UAE to put diplomats in French embassies

The UAE will station diplomats in French embassies in countries where the Emirates have no diplomatic mission under an agreement announced yesterday. Further deals to strengthen ties between the two nations are expected, and France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, who arrived in Abu Dhabi last night, is due this morning to open France’s first military base in the Gulf.

“We will sign a memorandum of understanding under which Emirati diplomats will be appointed in French diplomatic missions in countries where we don’t have diplomatic representation,” said Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Foreign Minister, in his opening remarks at the Maritime Security Co-operation Conference in Abu Dhabi. He told the conference, which included senior members of both the UAE and French navies, that France was vital to the Emirates’ foreign policy.

“We view this co-operation as a major pillar of our foreign policy. It is at the top of this policy because it helps in the stability and development of the Gulf region.”

Sheikh Abdullah said Mr Sarkozy’s visit “will have the deepest effect on strengthening relations at all levels”. Among the other deals that could be signed during the visit is a revised version of the 1995 military co-operation agreement.

The Foreign Minister also spoke of the UAE’s plans for a peaceful nuclear energy programme, describing it as “evidence of transparency and honest vision based on a real desire to have nuclear energy”.

During Mr Sarkozy’s visit to Abu Dhabi in January last year, the countries signed a nuclear co-operation agreement, and last week, President Barack Obama of the US approved a similar deal.

Britain is also bidding for the contract, the winner of which is expected to be named this year. “The goal is to have nuclear energy and there is no other [goal] as we see in some other cases,” said Sheikh Abdullah, apparently alluding to Iran’s nuclear programme.