Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has advocated a greater Indian role in defusing tensions in Iraq and Palestine and in addressing the security concerns of the region.

In written replies to questions by a select group of correspondents ahead of his visit to India, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: ``We look forward to India playing a more pro-active role with regards to some of the key security issues affecting the Middle East region, on land as well as at sea, including, most particularly, the Palestine issue and the situation in Iraq."

He said India ``has a responsibility to become more actively involved in international diplomatic and other efforts to seek a resolution to these issues," because of its status as a ``major regional power.''

Sheikh Abdullah is visiting New Delhi to co-chair a meeting of the ninth India-UAE joint working committee. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be his host during the two-day session, which begins on Tuesday. Asked to comment on the possibility of expanding security ties, Sheikh Abdullah said: ``In many areas, such as the security of shipping and combating terrorism, we have common interests, and it is logical that there should be a deepening of the existing security relationship between our two countries.''

India and the UAE have held discussions on possible naval cooperation, including joint exercises during the visit to Abu Dhabi by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta in February. Asked whether the UAE had embarked on a ``look east'' policy focusing on closer ties with Asia, Sheikh Abdullah said his country was engaging friendly countries of the East and West as part of a ``balanced foreign policy.''

However, he added that "we have always `looked East' — it has been a feature of our political and commercial relationships for generations." ``With the explosive economic growth now being enjoyed by India, and other Asian countries, it is natural that we in the Emirates should seek to further develop our ties in all fields." According to some estimates, the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait planned to invest $250 billion in Asia by 2010. With non-oil trade between India and the UAE alone crossing $12 billion, Sheikh Abdullah hoped that a Free Trade Area agreement between India and the GCC would be signed by the end of the year.

In Mumbai last month, Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath said during the India-GCC industrial forum meeting that negotiations on FTA were likely to conclude in one year.

On UAE's relationship with Iran, Sheikh Abdullah said the recent visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was ``a positive step forward in our relationship, and [we] look forward to further development of the ties between the countries."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail