Iran's plea in UAE islands case unconvincing: Attiya

Riyadh - April 21, 2009 (WAM) - The UAE's three islands of Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa are part and parcel of the UAE territory and the Gulf will remain an Arab water channel, GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al Attiya affirmed yesterday.
Al Attiya was reacting to allegations made by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi yesterday that the islands, occupied by Iran, are like the ''Gulf belonging to Iran forever''.
The GCC official said:' 'These provocative terms repeat baseless claims and that these islands belong to the UAE and the Gulf will remain an Arab water channel whether they like it or not .....these allegations are untrue and have no base in history, geography or the international law.
“These islands are UAE territory occupied by Iran and replaying such allegations will serve neither relations between countries of the region nor the desire to enhance regional security and stability,'' Al Attiyah stressed.
“The argument of the occupier, Iran, in this case is weak to the degree that it refuses direct negotiations between the two sides or refers the case to the International Court of Justice, he added.