Interior Min. Calls For Respecting Iranians In UAE Airports

Tehran, April 15, IRNA – Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar in a meeting with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for removal of problems facing the Iranian nationals residing in the United Arab Emirates, and stressed the need for easing the visas. Mohammad Najjar pointed to the mistreatment of Iranian tourists upon their arrival in UAE, and noted that the Iranian national should be treated in a suitable manner in UAE airports. The Iranian interior minister also noted that UAE should facilitate issuing visas for Iranians. Earlier today, Mohammad Najjar in a meeting with Dubai ruler Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum criticized the deportation of Iranian nationals from the Arab city, and said such move can negatively affect Iran-UAE relations. ˈThe enemies do not want neighboring countries in region as well as Shiite and Sunni Muslims to have friendly ties with each other,ˈ Mohammad Najjar said. The Iranian interior minister assessed his meeting with Sheikh Muhammad as positive, and expressed hope that cooperation between two countries in different fields will continue to expand. Mohammad Najjar is currently on a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Speaking to reporters at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Iranian interior minister emphasized development of ties between the two brotherly countries of Iran and UAE. Mohammad Najjar arrived in United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday afternoon. He was welcomed by his Emirati counterpart. The interior minister conferred with his counterpart on the expansion of relations in various fields, including security and border relations, campaign against drug trafficking as well as organized crimes. Iran is a significant trade partner for the UAE, with trade volume between Iran and the emirate of Dubai alone estimated at about $10 billion a year. There are no official figures for the number of Iranians in the UAE, although estimates put it at more than 400,000./end