Not right to say that India did not welcome aid, says UAE Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Albannam

India has laws to accept foreign aid and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is working to fulfil the regulations to deliver assistance to flood-hit Kerala, UAE Ambassador Ahmed Albannam said on Thursday.

“There is a law in India in terms of foreign aid and all that. We have been going by that and we are coordinating our efforts to assist the needy people,” Dr. Albannam said. He was interacting with the press about India-UAE bilateral relations ahead of the 47th National Day of UAE.

Stating that it was not right to say that India did not welcome the aid, Dr. Albannam pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet “thanking the UAE for extending hands.”

“And we follow those rules and regulations and we make sure that we fulfil all those procedures,” he stated. In August, a ₹700 crore UAE government aid to Kerala for flood relief stirred a controversy after the Ministry of External Affairs said the Centre will not allow any financial assistance from foreign governments in line with an existing policy.

“We trust our judicial system”

Responding to questions on the extradition case being heard by a Dubai court of Christian Michel, the middleman accused in the Agusta Westland VVIP choppers deal, Dr. Albannam said it was for the judicial system to decide.

“There are agreements signed between the UAE and India. And there is a legal system and we believe in our judicial system. We trust our judicial system and we leave it up to them to decide what to do what not to do,” he said.

Dispelling India’s concerns on fuel shortages arising from fluctuating global oil prices, Dr. Albannam said, “Yes, India was given, along with seven other countries, relief from U.S. boycott. Even if that had not taken place, if you go back to history, previous times, UAE and Saudi Arabia always stood very strongly and supplied and covered any shortages of oil or fuel to India.”

Mr. Modi who is in Argentina for the G20 summit is expected to raise the issue of oil price volatility. India imports $16 bn worth of oil from UAE of the total bilateral trade of $53 bn.

The two countries which saw a series of high level visits recently are working out a new air servicing agreement to increase flights and reduce fares as 55% Indians travelling abroad go through Abu Dhabi. On December 4, the External Affairs ministers of the two countries will chair the next Joint Commission meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss new areas of cooperation.