UAE donates two million dollars to Islamic Solidarity Fund

Kampala, June 20, 2008 (WAM) -- The UAE has expressed great concern on the dangerous situation and inhumane suffering peoples from Islamic world are being subjected to and called for political, humanitarian and developmental support from all Muslim countries to arrest the situation.

Addressing the 35th session of the ministerial council meeting of the
Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs, Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, announced UAE's donation of two million
US dollars to the Islamic Solidarity Fund to enable it play its noble and
humanitarian role effectively. The gesture was part of the UAE's continuous
support for the OIC and its institutions.

Touching on the Palestinian issue, the minister reiterated his country's
unflinching support for the Arab peace initiative as the best and most
practical means of solving the Palestinian issue in a way that would protect
the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including their
right for an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, the return of
Palestinian refugees and the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab
lands, including the Golan Heights of Syria. "This is the best way to
achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately,
Israel remained uncommitted to its promises through the Annapolis
conference, to push forward the wheel of negotiations with the Palestinian
National Authority," he said.

He condemned the Israeli forces' barbaric blockade against the Palestinians,
the killing and maiming of innocent Palestinians and terrifying of
Palestinian women and children in Gaza. "We demand from the International
Community to shoulder their responsibilities by taking the necessary steps
to protect the Palestinian people," he added.