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President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressed that the UAE was looking forward to the forthcoming Arab Summit in Qatari capital, Doha, to mend Arab fence and settle the regional issues amicably.

Speaking to Qatari Al Watan newspaper in an interview, Sheikh Khalifa said the Arab leaders, who will take part at the summit, will open new page of Arab joint work despite current challenges in the region. “The summit will tackle the regional issues, including the Palestinian issue in the light of the Israeli occupation, as well as, the Golan Heights, Lebanon issues and the current situation in Iraq.” He deemed the US President Barack Obama’s message to Iran as positive and prelude to a serious dialogue that could bring to an end the perennial tension between the two countries.

Sheikh Khalifa said that the UAE constantly “calls for a dialogue to preserve stability, because we are against tension whether between US and Iran or others in order to safeguard security of Gulf and Arab region”, indicating that any proximity between the US and Iranian leaderships would keep this strategic region at bay in regard to wars and crisis.

“Dialogue is required to overcome crisis. It is the sole channel to overcome problems in the region and usher in a new era of peace and stability”, he added.

On the UAE three Islands occupied by Iran, Sheikh Khalifa said he was hoping the Iranian leadership would respond to “our demand and put things right by restoring the UAE sovereignty to the three Islands. After all, we are not requesting something impossible, but we are calling for legitimacy over our three Islands- Abu Mousa, Tunb Greater and Lesser Tunb”.

He reiterated that the UAE would accept a verdict whatever it is from the International Court of Justice.

Sheikh Khalifa said the “Iranian nuclear programme is worrying us, particularly if it is not peaceful. We are against any non peaceful nuclear programme in the region. And no one in the region will stage protest against the Iranian nuclear programme in case it is peaceful.” He welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or other Arab leaders’ mediation to settle the issue of occupation of the three UAE Islands by Iran. “We respect President al-Assad and welcome his mediation, and we also welcome any Arab mediation, because we need peace and justice and do not want but our legitimacy over the three Islands”.

Sheikh Khalifa called for the US and European countries and others to put pressure on Israel to accept peaceful just solution of the Palestinian problem in line with the Arab Peace Initiative, which advocates setting up of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem (Al Quds) as a capital in return for recognition of Israel.

About the current oil prices at the world market, he said “the prices are low and as such they affect all. Fair price per barrel from our point of view is $70- $75″.

On proposal to construct a bridge between Abu Dhabi and Doha, Sheikh Khalifa said, the proposal exists and would be executed in the best interest of the two countries and peoples. “We are in contact with HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, to remove the impediments which hamper construction of the bridge”.

He said the effects of the global financial crisis have touched all, adding that “it is natural the UAE is affected too as we play pivotal regional and international financial and economic roles”. Sheikh Khalifa noted that when the global financial crunch began “we moved immediately to curb it as we injected liquidity into our banking system, and resuscitated some corporations affected much by the crisis”.

Sheikh Khalifa called on the Palestinians to respond to the efforts being exerted by Egypt through embracing the higher national interests against partial ones, hoping that these efforts will bring about Unified Palestinian Stance, able to deal with the issues of next phase, whether peace process or reconstruction.