CROWN PRINCE OF RA’S AL KHAYMEH CALLS ON IRAN TO RETURN THE ISLANDS
By Ahmad Ra’fat
ABU DHABI 27 Apr. (IPS) "The United Arab Emirates would never, ever, allow Iran to steal their islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Smaller Tunbs and would do their best to recuperates them from Iranian occupation", Sheikh Khaled ben Saghar al Qasemi, the Crown Prince of Ra’s al Kheymeh Emirate said.
Ra’s al Kheymeh is one of the seven Sheikhdoms that form the United Arab Emirates and the one that claims sovereignty over the three islands located strategically at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.
Iran, that also considers the islands as being integral part of its national territory, occupied them in 1971 on the withdrawal of British forces from the region and has since establish a large military base on Abu Musa, the only of the three islands being inhabited.
Speaking at the end of a theatrical show entitled "Eyn al Haqiqah", or Exactly the Truth, the Sheikh attacked Iran for the occupation of the islands, saying "as this epic piece shows, we would never forget our islands and would do all we can to liberate them".
The play, written by Sheykha Fawaqi, the wife of the Emir was on show in Abu Dhabi or three weeks and was seen by hundreds of Emiratis.
Sheykh Khaled al Qasemi once again called on Tehran to give the islands back to their owners, and reiterated proposals for solving the dispute "peacefully" and by the way of international courts.
"Our position has always been very clear, based on avoiding violence or reverting to military force, favouring peaceful negotiations, the same way as our Qatari and Bahraini brothers solved their disputes thru international mediation".
Iran also agree on holding peaceful, friendly negotiations with the United Arab Emirates on the issue, but refuses to go to international courts at The Hague, saying the Islands having always been parts of its territory, occupied by the British colonialists, their status are not negotiable.
But Mr. Khaled rejected Iran’s opposing to solve the dispute at international courts, observing that such an attitude would further add to political confusion in the region.
Sheykh Khaled’s statement drew sharp criticism from Iranians. Speaking at the Majles (parliament), Mr. Mohammad Hoseyn Abu Torabi, a reformist MM (Member of the Majles) called on the government to "review" its relations with the United Arab Emirates.
Mr. Abu Torabi, who is a member of the Majles Foreign Affairs and National Security Commission said Iran should to "use" its two billions US Dollars trade with the UAE as a "weapon" to "silence" those who, on the other side of the waterway, spread such "rumours" aimed at mugging Iran’s relations with its Arab neigbours of the Persian Gulf.
Observers in Abu Dhabi said Iran’s repeated military manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf and recent declaration by Admiral Mohammad Hoseyn Shafe’i of the Iranian navy saying the region’s security could only be assured by Iranian forces have added to the UAE’s concern over Tehran’s intentions.
"Iran’s military gesticulations can not be a solution for the future of the islands, pointing only to Iranian’s lack of logic and will", he the Sheykh added, speaking with Iran Press Service.
Local press portray Iran as the "Gendarme" of the Persian Gulf and argue that after signing a security agreement with Saudi Arabia and having launched tens of missiles over Iraq, Tehran wants to impose itself to regional nations and others, meaning United States, as the region’s policeman.
General Tommy Frankis, Commander US forces in the Persian Gulf in charge of preserving security in the waterway, from where the industrialised world get more than 40 per cent of its oil, said recently the military presence on Iran in the Persian Gulf and their control over the Straits of Hormuz are facts that no one can deny.
However, he said, considering Iran as a "rogue State that supports international terrorism", his forces have the Iranians under careful watch, assuring the Persian Gulf Sheikhdoms.
He said the volatile political situation in Iran was also a source of worries for regional countries, as leaders in Tehran could always use the dispute over islands for creating troubles in the region and even attacking neighbouring regimes.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Co-operation Council-European Union Joint Ministerial Council Wednesday noted with concern the lack of progress in efforts to resolve the territorial conflict between the UAE and Iran over the three islands.
In a joint communiqué issued following their 11th session, the GCC-EU countries reiterated their support for a "peaceful solution" to the conflict in accordance with international law, either through direct negotiations or by referring the issue to the International Court of Justice.
The GCC and EU noted the gradual improvement of their relations with Iran and hoped that the remaining serious questions of concern could be addressed.
Elsewhere in the communiqué, the two sides reaffirmed the need for a "just, lasting and comprehensive" peace in the Middle East based on "relevant" Security Council resolutions and reiterated the "obligation" of the Iraqi government to implement fully all relevant UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq, and cooperate in all respects with the UN and subsidiary bodies thereof, in order to allow for the suspension and in time lifting of sanctions.
They also welcomed the discussions initiated between the UN secretary-general and representatives of the Iraqi government.
For his part, former Democratic president Jimmy Carter said increased support for the UAE by the Gulf countries in its territorial conflict with Iran over the three islands will act as a strong communiqué to assist in a peaceful solution of the issue.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Dubai Press Club, he said, "All the countries are co-operating with the UAE for the recovery of the islands and Iran will realise it is not just a lonely call, but others have joined in for the peaceful resolution of this issue."
Carter praised the support of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain to resolve the issue. While discussing Iran, he focused on U.S. sanctions against it and Iraq. Carter hoped for gradual improvement in U.S. relations with Iran while addressing serious concerns under the new President, George W. Bush. ENDS IRAN UAE ISLANDS