Abu Dhabi: Relations between UAE and Canada are warming up of late, with Canada announcing UAE will restore its old visa regime, but a diplomatic dispute that erupted over Canadian airport landing rights is yet to be resolved, officials said on Tuesday.
“Just over a year ago, we set out an agenda between our countries to strengthen and re-energise the Canada-UAE relationship. To that end, we set three goals.
First, sign a nuclear cooperation agreement. Second, launch a Canada-UAE business council. And third, facilitate travel requirements to increase business, tourism and joint prosperity for our citizens, by restoring the visa regime. We are pleased to announce that we have accomplished those goals, which will be formalised next month,” the countries said in a joint statement.
“Within the next six months, our governments commit to explore concrete goals in each of these areas. At the end of this period, senior officials will report back to the ministers of foreign affairs with recommendations on how our strategic alliance can be strengthened,” the statement said.
“Over the last three years we established incredibly positive, constructive, cordial relationship with the Emirati government with UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah [Bin Zayed Al Nahyan] informing me that his government will be restoring the visa regime that pre-existed,” visiting Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird told a press briefing teleconference on Tuesday.
More than two years after a diplomatic row erupted over Canadian airport landing rights, café diplomacy was the latest sign of thawing of relations between the two nations with Shaikh Abdullah and Baird having informal talks over Tim Hortons coffee at Abu Dhabi Mall on Tuesday.
