Dubai refused to grant Israeli delegation entry visas for the FIATA 2007 congress

An Israeli delegation consisting of 25 leading Israeli freight forwarders who were officially invited to Dubai have been denied entry visas
 
The delegation which was supposed to take part in the FIATA 2007 congress, being held in Dubai between October 18 to 22, was about to leave Israel when a formal announcement was made by the authorities in Dubai denying visas.
 
Mr. Shlomo Sharon, chairman of the Federation of Israeli International Freight Forwarders sent an angry letter to Mr. Manfred F. Boes, FIATA's President, noting that: "We are astonished to find out that FIATA has neither made any public comment about the refusal to grant us visas, nor has it voiced publicly is objection to such a policy. We have been under the impression and truly expected that in such a politically motivated decision, where one of your ordinary members is discriminated against, FIATA wouldcome up loud and clear in support of the Israeli delegation".
 
Sharon added that "by giving in to political demands, you have not only failed to protect your interests, but also greatly damaged your principles. FIATA's reputation as an international body, representing the interests of the freight forwarding community has, I am sorry to say, been damaged”.
 
The FIATA 2007 congress is regarded as one of the most important annual logistic events.