GCC and EU discuss Iran and Palestine in Abu Dhabi

Shaikh Abdullah and Catherine Ashton during the press conference in Abu Dhabi UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Iran should reconsider its policies and respect the unity, sovereignty and political will of the Gulf Cooperation Council

countries. Iran should not intervene in the internal affairs of other countries, he added. "Whoever does not respect others, will definitely not be respected by them. I wish no party will treat others the way Iran does treat other parties," Sheikh Abdullah told a news conference after talks between GCC and EU foreign ministers yesterday. Sheikh Abdullah said it was good for all to treat each other respectfully in a way that maintains stability and ensures progress and prosperity of all parties in the region.

The GCC and EU ministers urged Iran to play a constructive role in the region and to cease interfering in the internal affairs of GCC member states and other countries in the region.The ministers called on Iran to fulfil its obligations under international law to provide protection for diplomatic missions in Iran.The ministers condemned violence in all its forms and expressed their deep regret for the loss of life. They stressed their readiness to strengthen consultation and coordination and to mobilise appropriate support for countries across the region if and when requested. The two sides agreed that every situation was unique, but there was a common need for each country to find its own ways to enable people's aspirations to be addressed, peacefully and constructively, in full respect of the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The two sides recalled the importance of the respect for sovereignty of the GCC member states and recognised that the GCC is entitled to take all necessary measures to protect the citizens of the GCC member states. The EU and the GCC reaffirmed their shared position that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East is vital for international peace and security and expressed their continued support for the Arab Peace Initiative. They called for the urgent resumption of negotiations on all final status issues, with a view to arriving at a two-state solution by September 2011, as set out by the Quartet. They agreed that a further Quartet Principals' meeting should take place as soon as possible.

The two sides reaffirmed their shared position not to recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both parties including with regard to occupied Jerusalem. The EU and the GCC stressed their common position that Israeli colonies anywhere in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace. In this regard they called on Israel to immediately end all colony activity in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, including natural growth, and dismantle all outposts. They agreed on the need to continue to support Palestinian state-building efforts, both politically and financially.

They also reaffirmed that national reconciliation is the key to the solution of Iraq's problems and underlined the urgency of making further progress in this regard.
Iraq's development They condemned all acts of violence including those against ethnic and religious minorities, and underlined the importance that these acts do not deter Iraq from pursuing its ongoing political, economic and social development.

The EU and GCC underlined their full support for the central role of the UN in assisting Iraq in implementing relevant Security Council resolutions. They expressed their support for the UN efforts to finalise the maintenance of the international border posts between Iraq and Kuwait, for the return of Kuwaiti prisoners and nationals of other countries or their remains, and the return of Kuwaiti property including its national archive.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan warned that no one "is above the law," when asked about the recent arrests of some political activists. "The prosecution in the UAE has sent subpoenas to a number of people," Shaikh Abdullah said in Abu Dhabi yesterday. "This is fully in procedure with laws and rules of the UAE."