UAE hopes balanced, management of Mideast peace process : Abdullah
New York, Sept.29th,2007 (WAM) -- As the world waits the Middle East peace conference this autumn, the UAE is looking forward to a comprehensive, balanced and fair management of the peace process as well as to putting an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict in all spheres, the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said at the UN.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed the need of engaging all concerned parties in serious negotiations founded on the Arab Peace Initiative, the Road Map and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions as well as on the rules of international, legitimacy in general.
''This should all be in accordance with a clearly defined timetable on the necessary steps and procedures to reach a just, permanent and comprehensive peace in the region, Sheikh Abdullah said in statement he delivered last night before the General Debate of the Sixty-second Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The United Arab Emirates expresses its disappointment at the current situation in the Middle East in general and in the Palestinian Territories in particular, as a result of the continued aggression by Israel and its occupation of Palestinian and other Arab lands.
''We renew our support for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and its affiliated constitutional and legitimate institutions and call on the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, to play a more active role, together with the Middle East Quartet, in order to give new momentum to the Middle East peace process, said Sheikh Abdullah who is leading the UAE delegation to the General Assembly meetings.
He added ''We stress that no solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict is possible without Israel's acceptance of the Arab Initiative, which is based on the relevant United Nations resolutions.
Sheikh Abdullah admitted that severe conflicts had sorely wounded the region, and quick and effective treatment is required.
He drew the attention of delegates to the fact that, until now, no progress whatsoever has been made on the settlement of the issue of the Iranian occupation in 1971 of the three UAE islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.
''This lack of progress has been despite all the efforts and constructive peaceful initiatives that my country consistently puts forward, all of which have been endorsed by the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council and by the Council of the League of Arab States, as well as by other peace-loving nations, he noted.
''We again urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to show its goodwill by working to achieve the solution of this issue by peaceful means, through bilateral and unconditional negotiations with the UAE, to reach a permanent and just settlement that would require the full withdrawal by Iran from the three islands and the return of their continental shelf, territorial seas, air space and economic zones as an inseparable part of the national sovereignty of the UAE. Or that the Islamic Republic of Iran should indicate its agreement that the issue should be referred to the International Court of Justice for legal arbitration, he said.
Turning to Iraq, the UAE top diplomat said while the UAE expressing its support for the efforts being made to promote reconstruction in Iraq and, it holds, at the same time, the firm belief that all should abstain from interference in Iraq's internal affairs and should display respect for the national sovereignty of Iraq.
This, according to him, requires that all parties should co-operate to bring to an end the cycle of violence, and to the inciting of feelings, and that they should work to counter calls for partition and division.
''We call or support for an Iraqi Government that truly works to achieve national reconciliation. We call upon all states to commit themselves to respect for Iraq's territorial integrity, sovereignty and stability, as well as its Arab and Islamic identity, and to reject any attempts and political currents that seek to divide and partition Iraq.
''The United Arab Emirates is deeply concerned over the growing number of Iraqi refugees seeking asylum in neighboring countries and the resulting tragic humanitarian situation, as well as the consequent breaking up of the country's demographic structure.
The UAE also renewed its support for Syria's right to regain its full sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.
Speaking about Lebanon, Sheikh Abdullah said ''We look with satisfaction at the important role being played by the United Nations in the restoration of security and stability in Lebanon.
''We reaffirm our support for the reconstruction efforts and for the stability and territorial integrity of Lebanon as well as for the authority of its constitutional bodies.
In this respect, he outlined, the United Arab Emirates has undertaken a number of reconstruction projects in Lebanon and has provided humanitarian assistance for its sisterly people.
''The UAE collaborates closely with the efforts being undertaken by the Lebanese Government and the United Nations to remove mines and ordnance, this work having originally commenced as part of an initiative taken by the United Arab Emirates in 2001, when my Government provided initial funding of US $ 50 million, he explained.
On Sudan, the UAE welcomed the Peace Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sudan on the deployment of a hybrid African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur.
