Sunday May 20, 2018
By Naser Al Wasmi
The statement comes after criticism over claims the UAE was establishing a base on the Yemeni archipelego
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash made the statements at the Globsec annual forum in Bratislava on May 18, 2018. Neil Hall / Reuters
The UAE does not have territorial ambitions on the Yemeni islands of
Socotra, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has said.
Dr Anwar Gargash said the UAE has a humanitarian role on the islands,
where it has worked since 2012 on development projects and providing
aid.
"The UAE’s role in Socotra is not strategic," he said. "The UAE does
not have any ambitions on the archipelago. It is a Yemeni territory," he
stressed.
Earlier this month the UAE was criticised following news of it establishing a military presence on Socotra.
Dr Gargash said the UAE “should have communicated more” ahead of that move.“Because Socotra was far away from the conflict in Yemen, we took a
decision not to communicate what we were doing there," he said.
Dr Gargash earlier this month lashed out at critics of the UAE.
He said there are entities that seek to undermine the efforts of the
Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen at the
request of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi’s
internationally-recognised government.
He said the statement made by Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmad bin Dagher criticising the UAE was blown out of proportion.
"The criticism that we have received in Socotra revolves around the
same people that will criticise the UAE time and again. Clearly, our
role in Socotra is about humanitarian development, and we continue to do
so to support this island community."
The UAE increased its humanitarian efforts on the island after Cyclone Chapala struck the archipelago in 2015.
"Since then over 40 aid projects involving providing subsidies to
fishermen, improving harbours and infrastructure, as well as utility
development have taken place," he said.
The most recent aid efforts involved the Emirates Red Crescent
deploying three aid ships loaded with tonnes of necessary food supplies
to assist the community during Ramadan.
The Minister said he believed the Socotra episode was now closed but
said further criticism of UAE foreign policy was inevitable.
"Why is this happening?" he asked. "Because the UAE has been active and effective."
Meanwhile, the capital of Yemen's government in exile Aden was hit by
strong winds over the weekend as tropical cyclone Sagar lashed the
southern coast.
Authorities ordered residents to evacuate properties on the shoreline
of the southern port city, while heavy rainfall caused flooding in
several parts of the capital.
The unseasonable cyclone has since moved towards Somalia and Djibouti.