UNITED NATIONS // The UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, yesterday appealed to the United Nations to urge Iran to settle a dispute over three Arabian Gulf islands through direct negotiations or via the International Court of Justice.
"My government expresses, once again, its regret regarding the continued Iranian occupation of our three islands - Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs - and demands for the restoration of the UAE's full sovereignty," Sheikh Abdullah told the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly.
"We emphasise 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," he said.
The Arab League's ministerial council on September 5 reaffirmed that the islands belong to the UAE, and condemned Tehran for destabilising the Arabian Gulf by its continued occupation.
The council criticised Iran's construction of settlements for Iranian citizens on the islands, as well as for conducting military exercises over their airspace and in their territorial waters. Members also called on Iran to dismantle two offices it had built on Abu Musa.
Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, in a speech to the General Assembly on Friday, also called on Iran to negotiate a settlement or go to the ICJ. "There is hardly any response that could help in building trust and anchor the pillars of security and stability," he said. "On the contrary, the GCC countries are facing continuous interferences in their domestic affairs."
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made no mention of the islands during his address to the Assembly on Wednesday.
Sheikh Abdullah also urged Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency "to dispel all fears and suspicions surrounding its nuclear programme".
In a reference to Israeli threats of military action to disrupt Tehran's atomic programme, Sheikh Abdullah said he looked "forward to a peaceful solution to this crisis that ensures removing tension and crises from our region."
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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