''We call upon all regional and international parties to commit themselves to protecting Sudan's national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
''We also would like to express our satisfaction at the holding of the two rounds of talks between the UN and Morocco as part of attempts to reach a settlement of the Western Sahara issue, and declare our full support for the UN's plans for Somalia, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other areas of crisis.
On challenges to the current international negotiations on comprehensive nuclear disarmament, the United Arab Emirates welcomes the recent agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran on a fixed time schedule for IAEA inspectors to solve the outstanding issues concerning Iran's nuclear programme.
''We hope that talks among all concerned parties will eventually lead to a permanent peaceful solution that will spare the region from further tensions and encounters and will help to assure countries in the region that they will not be faced with any threats to security or to their environment.
''We reaffirm our belief that Israel should not be excluded from the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty on nuclear weapons, as its possession of such weapons poses a danger to the whole region, Sheikh Abdullah added.
The United Arab Emirates works with both regional and international efforts to fight all forms of terrorism, including associated money laundering, in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and its affiliated bodies.
''We also reaffirm our support for all efforts to promote dialogue among cultures and civilisations and inter-faith tolerance. These, we believe, can make a significant contribution to the promotion of global security and peace.
Outlining UAE efforts on development aid worldwide, Sheikh Abdullah said the United Arab Emirates plays a role in helping to find solutions to a number of regional and international issues, in Asia and Africa, in particular, through its provision of over US $ 70 billion in loans, grants and assistance for development projects in over 95 countries.
This programme, according to Sheikh Abdullah, seeks to promote a culture of peace and stability to help people to achieve their aspirations for prosperity, as well as to tackle the challenges facing the process of development.
The United Arab Emirates also launched earlier this month the "Dubai Cares" charity campaign, a fundraising drive to provide, in its first stage, primary education for more than a million children across the world, especially in Asia and Africa.
Earlier this year, we launched the United Arab Emirates Government Strategy which is the first binding business process re-engineering programme for governmental performance. It has its core focus on ensuring countrywide sustainable development and a high quality of life for the population, in line with the United Nations' efforts to promote human development.
WAM/TF
Sheikh Abdullah stressed the need of engaging all concerned parties in serious negotiations founded on the Arab Peace Initiative, the Road Map and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions as well as on the rules of international, legitimacy in general.
''This should all be in accordance with a clearly defined timetable on the necessary steps and procedures to reach a just, permanent and comprehensive peace in the region, Sheikh Abdullah said in statement he delivered last night before the General Debate of the Sixty-second Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The United Arab Emirates expresses its disappointment at the current situation in the Middle East in general and in the Palestinian Territories in particular, as a result of the continued aggression by Israel and its occupation of Palestinian and other Arab lands.
''We renew our support for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and its affiliated constitutional and legitimate institutions and call on the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, to play a more active role, together with the Middle East Quartet, in order to give new momentum to the Middle East peace process, said Sheikh Abdullah who is leading the UAE delegation to the General Assembly meetings.
He added ''We stress that no solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict is possible without Israel's acceptance of the Arab Initiative, which is based on the relevant United Nations resolutions.
Sheikh Abdullah admitted that severe conflicts had sorely wounded the region, and quick and effective treatment is required.
He drew the attention of delegates to the fact that, until now, no progress whatsoever has been made on the settlement of the issue of the Iranian occupation in 1971 of the three UAE islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.
''This lack of progress has been despite all the efforts and constructive peaceful initiatives that my country consistently puts forward, all of which have been endorsed by the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council and by the Council of the League of Arab States, as well as by other peace-loving nations, he noted.
''We again urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to show its goodwill by working to achieve the solution of this issue by peaceful means, through bilateral and unconditional negotiations with the UAE, to reach a permanent and just settlement that would require the full withdrawal by Iran from the three islands and the return of their continental shelf, territorial seas, air space and economic zones as an inseparable part of the national sovereignty of the UAE. Or that the Islamic Republic of Iran should indicate its agreement that the issue should be referred to the International Court of Justice for legal arbitration, he said.
