The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, July 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India

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India, UAE pact on defence
Tribune News Service

Defence Minister George Fernandes and UAE Army Chief Lieut-Gen Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan before their meeting at the Defence Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday.
— PTI photo

New Delhi, July 1
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed an agreement on defence cooperation and are also considering the possibility of setting up a joint working group (JWG) on terrorism and trans-national crimes.

A high-level UAE delegation, led by its Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieut-Gen Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayet Nahyan, today met Defence Minister George Fernandes and came to an understanding on various matters related to defence. Later the agreement on defence cooperation was signed by Defence Secretary Subir Dutta and UAE Ambassador to India, Dr Saeed M. Ali Al Shamsi.

The agreement provides for cooperation and security, defence policy, development of defence cooperation and import and export of arms. It also provides for military training, military medical services, military cultural and sports activities, environmental issues and pollution caused by military, particularly at sea.

The UAE also wants India to increase the number of training slots allotted to the UAE Armed Forces personnel at the National Defence College.

Lieut-Gen Nahyan is leading a six-member delegation, including Shiekh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Information and Culture.

The visiting UAE Chief of Staff had also met Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani yesterday when the subject of setting up a JWG on terrorism and trans-national crimes came up for discussion.

The issue was also discussed at the talks the UAE delegation had with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and senior officials of his ministry.

The proposed JWG was aimed at evolving mechanisms for regular interaction between security agencies of the two countries, especially to counter financial networks involved in funding terrorist organisations.

The two countries were also considering various other means to check the flow of money through illegal channels as part of their efforts to crack down on trans-national crimes.

The cooperation between the two countries in dealing with trans- national crimes has been increasing ever since Mr Advani visited the Gulf state in 2001.

The two countries yesterday decided to hold annual strategic dialogue and set up a joint business council (JBC) to increase bilateral trade to $ 5 b in future. The strategic dialogue would provide them a framework for broad consultations on issues of concern to either country.

First strategic dialogue
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 1
India and the United Arab Emirates have held their first-ever strategic dialogue and the intent of the Indian leadership in boosting ties with this important Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country at the highest political level is evident from the fact that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee found time today to meet the visiting Chief of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The importance India attaches to bringing its relations with the UAE on a strategic pedestal was reflected by Mr Vajpayee’s gesture who met Sheikh Mohammed despite the fact that he had cancelled all engagements because of his recent eye surgery.

The Indo-UAE strategic dialogue was held here yesterday. From now on, it will be held on an annual basis and the venue will rotate between the two countries.

The UAE has become the first-ever Muslim country in the world with which India has established the mechanism of holding a strategic dialogue.

India has vibrant cooperation at the political and military level with another country of the six-member GCC, Oman, but India does not have the practice of holding a strategic dialogue with Muscat.

India has a very strong relationship with another major Muslim country, Iran. Though the Iranian National Security Adviser has visited India twice and held talks with his Indian counterpart, Brajesh Mishra, New Delhi does not have a strategic dialogue mechanism at the highest political level with Tehran.

The visiting UAE dignitary, who is third in the political hierarchy in that country, today held talks with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes. Mr Brajesh Mishra was present when Sheikh Mohammed met Mr Vajpayee. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha held wide-ranging one-to-one as well as delegation-level discussions with Sheikh Mohammed yesterday which continued over a working lunch.