GCC condemns Iranian provocation in the UAE islands
Gulf-Iran, Politics, 3/5/1999

At the conclusion of its emergency meeting concluded on Thursday in Abu Dhabi the ministerial council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the "Iranian provocative military maneuvers" carried out on the three disputed Gulf islands of Greater Tanb, Lesser Tanb and Abu Mousa.

The GCC called upon Iran to "immediately stop these provocative acts which threaten security and stability in the Arab Gulf and constitute a source of great concern and do not help for building confidence."

The GCC stressed opposition of its member states to Iran's continued occupation of the three islands and stressed the UAE's sovereignty over the three islands, being "an integrated part of the UAE."

The statement called upon the Iranian government to end its occupation of the three islands.

The GCC asserted in its final statement that Iran had met all "peaceful" calls advocated by the UAE with further acts of perpetuating the occupation and flagrant violation of the regional sovereignty of the UAE, converting the three UAE islands into military areas and repeatedly carrying out naval and air military maneuvers in the territorial waters of the UAE, a matter which is a source of great concern to the GCC member states and in contradiction between the acts and behavior of Iran.

The GCC decided to assign the UAE's foreign minister, who is also the current chairman of the GCC council, and the GCC secretary general to make contacts with Arab and friendly countries and regional and international organizations in order to explain the dangers of the situation in the region under the Iranian armament program.

Meantime, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Rashed Abdullah al-Nu'eimi expressed satisfaction at the release of the statement. In a press conference following the conclusion of the GCC emergency session, al-Nu'eimi said the UAE and the GCC states view the maneuvers currently conducted by Iran as "beyond Iran's defense requirements, and thereby think that the military moves do not imply good intentions like those available at the GCC."

Concerning the request made in asking the GCC to slow down its openness to Iran and the government of Khatami, the UAE foreign minister said: "We are working for changing the Iranian policies rather than for severing relations with Iran. We want to invest these relations in the service of stability in the region and cooperation and common interests and settling problems."

The UAE FM added, "We also want Iran to invest these relations for serving stability and security in the Gulf, rather than threatening and building its own power and in a way making us feel that we are under continued danger and threats from the Iranians."

Previous Stories:
  Crisis between AL and Iranian interest commission   (3/4/1999)
  UAE postpones GCC emergency meeting until today   (3/4/1999)
  UAE hands over a memorandum of protest to the Arab League against Iran   (3/2/1999)
  Iran regrets Arab League statements over Gulf islands   (3/2/1999)

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