ABU DHABI // More than Dh7.3 million has been donated by the UAE to help improve living standards in Islamic communities.
Abdullah Ghobash, the Minister of State, announced the funding for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was handed over on Wednesday.
The donation was made to the Jeddah-based Islamic Solidarity Fund, a subsidiary of the OIC.
The fund is tasked with raising the intellectual and moral levels of Muslims around the world, providing emergency relief and granting assistance to Muslim minorities.
“The UAE, under the guidance of President Sheikh Khalifa, is closely monitoring conditions of the Islamic people and communities so as to deliver humanitarian and development aid to many Islamic countries,” Mr Ghobash said.
The minister took the opportunity to discuss foreign-policy issues affecting the region, reported the state news agency Wam.
“My Government expresses, once again, its regret regarding the continued Iranian occupation of our three islands – Abu Musa, and Greater and Lesser Tunbs – and demands the restoration of the UAE’s full sovereignty over these islands,” Mr Ghobash said.
“We emphasise that all actions and measures taken by the Iranian occupation authorities are null and void, and are contrary to international law and to all norms and common human values.
“We urge Iran to respond to the repeated peaceful, sincere calls of the United Arab Emirates for a just settlement of this issue, either through direct, serious negotiations or by referral to the International Court of Justice to settle this dispute in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and the provisions of international law.”
ksinclair@thenational.ae