UAE and Canada restore visa regime to boost ties

The UAE and Canada have restored their former visa regimes to allow ease of travel, after restrictions were introduced when relations between the two countries cooled in 2010.The move was announced when UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird issued a joint statement on Tuesday, which also stated the two countries would work to ensure the security of the region, sending a specific message to Iran to cooperate with the international community. They also announced a new joint business council will soon be established.The third goal announced in the statement was an impending nuclear cooperation agreement, all calculated moves to re-energise the Canada-UAE relationship.The pair, who visited Abu Dhabi Mall’s Canadian-owned chain Tim Hortons cafe, said in their statement the goals would be formalised in the next few months.“We will be working to formalise this in the next few months and the details will follow from (Shaikh Abdullah’s) formal announcement that we return to the previous visa regime that pre-existed the challenging time in our relationship,” Baird told a teleconference from Abu Dhabi, according to a Wam report.Canada’s Public Safety Minister Vic Toews met Lt.-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in February to share knowledge about law enforcement and security, and agreed Canada and the UAE would strengthen cooperation on police, corrections and border matters, including training opportunities.“We have taken action together to support stability in the Middle East, and we share deep concerns about prevailing forces behind threats to stability in the region. We are committed to working together against nuclear proliferation, and we call on Iran to address concerns surrounding its nuclear programme by cooperating fully with the international community,” the statement read.“The international community must act effectively and responsibly to address threats to regional stability, including the brutal actions of the Assad regime against the people of Syria. Canada and the UAE will look together at the principal threats to regional security, and work closely in strengthening stability during the transitions in the region.”Meanwhile, nominations for the co-chairs of the new Canada-UAE Business Council (CUBC), to be inaugurated in May, include Abu Dhabi National Energy Company vice-chairman Abdulla Saif Ali Slayem Al Nuaimi and Royal Bank of Canada president Gordon Nixon.“The CUBC will identify opportunities to enhance our commercial relations, advancing the private sector’s ability to secure new opportunities.”The statement said the countries were at a regional and global “historic crossroads” with an opportunity to promote prosperity, security and development and extinguish the threats posed by extremists, conflict and poverty.“It is essential for Canada and the UAE that we continue to build our strategic partnership for the future.”There are about 40,000 Canadians living in the UAE, while more than 150 Canadian companies have their regional bases in the country source : Khaleejtimes