WAM Sharm el- Sheikh, May 10th, 2012 (WAM)--Dr Tariq Ahmed Al Haydan, Assistant Foreign Minister for Political Affairs said that the UAE is committed to the principles and objectives of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), especially the principles on respecting the sovereignty of other countries, settlement of disputes with amicable methods and objection to the foreign invasion.

Therefore, he added, "the UAE rejects the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to the UAE occupied Island of Abu Mousa on April 11, 2012", indicating that the visit would not change the historical facts and the legal status that confirm the UAE's sovereignty over the Islands.

Addressing the Non Aligned Movement's (NAM) Ministerial meeting held in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from May 7- 10, Al Haydan underscored that the UAE had exerted efforts to have the issue settled amicably in assertion of the historic ties and good neighbourliness with Iran. "We call on Iran to respond to the UAE's sincere call to find a just solution to the issue of the occupied UAE Islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa either through bilateral dialogue or resort to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)." Regarding Palestine, he said, the UAE welcomes Doha Declaration in Feb. 2012, on overcoming the challenges that face implementation of the reconciliation agreement among the Palestinian parties. "We hope this will lead to solid Palestinian national unity that will achieve the legitimate objectives of the Palestinian people".

He added that the UAE supports the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations, calling upon the NAM members who did not yet recognise Palestine to do so and support it.

The UAE official said the peace in the Middle East will not be attained unless Israel withdraws from all the Palestinian and Arab territories it had occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the occupied areas in Southern Lebanon, and setting up of a viable independent Palestinian state, whose capital will be East Jerusalem.

WAM/MN