GCC stance on Egypt more unified: UAE minister

Abu Dhabi, Nov 13 (IANS/WAM) The UAE's Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Wednesday said the GCC stance has become more unified on Egypt and the world community should come forward to help the Arab republic emerge from the current situation.

"We denounce any act of terrorism against Egyptian police, army and people at large," the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign minister said at a joint press conference here with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah said that Egypt was very important to the region, citing its "political and religious weight", and added that that "all political forces in Egypt should join hands together for the stability of the country".

He also urged friends of Egypt all over the world to help speed up the negotiations between the IMF and World Bank with Egypt and play their role in the development of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Answering a question on Iran, Sheikh Abdullah said: "Today we are having the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle here and earlier we received the US Secretary of State John Kerry. These are the officials of the countries who took part in the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany) meeting on Iran in Geneva. This development links us."

He further stated that in addition to Iran's disputed nuclear programme, there were many other issues that needed to be discussed, referring to Iranian involvement in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Gulf.

"We hope a change in stance of Iranian President Hasan Rohani's government towards the UAE, especially resolving the dispute over our three islands, Abu Mousa, Greater Tunbs and Lesser Tunbs, which are being occupied by Iran," he added.

--IANS/WAM

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