Date : 16/04/2012
(With photos)
ABU DHABI, April 16 (KUNA) -- The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan said Monday Iran's domestic problems, including
the plummeting currency and faltering economy, prompted Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit the UAE island of Abu Moussa on Wednesday, April
11.
"The Iranian occupation of the three UAE islands of Abu Moussa, Greater
Tunb and Lesser Tunb in the strategic Strait of Hormuz poses a grave risk to
the international peace and security," Sheikh Abdullah cautioned.
The three islands are located at the crossing point of 40 percent of the
world's energy supplies, he noted at a joint press conference here with Indian
Foreign Minister Somanahalli Krishna following the tenth session of UAE-India
Joint Committee.
"I call upon Iran to listen to voice of reason and put an end to the
standoff whose repercussions could not be contained by either the UAE or Iran
in future," the UAE News Agency (WAM) quoted Sheikh Abdullah as saying.
"We are serious to settle the dispute about the UAE Islands occupied by
Iran (since 1971). But due to the internal Iranian issues, among others, drop
of Iranian currency and economy, avoiding tackling of the European and world
stance, Iran seems resolved to export its concerns to a marginal issue.
"It is regrettable that a Muslim and neighboring country with civilization
and traditions behaves in such a manner. It (Iran) is supposed to behave
rationally and not to project its internal concerns abroad. In this case
consequences can be dangerous," he pointed out.
For his part, the Indian Foreign Minister thanked Sheikh Abdullah for the
UAE's hosting of the joint committee meeting, good hospitality and reception.
Krishna added that the two sides discussed the bilateral relations and ways
to boost them in the areas of trade investment, culture, energy, transport,
telecommunications, oil, gas, business and consular affairs.
The Indian foreign minister lauded the role played by the UAE in the
regional and international arenas, especially in combating the maritime piracy
and terrorism in order to achieve the international security and peace.
He hoped that the volume of mutual trade would grow with the next years, in
addition to setting up of support team to back the trade, investment, economic
and energy fields.
Sheikh Abdullah and the Indian foreign minister signed the minutes of
meeting of the joint committee on the cooperation in the economic, trade,
investment, security, judicial, educational, customs and energy fields.
Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jumaa Mubarak Al
Junaibi and India Ambassador to UAE M. K. Lokesh signed the memorandum of
understanding for setting up the joint consular committee.
Musbeh Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services
Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and the Indian Ambassador also signed the
second protocol on amendment of the agreement between the two governments on
prevention of double taxation and tax evasion. (end)
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