Canada has done nothing but stall

At the outset, we thank the Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon for his letter in response to a news report published in Gulf News. However, the UAE expects Canada to look seriously at the way the bilateral relationship is maintained, just like the way other friendly countries do.

The current dispute between the two countries is four years' old. Gulf News can confirm that over those four years, 11 letters were sent by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority to the Canadian government, and these 11 letters were never answered. In addition, the UAE Minister of Economy on several occasions during those four years presented the country's requests for landing rights. These also fell on deaf ears.

In the single time Ottawa responded, eight months after the Canadian officials concerned received one of those requests, the answer was more of a stalling tactic, and asked for postponement.

There was never a direct answer from Canada to the UAE's requests. This then led to the escalation of the issue from a purely technical one, involving the airline sector, to the actual level of a political dispute.

The UAE was always serious in addressing the issue. But, as we learned, Canada was not.

Even in the few meetings between the two foreign ministers, which took place mostly on the sidelines of multilateral conferences that had nothing do with the specific issue, all that the Canadian side offered were more promises of ‘new ideas' that never materialised.

Actually, there has never been any new idea other than Canadian requests to extend all concessions offered by the UAE, among which is access to Camp Mirage — the base that facilitates Canada's supplies to its armed forces in Afghanistan. Just more stalling.

The UAE's foreign policy has a duty to support and defend the country's trade interests, including aviation, communication, investments, oil, gas and ports. This policy strives to address all the problems facing these sectors.

It is true that we are keen on preserving the best relationship with Canada and other friendly nations. And the UAE, we can confirm, went to the maximum to address all outstanding issues with the Canadian government — while Ottawa kept stalling and delaying any potential settlement. But it is the right of the UAE too to look after its national interests and take appropriate measures.

The UAE values its relationships with all countries and believes that a strong relationship is reciprocal. But, with Canada, it seems the relationship is one way.

The trade balance is overwhelmingly in Canada's favour. In 2009, the value of UAE imports from Canada totalled $1.18 billion. Meanwhile, in that year, Canada's imports from the UAE were worth a meagre $195 million.

As for Canadian citizens, they are offered concessions similar to those offered to other friendly countries that enjoy strong ties with the UAE, such as a free entry visa on arrival. But, at the same time, Emiratis' experiences in trying to obtain Canadian visas have always been agonising.

On top of that, when the UAE government requested one specific thing — the increase of flights — the request was denied.

Is this the "positive relationship," the Honourable Lawrence Cannon describes in his letter? We don't think so. Then came the media campaign. We were surprised — shocked actually — by the tone of editorials in some Canadian newspapers. Some described the UAE as "a spoiled child."

The tone is both arrogant and egotistical. This is a real problem and no country can accept such unfair treatment.