Turning to Iraq, the UAE top diplomat said while the UAE expressing its support for the efforts being made to promote reconstruction in Iraq and, it holds, at the same time, the firm belief that all should abstain from interference in Iraq's internal affairs and should display respect for the national sovereignty of Iraq.
This, according to him, requires that all parties should co-operate to bring to an end the cycle of violence, and to the inciting of feelings, and that they should work to counter calls for partition and division.
''We call or support for an Iraqi Government that truly works to achieve national reconciliation. We call upon all states to commit themselves to respect for Iraq's territorial integrity, sovereignty and stability, as well as its Arab and Islamic identity, and to reject any attempts and political currents that seek to divide and partition Iraq.
''The United Arab Emirates is deeply concerned over the growing number of Iraqi refugees seeking asylum in neighboring countries and the resulting tragic humanitarian situation, as well as the consequent breaking up of the country's demographic structure.
The UAE also renewed its support for Syria's right to regain its full sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.
Speaking about Lebanon, Sheikh Abdullah said ''We look with satisfaction at the important role being played by the United Nations in the restoration of security and stability in Lebanon.
''We reaffirm our support for the reconstruction efforts and for the stability and territorial integrity of Lebanon as well as for the authority of its constitutional bodies.
In this respect, he outlined, the United Arab Emirates has undertaken a number of reconstruction projects in Lebanon and has provided humanitarian assistance for its sisterly people.
''The UAE collaborates closely with the efforts being undertaken by the Lebanese Government and the United Nations to remove mines and ordnance, this work having originally commenced as part of an initiative taken by the United Arab Emirates in 2001, when my Government provided initial funding of US $ 50 million, he explained.
On Sudan, the UAE welcomed the Peace Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sudan on the deployment of a hybrid African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur.
''We call upon all regional and international parties to commit themselves to protecting Sudan's national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
''We also would like to express our satisfaction at the holding of the two rounds of talks between the UN and Morocco as part of attempts to reach a settlement of the Western Sahara issue, and declare our full support for the UN's plans for Somalia, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other areas of crisis.
On challenges to the current international negotiations on comprehensive nuclear disarmament, the United Arab Emirates welcomes the recent agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran on a fixed time schedule for IAEA inspectors to solve the outstanding issues concerning Iran's nuclear programme.
''We hope that talks among all concerned parties will eventually lead to a permanent peaceful solution that will spare the region from further tensions and encounters and will help to assure countries in the region that they will not be faced with any threats to security or to their environment.
''We reaffirm our belief that Israel should not be excluded from the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty on nuclear weapons, as its possession of such weapons poses a danger to the whole region, Sheikh Abdullah added.
The United Arab Emirates works with both regional and international efforts to fight all forms of terrorism, including associated money laundering, in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and its affiliated bodies.
''We also reaffirm our support for all efforts to promote dialogue among cultures and civilisations and inter-faith tolerance. These, we believe, can make a significant contribution to the promotion of global security and peace.
Outlining UAE efforts on development aid worldwide, Sheikh Abdullah said the United Arab Emirates plays a role in helping to find solutions to a number of regional and international issues, in Asia and Africa, in particular, through its provision of over US $ 70 billion in loans, grants and assistance for development projects in over 95 countries.
This programme, according to Sheikh Abdullah, seeks to promote a culture of peace and stability to help people to achieve their aspirations for prosperity, as well as to tackle the challenges facing the process of development.
The United Arab Emirates also launched earlier this month the "Dubai Cares" charity campaign, a fundraising drive to provide, in its first stage, primary education for more than a million children across the world, especially in Asia and Africa.
Earlier this year, we launched the United Arab Emirates Government Strategy which is the first binding business process re-engineering programme for governmental performance. It has its core focus on ensuring countrywide sustainable development and a high quality of life for the population, in line with the United Nations' efforts to promote human development.
WAM/TF