UAE PM al-Maktoum concludes Iran visit
United Arab Emirates-Iran, Politics, 2/19/2008

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum wrapped up his visit to Iran late Monday. Al-Maktoum, who was heading a high-ranking political-economic delegation arrived in Tehran on Monday morning.

During his stay, al-Maktoum met with President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Vice-President Parviz Davoudi and several other senior officials. During his meetings, the UAE premier said Iran-UAE relation is a good pattern for other regional states, adding that Iran's nuclear activities have peaceful nature.

Praising Iran's scientific progress, he said there are great potentials in both countries for further expansion of ties. Economic relations, joint investment, export of electricity and avenues to boost trade were major issues on the agenda of talks between al-Maktoum and senior Iranian officials.

Al-Maktoum is the highest UAE official visiting Iran after victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Around 450,000 Iranians are residing there with investments in the country. Currently, some 4,800 Iranian companies are active across the UAE.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad said Monday that foreign intervention will effect expansion of relations and cooperation between Iran and the UAE. He told the UAE prime pinister that Iran and the UAE will safeguard each other's rights in all scenes. He said "Iran and the UAE can cooperate in guaranteeing lasting security in the region."

Emphasizing that there is no impediment on the way of expansion of mutual cooperation, Ahmadi-Nejad said Iran is fully prepared to have highest level of ties with the UAE and put its valuable achievements at its disposal.

He went on to say that Iranian and UAE nations' relations are based on fraternity and both countries are positive over each other's progress and security.

The UAE premier for his part, voicing pleasure over his Iran visit, said foreigners' claim that Iran is a threat to the regional states is false because regional nations share a common history and background.
Pointing to abundant facilities for mutual cooperation in different sectors, the UAE official said Iran and the UAE can expand ties in all spheres, including economy, thus proving that they are complementary to each other.

Meantime, it was not clear the extend of talks held regarding a disputed island between the two countries. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini, said on Sunday had said prior to the UAE official visit that "Iran is ready for talks with the United Arab Emirates' officials to remove misunderstanding over the Persian Gulf Island of Abu Mousa." He added "Iran is ready to hold face-to-face talks with its brothers from the UAE on the misunderstanding about Abu Mousa island."

He said that Tehran would "seize any opportunity to remove misunderstanding."

Previous Stories:
  Official: Iran, UAE economic complementary for each other   (10/23/2007)
  No obstacle to Iran-UAE ties: Ahmadi-Nejad   (5/15/2007)
  Iran, Dubai electricity network link   (5/1/2007)
  Oil minister declares reluctance to export gas to UAE   (12/23/2006)
  Iran warns UAE against being used as US anti-Iran base   (11/27/2006)
  UAE - Iran islands dispute talks   (6/6/2006)
  UAE - Iran islands dispute talks   (6/6/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search