UAE is specifically interested in Portuguese renewable energy sector: Abdullah bin Zayed

Lisbon - The UAE is interested in tapping the Portuguese experience in diverse sectors as energy and infrastructure,'' visiting UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said yesterday. Sheikh Abdullah told a joint press conference yesterday with his Portugal's counterpart Paulo Portas that Portugal has special strategic place as a gateway to Africa and Latin America through its historic relations with Portuguese-speaking countries. Apart from seaports, airports, banking and telecommunications, Sheikh Abdullah noted renewable energy is one of the most crucial sectors that draws interest of the UAE in Portugal's economy. On the situation in Syria, the UAE foreign minister said;'' It's not going on the right track''. He stressed the urgency of supporting the central mission of the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, in light of the difficulties he is experiencing under the current circumstances. For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Portas highlighted the importance of Sheikh Abdullah's visit to Lisbon and its constructive results in enhancing bilateral bonds. The Portuguese government, he underlined, considers the UAE an important economic and trade partner. He also voiced Lisbon's full support for the UAE in the wake of the recent visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to UAE's island of Abu Musa. He reiterated his belief in settling the dispute through negotiations. Addressing the business mission accompanying Sheikh Abdullah, the Portuguese minister invited them to explore the promising business opportunities Portugal can offer through its ambitious ongoing privatisation programme. He indicated that the Portuguese parliament has recently passed the UAE-Portugal agreement on avoidance of double taxation. He said his talks with his UAE counterpart provided an opportunity to discuss the political situation in the Middle East and current massive transformations. Answering a question on Syria, the Portuguese minister described the situation there as a ''daily drama'' and the Assad's regime had lost its legitimacy since it refused to accept ongoing changes in the region as a whole and directed its army against its people''. ''This situation is completely unaccepted by all international norms'', the minister affirmed. – Emirates News Agency, WAM