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Iran Decries GCC Communique Over Gulf Islands
Iran Monday decried a communique issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which backs the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its long-time territorial row with Iran.
At a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran felt regretted that GCC made such a claim, which he said was "unreasonable and out of international standards and regardless of neighborly amicable relations," the IRNA news agency reported
The communique, released at the end of a two-day summit of the GCC on Sunday, assured the UAE of the council's support for its sovereignty claim over three Gulf islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mussa, which are currently controlled by Iran.
The GCC, grouping Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, also said that it backs "all measures undertaken by the UAE to regain sovereignty over its three islands peacefully...and to invite Iran to refer the dispute to the international court of justice."
The communique is devoid of any realism and lacks spirit of cooperation, and the claims of the three islands are against the territorial integrity of Iran, Asefi said.
He reiterated that the islands, which are potentially oil rich, are an integral part of Iran, but the country is ready to hold talks with the UAE to clear up any "misunderstandings."
Voicing Iran's opposition any interference by a third country on the issue, he said his country cannot accept a committee set up by the six-member council without seeking any consultation with Iran, adding that the committee has always proved "biased."
The committee, formed by foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman in July 1999, has been trying to mediate peaceful talks between Iran and the UAE over the dispute, but achieved nothing so far.
The three islands, located in the mouse of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, have been claimed by both countries since British colonist forces withdrew from the region in 1971.
Iran has said repeatedly that it is willing to resolve what it calls a case of "misunderstanding" through talks. But the UAE wants a clear agenda and a specific timetable for such talks, and suggests the dispute be referred to international arbitration if negotiations fail.
Despite the dispute, Iran has improved relations with its Gulf Arab neighbors, especially since moderate President Mohammad Khatami took office in 1997.
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