UAE has 'exhausted all terms with Canadians', Minister

UAE's Minister of Economy Sultan al Mansouri stated the UAE has "exhausted all the terms with the Canadians" over increased landing rights for Emirates and Etihad in Canada (The National/Gulf Today, 27-Nov-2010). The UAE had requested daily flights for both carriers, up from three at present. He also criticised Canadian officials' handling of the issue in the public domain. Mr Mansouri agreed with Canada Defence Minister Peter MacKay who last week stated it would take 10 years to repair its relationship with the UAE but added that the relationship has "not only been set back for 10 years but has been destroyed". The Minister added that additional services by the two carriers to Canada would contribute USD60 million to the Canadian economy.

UAE Government: "There have been some statements made from the Canadian side, which were sometimes very fiery statements. This is not the way relationships between two countries are handled. This relationship has not only been set back for 10 years, but has been destroyed," Sultan al Mansouri, Minister of Economy. Source: The National, 27-Nov-2010.