About 700 officials, diplomats, politicians and guests attended the signing on Tuesday of the peace accords normalising relations between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel.
Among those who witnessed the historic moment were officials and dignitaries with close ties to the pursuit of peace in the region.
They included some of the architects of the Oslo Accords, a set of agreements signed in the 1990s which led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, which had limited self-governance over parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Terje Rod-Larsen, who was instrumental in the 1993 negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, was seen in the audience by veteran US diplomat and Middle East specialist Martin Indyk.
Mr Indyk served as US ambassador to Israel during two periods under president Bill Clinton and played a key role in the Oslo talks.
Tony Blair, former British prime minister and Middle East peace envoy for the Quartet of the UN, US, EU and Russia, was also a guest at the ceremony, which took place on the south lawn of the White House, where the Oslo I Accord was signed in 1993.
Mr Blair, who has long campaigned for closer ties between Israel and the Arab world, said the agreements were “a massive and welcome opportunity to recast the politics of the region”.
Diplomats from Oman and Sudan, two countries tipped as the next to normalise ties with Israel, were also in attendance.
A White House official earlier sparked speculation that Oman could be the next Gulf state to sign an accord with Israel, saying the sultanate’s ambassador to Washington was likely to attend.
Keane on …
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Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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