November 02, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin issued the following statement today following the death of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan:

“It is with sadness and regret that I learned of the death of Sheikh Zayed. As President of the UAE since it was established in 1971, Sheikh Zayed steered his country toward reform and made it a regional trading and financial hub. He also played a key role in the formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council, officially started in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 1981.

“Canada and the UAE enjoyed an excellent relationship under Sheikh Zayed. The remarkable economic development of the UAE, in the three decades since its independence, has involved the contributions of many Canadians, from the establishment of the country’s educational and health systems to the design and construction of its landmarks. We hope to continue building on this relationship.

“The heartfelt sympathy of Canadians goes out to the family of President Sheikh Zayed and to the people of the United Arab Emirates.”