Arab Ministerial Quartet Cautions on Iranian Regional Escalation
Al-Sheikh Mohamed Asharq Al Awsat 24 July 2016
http://english.aawsat.com/2016/07/article55355025/arab-ministerial-quartet-cautions-iranian-regional-escalation

Nouakchott-The Arab Ministerial Quartet recently concluded its third meeting
held in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on the fringe of preparatory
ministerial meetings preceding the 27th Arab Summit.
The quartet discussed developments of the ongoing crisis with Iran and
necessary counteraction to face its interference in internal affairs of Arab
states, a statement issued by the committee following the meeting said.

Made up of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, as well as the
Secretary-General of the Arab League, the quartet was established by virtue
of the Arab League’s resolution No. 8879 in January 2016.

Committee members also examined a report prepared by the Arab League which
included steps on implementing relevant ministerial decisions and pan-Arab
organization’s monitoring of all negative statements made by Iranian
officials against Arab States, the statement said. The committee later
submitted its observations to the Council of the Arab League.

The statement said the committee noticed Iran’s recent massive and serious
escalation of the scope and level of its interference in the internal
affairs of Arab states, including heightened provocative statements made by
Iranian officials against Arab states.

The Arab committee reiterated its condemnation and denunciation of all
Iranian interference and transgressions on the internal affairs of Arab
states and demanded Tehran halt all violating actions in addition to seize
its registered support for terrorist and subversive groups as well as its
provocative and aggressive statements.

The statement also asked that Tehran actually acts on the good intentions it
promotes and on its worded desires for enhancing relationships with Arab
States. Among the many interference registered, the meeting concluded to
denounce the Iranian unwarranted intervention in Bahrain, Yemen, Syrian
crisis and the continued Iranian occupation of the U.A.E Islands Abu Musa,
Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

Iran had clearly violated U.A.E sovereignty which proved detrimental to
regional security and stability.

The statement also stressed that it is important that relations with Iran
should be based on respect of the sovereignty of other states and good
neighborliness.