UAE pleased over GCC stand

The United Arab Emirates' news agency on Monday quoted UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed al-Nahyan as saying that the UAE "appreciates the unwavering stand taken by her sisters in the GCC, released by their meeting in Jeddah, in which they voiced solidarity with Abu Dhabi to restore full supremacy on its three islands."

The UAE minister added that the GCC "has consolidated by its declared stand towards the islands the objectives on the ground it was established, foremost being achieving security and stability in the region through serious dialogue with its neighbors in issues of concern to the region."

The Jeddah meeting of the GCC member states called for the formation of a joint committee among Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar in order to draw up a mechanism to start direct negotiations between Tehran and Abu Dhabi who are in conflict over the sovereignty of the three Gulf islands of Greater Tanb, Lesser Tanb and Abu Mousa.