Arab Parliament supports UAE over occupied islands

The Arab Parliament in Cairo has reaffirmed the UAE's full sovereignty over the three islands Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Mousa, calling on Iran to settle the issue amicably through direct negotiations or the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It called for speeding up holding of first round of Arab-Iranian talks, which will address the issue of islands.

Ahmed Mohammed Al Jarwan, head of the UAE Parliament Bureau delegation to the Arab Parliament meetings, said in a statement that the issue of occupation of three UAE islands by Iran has been included in the agenda of the Arab Parliament, adding that the UAE is keen to participate in all regional, international and special parliamentary sessions.

He called for parties to comply with the Palestinian Reconciliation Charter, speed up its implementation and set up a national reconciliatory government and complement work of committee to develop the Palestinian liberation movement.

Al Jarwan also called on the Arab Parliament to seriously support the Palestinian struggle, especially over Jerusalem, through assertion of the right of Palestinian people to resist the occupation in all forms.

On the Syrian issue, Al Jarwan said the Arab Parliament supports the mission of Kofi Annan, joint special envoy of the UN and the Arab League, to settle the Syrian standoff peacefully.

The Arab Parliament denounced the blasts and violence in Syria, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, calling for making the mission of international observers a success.