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GCC supports UAE''s sovereignty over Iranian-occupied islands

ABU DHABI, Dec 6 (KUNA) - Leaders of six Arab Gulf countries reiterated support to UAE's sovereignty over three islands occupied by Iran since early 1970, calling on Tehran to solve this dispute via direct negotiations or seeking the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In a draft final communique, the leaders regretted lack of progress in contacts with the Iranians to ending the occupation of Greater and Lesser Tonbs and Abu Moussa, in a drive to boost regional security and stability.
They called for seeking all peaceful means which guarantee the return of the islands to the UAE.
The Gulf leaders, in their final communique, a copy of which seen by KUNA, welcomed the agreements signed between the Sudanese government and rebel groups in Doha, Qatar. They thanked the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani for establishing a bank for the development in Darfur with a USD two billion capital.
They voiced solidarity with Sudan and rejected measures taken by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the conflict in Darfur. They also rejected ICC's accusations against Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) looked forward for the self-determination referendum for South Sudan to preserving security and stability in Sudan.
The leaders, in this regard, welcomed Kuwait's hosting of the international donors' and development conference for East Sudan, and commended its outcome.
On terrorism, the leaders commended endeavors of member states to rejecting terrorism and extremism. They called on the international community to establish an international center to fighting terrorism, aimed at detecting and monitoring terrorists to thwart their plans.
They praised Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for foiling terrorist plots which aimed at destabilizing security and undermining security of citizens.
They underlined importance of tackling sources of terrorism financing.
The leaders of the six GCC countries called on Iraq to fully comply with UN resolutions related to the invasion of Kuwait, including the maintenance of border signs with Kuwait, finding the remains of Kuwaiti and third-country missing, returning the Kuwaiti properties and national archives.
They called on the need to respecting the unity, independence and territorial safety of Iraq, and not interfering in its internal affairs.
On Lebanon, the leaders of the Gulf States commended the government of Beirut to cementing security and stability, and national unity.
They called on the political forces to live up to their historic responsibilities to ending their problems through dialogue and in line with the constitution.
They praised the visit by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to Beirut, designed to boosting national conciliation and domestic stability.
They also commended the visit by the Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad Al-Khalifa to Lebanon, which was related to the opening of development projects.
On the other hand, the GCC summit extended backing to security, stability and territorial unity of Somalia. They called on all parties concerned to cooperate and heal their wounds in a bid to end sufferings of Somalis to achieve national unity.
The Gulf leaders supported the Pakistani people in their ordeal resulted from floods. They called on the international community extend every possible backing to the victims of the floods.
They, however, called on South and North Korea to exercise self-restraint and solving their problems by dialogue and diplomacy. (end) kt KUNA 070004 Dec 10NNNN