Addressing a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the end of International Conference on " NATO-UAE relations and the future prospects of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative" here at Emirates Palace on Thursday evening, he said " Iran has to clarify its nuclear position and should stop interference in Arab Affairs by taking honest step in that direction".
Answering a question he said that "Iran is an important neighboring country and also economic partner, we respect its tradition and culture, UAE and Iran enjoy good relations in certain fields". However he emphasized that "Iran should end its occupation of UAE’s Islands. We want an end to this, we are ready to hold dialogue on this issue".
He added that UAE is even ready for international arbitration to resolve the issue, besides this matter can be brought to International Court of Justice.
On this occasion the NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that NATO is not engaged in Iran, but we do really concerned about Iran’s nuclear aspirations and it may become a big threat in the future for NATO as well , if Iran acquire nuclear technology.
"We favour political and diplomatic pressure on Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear technology." Replying to an other question H.H Sheikh Abdullah described the relations between the countries of the region and Nato as strategic one under the frame work of Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI).
" We have a changing world, a world where we have friends and enemies, our efforts must be to stabilize the region, Gulf in particular," he said and added that NATO partnership in this regard is important.
Responding to a question, the NATO Secretary General said that NATO has no role in the Middle East peace process.
" I don’t foresee a role of NATO, whoever partners associated to peace process can do well", he remarked.
Sheikh Abdullah in his opening remarks termed the agreement signed earlier today between UAE and NATO as important and vowed that it will help built bilateral relations.
