Chairwoman Sana'a al Kutbi. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM, reporting from New York)
Meanwhile, a delegation from the UAE Red Crescent Society, led by its chairman Khalifa Nasser al Suwaidi, arrived in Baghdad earlier today aboard an airplane carrying 40.0 tonnes of humanitarian aid. The delegation was received by head of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society Dr Khaldoun Darwish al Bakri and other Iraqi officials.
Dr al Bakri praised the UAE's gesture of standing by Iraq during the difficult times through which it was passing and said, "This initiative reflects the genuine Arab stances of President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan. The Iraqi people will never forget these noble and brave acts."
Al Suweidi explained that the delegation will make field visits to the hospitals and maternity centres to get an idea of the needs of the Iraqi women and children. He added that another plane was expected to arrive later, as well as nine refrigerated trucks, each packed with medicines and items of foodstuff, which set off from the UAE last Thursday.
Today's aid plane marked the first time a UAE plane has landed at an Iraqi airport since the UN sanctions were imposed over seven years ago. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM, reporting from Baghdad)
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SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FISH RESEARCH FROM THE BRITISH
COUNCIL
The British Council, the cultural arm of the British Government, is to provide support for research into the marine fish of the United Arab Emirates and their exploitation by the country's ancient inhabitants, it was announced today.
The support is being provided in the form of sponsorship for a British post-graduate student, Mark Beech, currently preparing his doctoral thesis at Britain's University of York. His research involves examination of the fish bones to be found on archaeological sites throughout the country and comparison of these with the bones of the fish to be found in the UAE's waters today.
As part of this, Beech is putting together a reference collection of the skeletons of UAE marine fish, with a particular focus on those species, like the brown-spotted grouper (known locally as Hamour), which are caught for food.
The research on the archaeological sites is part of the work of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey, ADIAS, while, at the end of his studies, the fish reference collection prepared by Beech will be deposited with Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, ERWDA, where it will be used by other scientists studying the country's marine life.
"We are delighted to be able to support this research," said Robert Sykes, the Regional Director of The British Council. "British universities have long prided themselves not only on their academic expertise but also on the fact that their programmes of scientific research involve studies throughout the world.
"The work being carried out by Mark Beech will be of long-term value, not only in helping archaeologists to understand more about the diet of early inhabitants of the Emirates but also in providing a reference collection that can be used by any other scientists wishing to study the UAE's marine life."
Welcoming the initiative by The British Council, Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, the Secretary General of ERWDA, said that the research being undertaken by Beech represented an important contribution to the Agency's work. "One of the main concerns of ERWDA is the preservation of our marine resources," he said.
"If we are to understand how to conserve our marine life, we need to study not only those fish which are to be found in our waters today but also to gain a better understanding of how the people of the Emirates harvested this valuable resource in the past. This research programme tackles both topics. When completed, it will also provide ERWDA with a reference collection of the skeletons of our fishes which will be of great use not only in our own work, but also for scientists from elsewhere."
The collaboration agreement has also been welcomed by Peter Hellyer, the Co-ordinator of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey. "In our studies of the country's history, we need to examine how the people lived and what they ate, not just the physical remains of buildings and settlements they left behind them," he said.
"This research programme helps us to understand more about the past inhabitants of the Emirates. It also provides us with data on what fish resources existed in the past. By comparing this with what exists today, ADIAS and ERWDA hope to gain an insight into how fish populations may have changed over thousands of years and that, in turn, will help in plans for conservation today. We are delighted that The British Council is supporting our research programme."
During his research programme, Mark Beech is collecting fish from markets in Dalma and Ras Al Khaimah, to examine the species that are caught commercially today. He is also examining fish bones recovered from a number of archaeological sites, including a site from the Late Stone Age on the island of Dalma, a First Millennium AD site on Sir Bani Yas Island, the early Islamic town of Kush in Ras Al Khaimah and Late Islamic settlements on the islands of Balghelam and Merawah.
The ERWDA was created by Abu Dhabi Emiri decree in 1996. It is chaired by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as Deputy Chairman.
It is charged with responsibility for research into, and protection of, the environment and wildlife of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and has subsidiary research centres focusing on Marine and Terrestrial Ecology.
Meanwhile, the ADIAS was established on the instructions of President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Under the patronage of Chief of Staff HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, it is charged with responsibility for surveying, recording and, where appropriate, excavating archaeological sites on the coast and islands of Abu Dhabi. (Press Release from the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, ERWDA)
