GCC FMs back UAE sovereignty on three islands, condemn attack on its embassy in Libya

Jeddah: The Cooperation Council for Arab Gulf States (GCC) on Tuesday reiterated its firm position on rejecting Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. The Foreign Ministers of the GCC six member states, in the final communique of their 128th ordinary meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, supported the UAE's full sovereignty over the three islands, including their regional waters, airspace, continental shelf and their exclusive economic zone, as integral parts of the UAE. The GCC Council ministers expressed deep regret that contacts with Iran in this regard have not produced positive results. They noted that solving this issue will contribute to the stability and security of the region. They urged Iran to respond positively to the UAE endeavours to solve the problem either through direct negotiations or referring the issue to the International Court of Justice. The ministers also expressed hopes that Dr. Hassan Rouhani's presidency of Iran would contribute to closer relations between the GCC and Iran based on the principles of good neighbourhood, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, respect of the sovereignty of the region's countries and refraining from using force or threatening to use it. The GCC Foreign Ministers also renewed their condemnation of the terrorist attack on the UAE embassy compound, in the Libyan capital in July, terming it as a violation of law and diplomatic norms. They re-affirmed the importance of protecting diplomatic missions and the joint international efforts to counter terrorism. The UAE was represented to the GCC Foreign Ministers' meeting in Jeddah by Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. – Emirates News Agency, WAM