Israel row: KSA scraps Canada talks

Riyadh has canceled a meeting of the Saudi-Canadian Joint Economic Commission, which was scheduled for middle of this year, sources said.
The move is in protest against Ottawa’s pro-Israeli policies, especially the visit of Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird to occupied East Jerusalem in April.
There was no official confirmation, but a source told Al-Hayat Arabic daily that the meeting was canceled because of Canada’s negative stand toward the Palestinian issue.
Ottawa had previously opposed the move to give Palestine an observer status at the UN.
Although Western officials avoid visiting East Jerusalem, Baird not only visited the area but also the Israeli military base in the occupied Golan Heights.
The Saudi-Canadian Joint Commission plays a significant role in promoting bilateral economic, trade and cultural ties.
Usually ministers and top officials attend its meetings.
A Saudi Shoura delegation led by Muhammad Al-Amr, secretary-general of the consultative body, visited Canada last year and met with Canada’s parliament speaker Noel Kinsella.
About 14,000 Saudi students and 4,000 doctors pursue their higher studies and training at Canadian universities and institutes under King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program.
The commission was re-launched in October last year by Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. Canadian exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $ 3.6 billion in 2011 while Saudi exports to Canada stood at $ 860 million in July 2012, the paper said.