British ambassador seeks to ‘clarify’ UAE terror list

The UAE Cabinet last month had approved the list, which names the Cordoba Foundation in the UK, the Muslim Association of Britain and Islamic Relief UK as terrorist organisations.

Philip Parham is the new British Ambassador to the UAE and spoke to reporters during a press conference at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Delores Johnson / The National
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ABU DHABI // The UK is examining the list of organisations that the UAE has deemed as terrorist, the British ambassador said on Monday.

The UAE Cabinet last month had approved the list, which names the Cordoba Foundation in the UK, the Muslim Association of Britain and Islamic Relief UK as terrorist organisations.

The UK is “studying the list”, said Philip Parham, British ambassador to the UAE, during a media round-table on Monday.

“We are also of course talking to our Emirati colleagues in the Government to try to clarify the rationale for some inclusions on the list and also what exactly are the practical implications of the list,” said Mr Parham.

The list’s creation comes after the passing of a federal law on combating terrorist organisations.

Mr Parham also discussed the UK and UAE’s involvement in the coalition formed to fight ISIL.

“The UK and the UAE have been closely involved in supporting each other’s efforts,” he said.

The UK’s strategy has been to support the new Iraqi government in responding in an “effective and inclusive way”, supporting the moderate opposition in Syria, supporting the UN’s efforts, and providing humanitarian support to those affected in both Syria and Iraq.

Humanitarian efforts must continue and require substantially more support, Mr Parham said.

“On the military side, as I said, there is the question of support to the moderate opposition in Syria and we are considering ourselves in the UK what more we can do there,” he said.

The UK is also looking at what it can do to help build up Iraqi forces on the ground and support the Kurdish peshmerga forces fighting ISIL, he said.

Mr Parham discussed issues pertaining to British expatriates, saying that he hopes that an agreement between the UK and UAE on double taxation could be reached in the next year.

The agreement would ensure that people working or investing in one country or the other do not find themselves in “sort of an anomalous situation” where they are paying tax on the same income in both jurisdictions or paying tax in one that they would not normally have to pay.

“It should … be a way of encouraging more business between the two countries,” Mr Parham said.

Mr Parham succeeded his predecessor Dominic Jermey in July. He previously served as ambassador to the UN and as high commissioner to Tanzania.

lcarroll@thenational.ae