Abu Musa letter yet to be discussed by UN

The UN Security Council has not yet discussed a federal Government letter condemning Iran's construction on Abu Musa.

UNITED NATIONS // A federal Government letter sent to the UN Security Council condemning Iran's construction of offices on the disputed Abu Musa island has not yet been discussed by council members. The letter, lodged this month, officially documented the Government's protest against Tehran's decision to build two marine offices on the island. The letter was a duplicate of the document the Foreign Ministry sent to its counterpart in Tehran, criticising Iran for a "blatant violation" of a 37-year-old agreement about the island.
The UN said yesterday the letter had been distributed to all 15 members, but had not yet been discussed at any meetings. "The matter is not on the agenda of the Security Council," said Peter Van Kemseke, the council president and a spokesman for Belgium's UN mission. "The letter did not request any action be taken by the council; it was just a way of keeping council members informed of the situation," he said. The veto-wielding permanent members of the council were unresponsive to the letter. Britain made no comment, while a spokesman for the US mission said: "We see it as a bilateral issue."
A spokesman for Russia, which had voiced support for the UAE claim earlier this year, said it was "premature to comment on Russia's position on the issue at the UN since there are no formal discussions or consultations in the framework of the Security Council or the General Assembly".
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