Arab Summit leaders call on Iran to end its occupation of UAE islands

SHARM EL SHEIKH, 30th March, 2015 (WAM) -- Arab leaders have reiterated their support for the UAE’s sovereign right over the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, situated in the Strait of Hormuz, and also expressed their support for all peaceful measures taken by the UAE to restore its sovereignty over the occupied islands. In a final statement on the last day of the Arab Summit, Arab leaders also denounced, in a decision made in this regard, the Iranian Government's continued occupation of the islands, and its repeated violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries pertaining to the Abu Musa Island. As per the MoU signed on November 20th, 1971, Iran's exercise activities were in violation of the obligations stipulated therein, besides its provocative attempts of changing the demographics of the island by building housing facilities, resettling non-indigenous population there, carrying out manoeuvres and military exercises and illegally building facilities like economic, cultural, social, sport, and religious centres and hospitals, as well as having regular visits by senior Iranian officials and members of the Foreign Policy and National Security Committee at the Iranian Shura Council. The statement also stated that it considers those violations a flagrant infringement of the UAE's rule over the three islands, and deemed any such actions and allegations void and without any legal effect. Also, such actions do not detract from the sovereign right of the UAE over the three islands, as they are in violation of the MoU signed between the two countries, and were in contradiction with the provisions of international law. It also demanded that Iran must respect the sovereignty of the UAE over the three islands and desist from such violations and provocative actions, which is an interference in the internal affairs of an independent sovereign state. The statement also reiterated its call for the Iranian government to end its occupation of the three UAE islands, to desist from imposing a fait accompli by force, and stop the establishment of any facilities with the aim of changing the population and demographic composition of the islands. The statement finally called on the Iranian government to accept entering into serious and direct negotiations with the UAE, or resort to the International Court of Justice to find a peaceful solution in accordance with the rules and principles of international law. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395278614203.html