The UAE Ministry of Interior signed an agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons Wednesday (November 23rd) with the Indian government that stipulates that prisoners can be transferred between the two countries.
The agreement allows citizens of both nations who receive prison sentences of more than six months to choose to spend their terms in their own country.
"This agreement comes in response to the directives of the supreme leadership of the country to provide all possible means to ensure the stability of society and unity of its members," Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said while signing the agreement.
"This is in addition to our leadership's persistent efforts to alleviate the sufferings of various social classes, especially the inmates of houses of correction, as per a humane, civilized, sound humanitarian approach on the one hand, and to ensure the principle of correction and effective rehabilitation on the other hand," he said.
During the visit Sheikh Saif has also signed a security agreement which seeks to strengthen and develop the existing bilateral framework or mechanism to enhance security cooperation in the areas such as combating terrorism in all forms, addressing activities of organized criminal groups human trafficking, drug trafficking, illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition, explosives and initiatives on training of personnel.
For his part, Home Minister P Chidambaram praised the efforts exerted by the governments of the two friendly countries and their contributions to achieving international criminal justice and combating crime.
Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior arrived on Tuesday in India, heading high-profile UAE delegation.
He held extensive meeting with his Indian counterpart during the dinner held in his honor. The two sides discussed a number of issues on boosting the bilateral relations and joint security cooperation and ways to enhance it.
Sheikh Saif expressed his pleasure about the reception and hospitality exhibited by the Indian side, lauding the relations between the two friendly countries.
He was accompanied by Lt. General Saif Abdullah Al Sha'far, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Major General Nasser Lekhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Major General Nasser Al Awadhi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs, Dr Abdul Rahim Yousif Al Awadhi, Foreign Minister Assistant for Legal Affairs, Bader Saleem Al Ulama, from Mubadala and Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, Director Of Corporate Services & Financial Affairs Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (MASDAR).
Present were also Mohammed Sultan Al Owais, UAE Ambassador to India.