UAE-IRAN: Bound by historical ties

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

TEHRAN, May 30 2003 (IPS) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran are not only bound by long-standing historical ties but also share common socioeconomic interests, Saif Saeed bin Sa’ed , Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

– Iran is a neighbor and a sister Islamic country. We are also bound by historical ties as well as by common socioeconomic interests," Sa’ed told reporters here on the sideline of the 30th ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference( OIC).

Sa’ed, who is leading the UAE delegation to the conference, expressed hope that the meeting would arrive at resolutions that would reinforce stability, security and development in the Islamic world. Such resolutions, he noted, should also be able to better prepare the Islamic world for the current and emerging challenges.

On the situation in Iraq, Sa’ed said: ôWe call for speedy formation of a national Iraqi government that will oversee the task of reconstruction and bring the country back to the fold of international community. That government should be able to restore the position of Iraq regionally as well as among the Arab nations and also work for the withdrawal of occupying forces," added Sa’ed.

Asked about the roadmap and the Palestinian problem, Sa’ed said the UAE, which has long-supported the Palestinian struggle would accept any just settlement that would be acceptable to the Palestinians.

ôWe hope the roadmap would offer a genuine solution to the conflict. It’s regrettable that Israel is trying to frustrate the efforts by adding its own changes. These changes, in addition to the repressive measures against the Palestinians, must stop," he said.

On the issue of terrorism, Sa’ed pointed out that the UAE condemned all forms of terrorism, but also called for a clear distinction between people’s rights to attain their freedom and mere terrorism.

He called for solidarity among Islamic nations, particularly in view of the unjustified attacks on Islam by some Western circles.