Iran, UAE Express Desire to Improve Bilateral TiesIranian President Mohammad Khatami on Monday expressed hope that the ties between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would enter into a turning point, claiming that the UAE is a friendly country to Iran.In his meeting with visiting UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed al Nahyan, Khatami noted that the UAE is currently Iran's major trade partner and Tehran has always hoped to consolidate its ties with Abu Dhabi. Iran and UAE are at odds over three islands of Abu Mussa, the Lesser and the Greater Tunbs, located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Iran says that it has controlled the territories since Britain's withdrawal from the region in 1971 while UAE claims full sovereignty over the islands. UAE wants the issue to be solved either through direct talks or by the International Court of Justice. But Iran opposes any interference on the matter by a third party and says it is willing to resolve what it calls a case of "misunderstanding" through talks. Khatami told the UAE minister that Iran's policy is based on detente and Tehran has taken moves to ease differences and attain peace on the basis of peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding even with those it has had enmity and was in odds. The Iran-UAE ties are "excellent, outstanding, deep and historical," Khatami said, hoping that Sheikh Hamdan's visit to Tehran will be a turning point in bilateral ties and open new horizons to both countries. Sheikh Hamdan, heading a high-ranking political delegation, arrived here Monday morning to present a written massage to Khatami from UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahayan. In the massage, Sheikh Zayed congratulated Khatami on his re- election on June 8 and said that the time is ripe for joint efforts and mutual cooperation between the two countries so as to found their ties on the basis of fraternity, good neighborliness, mutual respect and constant and positive cooperation. Geographical, religious and political realities at present juncture necessitate cooperation between the two countries through friendship and fraternity, the message stressed. Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hamdan discussed with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi new ways of expanding bilateral ties. But it is not clear whether the two sides will renew discussions on their long-standing territorial disputes over the three islands after a decade-old suspension. |
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