U.A.E., Canada cooperate to tackle regional challenges: John Baird

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, has reiterated his country's interest in the U.A.E. investments in areas of energy and other sectors. He told Arabic language local daily, Al Ittihad, in an interview that the U.A.E. has a visionary leadership, adding that H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister and the competent Canadian authorities exerted huge diplomatic efforts to further strengthen the relations. He noted that both countries had resolved the row caused by Canada's decline to grant the landing rights to the U.A.E. national carriers, Etihad and Emirates. "Both sides focus on the energy, trade and economic sectors. We have signed cooperation agreement on the nuclear energy. Canada backs the U.A.E. peaceful nuclear energy programme, and it has voted in favour of the U.A.E. to host Expo 2020. We are also partners in tackling the regional challenges that face the region. He added that the two countries cooperate in Libya and Iraq, and that they were allies in Afghanistan. Regarding possibility of exempting U.A.E. citizens from pre- entry visa requirement into Canada to reciprocate with the exemption of Canadians from pre-entry visa when entering the U.A.E., he said, "we have a system that speeds up access of Emiratis for Canadian visa. It is a step before implementation of full waiver of pre-entry visas. We work closely with the U.A.E. officials in this respect. There are minimal cases for entry visa declines", adding that the Canadian laws do not allow holders of US visas to enter Canada without visa. This can be discussed, he said, noting that there are entry visas with valid for10 years. "U.A.E. is an important centre for us." He said the two countries cooperate to tackle challenges encountered by the region, among others, terrorism represented by Daesh and situation in Egypt. "We all back the new government there." On participation of Canada in the global coalition for counter-terrorism, Baird said, Canada's participation is not only during the airstrikes against the terrorist strongholds, but it has also carried out 20 missions to drop munitions to the Iraqi Peshmerga Forces. "We also train them in Erbil. Canada has deployed 600 soldiers and six F18 jetfighters, besides humanitarian aid to the displaced people there." He added that before Canada joined the counter-terrorism coalition, it had contacted the US and the U.A.E., adding that "We had intensive communications with Sheikh Abdullah. Facilitations helped us to specify our options and participation." About the terrorist attack on the Canadian Parliament and its role in accelerating Canada's participation in war against Daesh, Baird said, "When the attack occurred, Canada was an active member of the counter-terrorism coalition, yet the attacked has prompted us to take more serious procedures regarding laws on tackling terrorism, among others, stripping passports of those heading to fight in Syria, Iraq and other areas. The Canadian Foreign Minister said that "We are more resolved to discharge our full responsibility in the counter-terrorism campaign." "We work closely with our allies in the region, notably, the U.A.E. to eradicate extremism and terrorism worldwide", he said. He said that "We estimate Canadians who headed to Syria at 100 fighters and more than this number to Somalia. We strive to stop them by stripping their passports and other procedures." The Canadian Foreign Minister said he visited Jeddah city of Saudi Arabia to acquaint himself with the Saudi experience in terms of rehabilitation and incorporation of extremists into society through teaching them true values of Islam. "It is worth studying experience." - Emirates News Agency, WAM –http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395272457569.html