Abu, Musa: Iran warns against hyping island issue

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:22:17 GMT

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, says any dispute over the island of Abu Musa can be settled through negotiation.

"We have always maintained that any misunderstanding or confusion about the ownership of Abu Musa can be cleared through talks and within the framework of the 1971 Memorandum of Understanding," he said, regarding remarks made by a UAE official.   "Publicizing this matter is unconstructive and will strain Tehran-Abu Dhabi relations," he added.   International documents indicate the islands of Greater Tunb and Abu Musa, which were historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell under British control in 1903.  The islands were returned to Iran on Nov. 30, 1971 through a legal process before the state of the United Arab Emirates was created and the Al Nahyan took its leadership.  According to international regulations, no state can defy any agreements, which came into being before its creation unless such agreements had been officially declared as null and void by the newly created state.  Regardless of historical evidence and international regulations, the UAE continues to make territorial claims against the Islamic Republic.  HGH/MMN