Source: The Peninsula
December 5, 2007
(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The GCC states are looking for closer ties with Iran and their alliance with the US is not considered an obstacle in this way, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani said here yesterday.
Replying to queries from the media at a press meeting held at the end of the 28th GCC Summit, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said, "We highly value our relations with the US but this does not mean that we will not take steps for improving relations with Iran. Iran is our neighbour and developing better relations with the country is very important in securing stability in the region."
He said, it was the decision of Qatar, being the host country, to invite Iranian President Ahemdinejad to the GCC summit. " Iran expressed its desire to attend the meeting and we welcomed the initiative. All the other member countries have supported the decision," said the Prime Minister.
He added that the Iranian President had come out with some "positive ideas" in the conference and the GCC states would respond in the same spirit to Iran's proposals to further co-operation in various fields.
"Iran is a big country in the region and it has its own interests, duties and rights. We might not agree with all their policies and it is important that we all live in peace in the region," he said, in reply to another query.
Asked about the use of the term "Persian Gulf" by Ahmedinejad in his speech at the summit, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said, " This is a problematic term though we cannot describe it as disputed. Historically this region is called the Persian Gulf but we call it the Arabian Gulf. However, this is not the most important issue in our relations with Iran."
Asked about US intelligence reports that Iran has halted its nuclear weapons programme four years ago, the Prime Minister said, "We have no information about this, apart from what we have understood from our brothers in Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency We believe Iran will use its nuclear capability for peaceful purposes."
Asked if Qatar would mediate in the dispute between Iran and the UAE over the islands, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said, he felt that both the countries were able to solve the dispute on their own.
"During the summit, the Iranian President had met with the UAE ruler. I don't think they need another country to go between them," he said.
Reiterating his earlier stand on the Qatar-Saudi relations, the Prime Minister said, the participation of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in the summit was a very positive signal.
"Saudi Arabia is the backbone of the GCC and our relations with the country is historic. However, there were some misunderstandings and these have been taken care of by the wise leadership of both the countries," he said.
