Addressing the General Assembly’s high-level debate at UN Headquarters in New York, the Foreign Minister expressed his Government’s regret regarding “the continued Iranian occupation of our three islands: Abu Musa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.”
He also voiced the UAE’s demands for the restoration of full sovereignty over these islands.
“We emphasize that all actions and measures taken by the Iranian occupation authorities are null and void, and are contrary to international law and to all norms and common human values,” said the Foreign Minister.
He also called on the international community to urge Iran to respond to the UAE’s “repeated peaceful, sincere calls” for a just settlement, either through direct negotiations or by referral to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the dispute.
“We hope the Iranian Government will deal with this sensitive and important issue in a positive and just manner, in order to establish good neighbourly relations, build bridges of cooperation, preserve the common interests between our two countries, and strengthen security and stability in the region as a whole,” he said.
The UAE Foreign Minister is one of scores of world leaders and other high-level officials presenting their views and comments on issues of individual national and international relevance at the Assembly’s General Debate, which ends on 1 October.
