Foreign Minister's Statement at The General Debate of the 67th Session of the UNGA
28 September 2012
Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate Your Excellency for your election as President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. I am confident that your experience in international affairs will enable you to guide the work of this session wisely and ably, and I wish Your Excellency success.
I would also like to commend your predecessor, H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for his successful leadership of the 66th session of the General Assembly, and also to commend H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his enormous efforts in revitalizing the role of this international organization in promoting international peace, security and development.
Mr. President, security and stability in the Gulf region represent a high priority in our balanced policies, which derive their principles from the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of international law, especially those calling for peaceful coexistence, confidence-building, good neighborliness, mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of the State, and pursuing peaceful means in resolving conflicts and disputes.
On the basis of these principles, my Government expresses, once again, its regret regarding the continued Iranian occupation of our three islands: Abu Musa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, and demands for the restoration of the UAE’s full sovereignty over these islands. ⇒