UAE Leader Attacks U.S. Policy in Middle East
December 13, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN The United Arab Emirates Monday openly criticized the American policy in the Middle East, saying Washington should give up its bias toward Israel.
The position of the United States favors Israel and it is incumbent on it as a superpower with global obligations to be fair and stand by the right and justice and not side with Israel, which has occupied others' territories, UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan was quoted as saying by the official WAM news agency.
The remark of Sheikh Zayed is welcome, for it indicates that today even the allies of the United States are not satisfied with its Middle East policies. Moreover, his remarks show that the Islamic countries are moving toward a convergence on the Middle East issue. Today, almost all countries in the region believe that the only way to liberate the occupied territories is popular movement, not pinning hopes on this or that power.
The Islamic countries can and must play the most important role in this regard.
If the Islamic countries pay attention to the main problems of the Islamic world, naturally the plots of the enemies will be thwarted. The enemies want to engage the Islamic countries in non-important issues in order to divert their attention from the main issues.
Aware of such enemies plots, President Khatami last week did not pay attention to the plots of the enemy and despite some unfavorable developments, sent a congratulation to Sheikh Zayed on recovery from sickness.
The remark of Sheikh Zayed about the U.S. is a good sign that other countries are gradually following suit in paying attention to the main issue.
Sheikh Zayed said in his remark that the U.S. should not impose its will on the international community, noting, such policy would not please anyone. His comments, which came during a meeting with Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in Abu Dhabi, makes the UAE only the second Persian Gulf Arab state to publicly denounce the American support for the Zionist state.
The UAE leader also rejected the dominant role the U.S. plays in the Arab-Israeli peace process. He said, "The best solution for the Palestinian issue will be reached through the participation of Arab and Islamic countries and other influential members of the international community in the peace process.
Peace resolutions should come from the international community as a whole and not from a single country. It is the majority which has the right to make a decision on the crucial Palestinian issue."
The position of the United States favors Israel and it is incumbent on it as a superpower with global obligations to be fair and stand by the right and justice and not side with Israel, which has occupied others' territories, UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan was quoted as saying by the official WAM news agency.
The remark of Sheikh Zayed is welcome, for it indicates that today even the allies of the United States are not satisfied with its Middle East policies. Moreover, his remarks show that the Islamic countries are moving toward a convergence on the Middle East issue. Today, almost all countries in the region believe that the only way to liberate the occupied territories is popular movement, not pinning hopes on this or that power.
The Islamic countries can and must play the most important role in this regard.
If the Islamic countries pay attention to the main problems of the Islamic world, naturally the plots of the enemies will be thwarted. The enemies want to engage the Islamic countries in non-important issues in order to divert their attention from the main issues.
Aware of such enemies plots, President Khatami last week did not pay attention to the plots of the enemy and despite some unfavorable developments, sent a congratulation to Sheikh Zayed on recovery from sickness.
The remark of Sheikh Zayed about the U.S. is a good sign that other countries are gradually following suit in paying attention to the main issue.
Sheikh Zayed said in his remark that the U.S. should not impose its will on the international community, noting, such policy would not please anyone. His comments, which came during a meeting with Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf in Abu Dhabi, makes the UAE only the second Persian Gulf Arab state to publicly denounce the American support for the Zionist state.
The UAE leader also rejected the dominant role the U.S. plays in the Arab-Israeli peace process. He said, "The best solution for the Palestinian issue will be reached through the participation of Arab and Islamic countries and other influential members of the international community in the peace process.
Peace resolutions should come from the international community as a whole and not from a single country. It is the majority which has the right to make a decision on the crucial Palestinian issue."