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Abu Dhabi: The UAE has officially documented its memorandum of protest submitted to the United Nations over Iran's setting up of two offices on the UAE's occupied Abu Mousa island.
In a letter delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by the UAE's mission Charge d' Affaires to the UN, Anwar Othman Al Barout, the UAE government noted that the Iranian state television announced that Tehran had set up two offices for ship registration and maritime rescue on the UAE island, which has been under Iranian occupation since 1971.
The letter, which was lodged on Thursday, reiterates the UAE's protest over the illegal Iranian action which it considers a stark violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 1971 on legal, administrative and sovereignty on the island.
The letter voices the UAE's deep regret over such actions which it says do not help promote UAE-Iranian bilateral relations. Reiterating the UAE's position on the issue, the letter says the state of affairs on Abu Mousa island is ruled by the still-valid 1971 MOU which provisions must regulate the issue of Iranian forces' presence on the island.
Illegitimate
"Iran's illegitimate actions on the Abu Mousa island violate the provisions of the memorandum and are a bid by Iran to change the legal status on the island," the letter said.
"Although the memorandum does not give Iran sovereignty over the island or even parts of it, nor did it give Iran the right to take any security measures on it, Iran has been violating the provisions of the memorandum ever since 1980," stressed the letter.
Out of keenness to further promote friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the UAE urged Tehran to promptly revoke any and all actions that violate the 1971 MOU.
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