ID :
65360
Thu, 06/11/2009 - 14:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/65360
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UAE's FNC succeeds in raising the issue of UAE's three occupied Islands in the British Parliament
Abu Dhabi, June 11, 2009 (WAM) - Speaker of UAE's Federal National Council (FNC) HE Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair hailed yesterday, the British parliament's debate on the occupation of UAE's three islands -Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa by Iran.
In an appearance made by Labour MP John Grogan yesterday, the issue was extensively discussed at the British Parliament for the first time in 38 years. As Grogan himself put it, 'the last time the issue was raised in the House was when Edward Heath was Prime Minister in 1971'.
Shedding light on his discussions with FNC Speaker Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, the British MP said: 'During those parliamentary discussions, we ranged over a large number of different topics. The historical links between our two nations are of course very close'.
'The delegation from the Federal National Council was keen to impress on the UK Parliament the importance of the islands and the part that they play in political debate in both the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf', Grogan told the British Parliament yesterday.
During his own visit to UAE, Grogan had held several meetings with FNC members on various issues including that of the three occupied Islands.
Grogan, in a long speech before the House of Commons, narrated the history of the three Islands of UAE occupied by Iran.
'Having researched some of the history, I decided that it was about time that the subject got another little airing', said Grogan in prelude to his representation.
Responding to the participation by the MPs in the debate Grogan concluded: 'Having studied their history, I agree that the UAE has a strong case for claiming the islands'.
Participating in the debate, Conservative MP Nicholas Winterton described it as critical and on a matter of great principle.
'The United Kingdom Government should make it extremely clear to the Government of the UAE that we will support them in every possible way in seeking about to bring a peaceful conclusion', Winterton stressed.
Parliamentary Undersecretary and Labour MP Ivan Lewis said that Grogan has raised an incredibly important issue in the parliament.
'The Foreign Office and the Government are concerned by the continuing dispute between the UAE and Iran over the over the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb. As previous Ministers have made clear, we support a peaceful settlement of the dispute by means in accordance with international law. That might be through direct bilateral discussions or undertaken through international mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice. The United Kingdom, the Gulf Co-operation Council and the European Union are concerned about the lack of progress'.
Commenting on the active debate of the issue in the British parliament Al Ghurair said today that FNC's continued parliamentary diplomacy could bring the issue before the regional and international communities and drum up their support in the favour of the UAE stance.
UAE always held the stance of solving the issue by peaceful means, either through bilateral negotiations or resorting to the international court of justice, Al Ghurair noted.
Alluding to the visit by FNC delegation to UK earlier in January this year, Al Ghurair said that the discussions had a great role in bringing the issue for extensive debate by the British House of Commons.
After meeting with FNC Speaker Al Ghurair, who led the delegation to UK, Baroness Hayman, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, said her country's government and parliament supported the UAE's position on the issue of its three islands, Abu Musa and the Tunbs, which are still under the Iranian occupation.
The United Kingdom, she remarked at that time, also supported the UAE's efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the issue through negotiations between the two countries or for that matter by referring it to the International Court of Justice.
In an appearance made by Labour MP John Grogan yesterday, the issue was extensively discussed at the British Parliament for the first time in 38 years. As Grogan himself put it, 'the last time the issue was raised in the House was when Edward Heath was Prime Minister in 1971'.
Shedding light on his discussions with FNC Speaker Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, the British MP said: 'During those parliamentary discussions, we ranged over a large number of different topics. The historical links between our two nations are of course very close'.
'The delegation from the Federal National Council was keen to impress on the UK Parliament the importance of the islands and the part that they play in political debate in both the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf', Grogan told the British Parliament yesterday.
During his own visit to UAE, Grogan had held several meetings with FNC members on various issues including that of the three occupied Islands.
Grogan, in a long speech before the House of Commons, narrated the history of the three Islands of UAE occupied by Iran.
'Having researched some of the history, I decided that it was about time that the subject got another little airing', said Grogan in prelude to his representation.
Responding to the participation by the MPs in the debate Grogan concluded: 'Having studied their history, I agree that the UAE has a strong case for claiming the islands'.
Participating in the debate, Conservative MP Nicholas Winterton described it as critical and on a matter of great principle.
'The United Kingdom Government should make it extremely clear to the Government of the UAE that we will support them in every possible way in seeking about to bring a peaceful conclusion', Winterton stressed.
Parliamentary Undersecretary and Labour MP Ivan Lewis said that Grogan has raised an incredibly important issue in the parliament.
'The Foreign Office and the Government are concerned by the continuing dispute between the UAE and Iran over the over the islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb. As previous Ministers have made clear, we support a peaceful settlement of the dispute by means in accordance with international law. That might be through direct bilateral discussions or undertaken through international mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice. The United Kingdom, the Gulf Co-operation Council and the European Union are concerned about the lack of progress'.
Commenting on the active debate of the issue in the British parliament Al Ghurair said today that FNC's continued parliamentary diplomacy could bring the issue before the regional and international communities and drum up their support in the favour of the UAE stance.
UAE always held the stance of solving the issue by peaceful means, either through bilateral negotiations or resorting to the international court of justice, Al Ghurair noted.
Alluding to the visit by FNC delegation to UK earlier in January this year, Al Ghurair said that the discussions had a great role in bringing the issue for extensive debate by the British House of Commons.
After meeting with FNC Speaker Al Ghurair, who led the delegation to UK, Baroness Hayman, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, said her country's government and parliament supported the UAE's position on the issue of its three islands, Abu Musa and the Tunbs, which are still under the Iranian occupation.
The United Kingdom, she remarked at that time, also supported the UAE's efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the issue through negotiations between the two countries or for that matter by referring it to the International Court of Justice.
