Prime minister David Cameron praises Britain’s ‘strong friendship’ with UAE ahead of visit



The National staff

ABU DHABI // British prime minister David Cameron has praised the “incredibly strong friendship” between his country and the UAE ahead of his visit on Saturday.

The Conservative party leader believes these ties have been built through a long-held, deep understanding and shared interests.

“Like all good friends, we stick together on the things that really matter – keeping our people safe and giving them the benefits of a growing economy,” he told The National’s Arabic-language sister paper, Al Ittihad.

“I am absolutely focused on making Britain’s economy strong again ... and the UAE is a vital partner in this, as one of the world’s leading investors in Britain.

“We are very proud of the major role that companies like DP World play in our economy but we want to go further, and so we are introducing a new electronic visa waiver to make it easier for Emirati nationals to come to Britain to visit and do business.”

It was revealed this week that, from early next year, Emiratis will be able to go online 48 hours before departure to the UK to get an electronic entry visa.

This replaces the existing time-consuming system of providing biometric information, booking an appointment at a visa application centre and handing over an applicant’s passport.

Mr Cameron said British businesses had a part to play in the UAE.

“I want British business to contribute to and benefit from the dynamism and potential of the UAE and Gulf region,” he said.

“I am proud of the role that British businesses like Shell and BP have played in this country over many years.

“I now want to support new partnerships, including helping Britain’s best and most innovative companies develop the skills and expertise of partners in the UAE.”

Mr Cameron has also thrown his support behind the UAE’s peaceful bid to regain control of its three islands, Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, which have been occupied by Iran since the eve of the UAE’s formation nearly 42 years ago.

“The United Kingdom supports a peaceful settlement to the dispute between the UAE and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb islands,” Mr Cameron said.

“This should be achieved through direct negotiations or by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice and should be in full accordance with international law.”

He also discussed security issues in the Arabian Gulf, including concerns about “Iran’s nuclear programme and its destabilising role in the region, to the threat that Islamist extremists present across the region and the world, and the importance of stable, well-run government in places like Egypt, Yemen and Syria”.

“On all these issues Britain and the UAE share strategic objectives and close working relationships.”

Mr Cameron said the situation in Syria was leading to a rise in extremism.

“I am appalled by the humanitarian catastrophe overtaking the Syrian people and I am profoundly concerned by the growth of extremism,” he said.

“Terrorists are now being trained in Syria to direct attacks against us all. When I come to the UAE, I know I am with friends and we stand together against the threat of extremism and terrorism.

“All of this means we now need to come together to find a political solution that ends the conflict.

“The next step is to get both sides to the table. That means making clear to [the Syrian president, Bashar Al] Assad that he will not win a military victory, creating the basis for a political transition from Assad’s vicious rule and strengthening the moderate opposition, which is committed to an inclusive, united and peaceful Syria.

“The world must take responsibility to end this terrible conflict, which has destroyed so many lives, is breeding dangerous extremism in the absence of proper government and threatens Syria’s neighbours.”

On the matter of ongoing talks between the West and Iran over its nuclear programme, Mr Cameron said sanctions would remain in place against Tehran.

“We are not prepared to accept Iran developing a nuclear weapon,” he said. The prime minister said Britain and its allies “have pursued a twin-track policy of pressure, through arguably the toughest sanctions regime in history, and negotiation if Iran is prepared to engage seriously.”

He added that “although prospects have improved, we are under no illusions – the sanctions regime stays in place”.

Mr Cameron is due to arrive in the UAE on Saturday after talks at the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

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What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

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Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

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