Stating that Palestine continued to be a matter of abiding concern, he said, "India continues to extend it full support to the Palestinian people in realizing their aspirations for a sovereign, independent, viable and united state living side by side a peace with the state of Israel."

"I believe that the reasonable and pragmatic 'Arab Peace Plan', which incorporates the collective wisdom of the Arab leadership, provides a valid basis to address the issue of Palestine, balancing Israel's need for security with the just aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood."

As for Iraq, the minister said the US-Iran-Iraq talks were most important in this context.

"India has conveyed its willingness to continue its assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq in all fields, both bilaterally and through multilateral efforts," he said.

Referring to Iranian President Mahmood Ahmedinejad's visit to India last month, he said: "This visit reflected our traditionally close relations. We see Iran as a major economic partner, particularly in the area of energy security."

He added India fully supported Iran's attempts to develop its knowledge base pertaining to the harnessing of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, it has to, in accordance with its own international commitments and obligations, satisfy the international community that its programme is indeed peaceful."

While welcoming the revival of the democratic process in Pakistan, Mukherjee, however, expressed concern about the strength of extremist elements in that country, who "are not only a source of danger to neighbouring countries such as India and Afghanistan, but are also capable of severely wounding the body politic of Pakistan itself".

Concluding, he lauded the UAE's growth as a unique political entity in West Asia and said, "India is proud to have participated in this extraordinary developmental effort that has placed the UAE in the vanguard of nations in terms of economic achievement."

He also mentioned the revival of the India-UAE Joint Commission after 13 years following the visit of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum to India last year.

Monday's event was attended, among others, by India's Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad and ECSSR director general Jamal Al-Suwaidi.

Mukherjee, who arrived here Monday morning on a two-day official trip to the UAE, was scheduled to meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan later in the evening.