| Date: 27/06/2012 Time: 11:26:00 PM |
The United States and United Arab Emirates
remain "deeply committed" to close consultation and cooperation to promote
peace and stability in the Gulf region and broader Middle East, the White
House said on Wednesday.
In their meeting at the White House, President Barack Obama and Mohammed
bin Zayed Al-Nuhayan - crown prince of UAE's Abu Dhabi emirate, reviewed the
full range of regional security issues including Iran, Syria, terrorism and
energy security, the announcement said.
The President and Crown Prince discussed the negotiations with Iran on its
nuclear program and the three Gulf islands whose sovereignty is disputed
between the UAE and Iran, it said.
They called upon Iran to meet its international obligations under the
Nuclear Nonprolilferation Treaty and relevant UN Security Council and
International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions, it said.
They also called for a peaceful resolution of the islands' status, regarding
which the United States strongly supports the UAE's initiative to resolve the
issue through direct negotiations, the International Court of Justice or
another appropriate international forum, it said.
The two leaders expressed the "urgent need" to implement the Annan plan to
prevent further bloodshed in Syria and their support for a transition plan
that would meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, the White
House said.
Noting the "profound changes" taking place in other countries in the Middle
East, they called on governments and citizens alike to avoid violence, advance
tolerance and protect human rights -- particularly the rights of women, the
statement said. They highlighted the importance of reforms that support
accountable governance, increase civic participation and promote economic
opportunities, especially for young people, it said.
The President and Crown Prince pledged to sustain the two countries' joint
counterterrorism and security initiatives in the region, the announcement
said. They discussed programs to counter violent extremism and the ideological
roots of terrorism, and welcomed the upcoming launch in October in Abu Dhabi
of the new Center for Countering Violent Extremism, a project supported by
both countries and the international community, it said.
The two "reaffirmed their commitment to strong bilateral defense
cooperation to enhance regional security and deter any threat of aggression
against the UAE," the statement said.
They identified a number of mechanisms to continue to deepen this
cooperation, including more joint exercises and training, improved combined
planning and future defense equipment sales, it said. They noted their
appreciation that the militaries of the two governments had worked together in
multiple coalition operations, including Desert Storm, Kosovo, Afghanistan and
Libya.
They discussed transition plans for Afghanistan, where UAE Special Forces
units have been deployed for 10 years as part of broader coalition military
and humanitarian stabilization efforts, the statement said. They pledged to
enhance multilateral cooperation on regional security issues through the U.S.
-Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic Cooperation Forum, it said.
On energy security, the Crown Prince outlined the UAE's initiatives to
reduce price volatility and ensure reliable supplies to world markets at
prices that support global economic growth, the White House said.
"The President and Crown Prince discussed the importance of protecting
critical shipping lanes against threats of aggression, terrorism and piracy,"
the statement said. "The President congratulated the Crown Prince on the
announcement of the opening of a new 1.5 million bpd oil pipeline that crosses
the UAE, thus allowing energy supplies to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, and
also expressed his appreciation for the UAE's efforts in the field of
renewable energy".
The two welcomed their countries' strong bilateral economic, cultural and
social ties, noting that the UAE is one of the largest trading partners of the
United States in the Middle East.
"The President thanked the UAE for hosting the Global Entrepreneurship
Summit this December in Dubai, and reaffirmed U.S. support for encouraging
broad-based economic growth and opportunity in the region," the statement said.
The President also noted with appreciation the significant investment by
the UAE in the United States, including in a semiconductor manufacturing
facility in upstate New York scheduled to open later this year, it said. |