ID :
152781
Wed, 12/08/2010 - 17:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/152781
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Abdullah calls on Iran to respond to GCC and Arab leaders' calls on UAE isles
Abu Dhabi, Dec 8, 2010 (WAM) - UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated yesterday the UAE's position towards settlement of the issue of its three islands, occupied by Iran through peaceful and diplomatic channels. He expressed his hope that Iran would respond to peaceful efforts and calls for resolving the issue.
''What we hope from Iran is to respond to calls issued by GCC and Arab leaders out of their keenness to remove any thing that strains, harms or impedes enhancement of relations between Iran and Arab countries. We hope Iran will consider the GCC approach by acting to end this situation, we are hopeful that our brethrens in Iran will in future take the initiative to solve the issue,'' Sheikh Abdullah told a joint press conference with GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah at the end of the GCC summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
On challenges the GCC is facing, the UAE foreign minister said '' The most pressing challenge lies with the water issue which is source of concern from the economic and technological view as the sources of energy are not enough to improve water resources.
''There is an urgency for re-optimisation of the used water,'' he stressed.
''The GCC is making the most significant efforts in building desalination stations and 50 per cent of desalinated water is produced in the GCC member states,'' he said, calling for dedicating 50 per cent of research to development and improvement of water desalination.
Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE, As chairman of the current GCC session, will lend proper attention to aspirations of the GCC citizen which revolve around water resources, clearing obstacles before the GCC customs union, and review of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the GCC and other peer economic groups.
''These ambitions will take centre stage of our concern,'' he added.
Sheikh Abdullah said a concept tabled by the Kingdom of Bahrain on the establishment of a human rights council for the GCC countries was thoroughly studied and discussed by the GCC leaders.
Asked about news leaks suggesting that some GCC countries proposed setting up of a counter-terrorism centre and that some charity organisations in the region were providing financial support to the extremist groups, Sheikh Abdullah said: "After 11 September, and as the case with all other countries, our (GCC) countries are reviewing the financial transactions of charity organisations
We asked them to scrutinise their programmes and to maintain transparency on means of raising and spending funds." He continued by saying: "we are reviewing the financial regulations that govern operations of charity organisations to maintain more transparency. Everyone should know where the funds are coming from." Asked if the UAE sought to participate in the 5+1 group, Sheikh Abdullah said the group engages permanent Security Council members, plus Germany with Iran.
"We, at the GCC countries, are following up the talks because we are concerned with them. The 5+1 countries usually brief GCC countries on the progress of talks. It is important to encourage the group to lead meaningful and fruitful talks."
For his part, the GCC Secretary General, Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah, said the Abu Dhabi declaration focuses on water for its critical importance for the GCC states and as a pressing issues related to development.
''The water issue should have been highlighted in the manner that fits well into the future vision towards critical issues for the GCC as the case with the power grid,'' he said, adding that the declaration was released in the opportune time and results reached by experts will be submitted to the next summit in Saudi Arabia.
On the GCC customs union, he said it is progressing smoothly and the Abu Dhabi summit has come out with complete accord on it. ''The optimistic Abu Dhabi summit has set the time-frame bringing the union into life,'' he added.
On the GCC rail project, Al Attiyah disclosed that a group of international companies had been hired to conduct economic and engineering feasibility studies. ''We hope these studies would complete by the next summit so as to start construction of the network in 2017,''he said.
He indicated that internal and external challenges test the strength and solidity of the GCC and both the leaders and people are making strenuous efforts to address them. The winning of Qatar of the rights to host the 2022 World Cup finals is a proof that we are capable of turning challenges into opportunities of success. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
''What we hope from Iran is to respond to calls issued by GCC and Arab leaders out of their keenness to remove any thing that strains, harms or impedes enhancement of relations between Iran and Arab countries. We hope Iran will consider the GCC approach by acting to end this situation, we are hopeful that our brethrens in Iran will in future take the initiative to solve the issue,'' Sheikh Abdullah told a joint press conference with GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah at the end of the GCC summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
On challenges the GCC is facing, the UAE foreign minister said '' The most pressing challenge lies with the water issue which is source of concern from the economic and technological view as the sources of energy are not enough to improve water resources.
''There is an urgency for re-optimisation of the used water,'' he stressed.
''The GCC is making the most significant efforts in building desalination stations and 50 per cent of desalinated water is produced in the GCC member states,'' he said, calling for dedicating 50 per cent of research to development and improvement of water desalination.
Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE, As chairman of the current GCC session, will lend proper attention to aspirations of the GCC citizen which revolve around water resources, clearing obstacles before the GCC customs union, and review of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the GCC and other peer economic groups.
''These ambitions will take centre stage of our concern,'' he added.
Sheikh Abdullah said a concept tabled by the Kingdom of Bahrain on the establishment of a human rights council for the GCC countries was thoroughly studied and discussed by the GCC leaders.
Asked about news leaks suggesting that some GCC countries proposed setting up of a counter-terrorism centre and that some charity organisations in the region were providing financial support to the extremist groups, Sheikh Abdullah said: "After 11 September, and as the case with all other countries, our (GCC) countries are reviewing the financial transactions of charity organisations
We asked them to scrutinise their programmes and to maintain transparency on means of raising and spending funds." He continued by saying: "we are reviewing the financial regulations that govern operations of charity organisations to maintain more transparency. Everyone should know where the funds are coming from." Asked if the UAE sought to participate in the 5+1 group, Sheikh Abdullah said the group engages permanent Security Council members, plus Germany with Iran.
"We, at the GCC countries, are following up the talks because we are concerned with them. The 5+1 countries usually brief GCC countries on the progress of talks. It is important to encourage the group to lead meaningful and fruitful talks."
For his part, the GCC Secretary General, Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah, said the Abu Dhabi declaration focuses on water for its critical importance for the GCC states and as a pressing issues related to development.
''The water issue should have been highlighted in the manner that fits well into the future vision towards critical issues for the GCC as the case with the power grid,'' he said, adding that the declaration was released in the opportune time and results reached by experts will be submitted to the next summit in Saudi Arabia.
On the GCC customs union, he said it is progressing smoothly and the Abu Dhabi summit has come out with complete accord on it. ''The optimistic Abu Dhabi summit has set the time-frame bringing the union into life,'' he added.
On the GCC rail project, Al Attiyah disclosed that a group of international companies had been hired to conduct economic and engineering feasibility studies. ''We hope these studies would complete by the next summit so as to start construction of the network in 2017,''he said.
He indicated that internal and external challenges test the strength and solidity of the GCC and both the leaders and people are making strenuous efforts to address them. The winning of Qatar of the rights to host the 2022 World Cup finals is a proof that we are capable of turning challenges into opportunities of success. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
