Al Shafi Highlights Importance Given by Qatar to Human Development

Istanbul, March 30 (QNA) - HE Qatar's Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi highlighted the importance attached by Qatar to human development. In a lecture delivered at Turkish Bahcesehir University, HE the Ambassador said the human person is the focus and the priority of the policy of the State of Qatar, adding that Qatar always places the stability and prosperity for its citizens in the first place. "This requires attention to be given to pillars of development as well as to the advancement of the country's economy. To this end, Qatar launched its national vision 2030 years ago, and is working actively to achieve the goals set forth in this vision," he added. The lecture was held at Turkish Bahcesehir University in Istanbul under the title 'Qatari foreign policy and Qatari-Turkish relations are key to stability and prosperity in the region'. Qatar, he said, believes in mediation and dialogue's roles in resolving differences and conflicts, and has always been seeking to ensure good relations with various parties and actors. HE Al Sahafi said the international community and the active states at the global level usually deal with the aftermath of the problems and not with the real causes of problems, a matter that led to the birth of violence, meaning the survival of the causes that will later produce more violence. He called for dealing with the key causes of violence and extremism to ensure that there is no new confrontation after one year or two and that there is no emergence of new radical groups, adding that causes include murder of innocent civilians, political exclusion, sectarianism, proliferation of armed sectarian militias, continuation of the occupation and confiscation of land and promotion of the settlement, as well as poverty, hunger and unemployment. HE the Ambassador pointed out that Qatar's foreign policy is striving to contribute to the establishment of an integrated vision to address complex issues, and its vision is not limited to military or security aspects, but goes beyond them to include political, economic, intellectual and social aspects to ensure the elimination of extremism. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Turkey stressed that the Qatari-Turkish relations are long-standing and are founded on brotherhood, mutual understanding and respect, based on the great legacy of shared history and civilization between the two peoples. He outlined the stages of bilateral relations between Qatar and Turkey, pointing to the signing by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 'the supreme committee for strategic cooperation' agreement in last December. He also pointed to the existing mechanism for cooperation and direct consultations between the two countries through both bilateral or multilateral relations, especially in the issues of common concern as well as in regional issues of common concern. On the economic ties, he said that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries increased during the last period, hoping to see further increase in trade exchange between them. He expressed the desire of both countries to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, either through the exportation of Qatari liquefied natural gas to Turkey or Qatar's investment in Turkey's energy sector, adding that the direct Qatari investments in Turkey from 2010 to 2014 amounted to about $ 930 million. At present, there are discussions on a number of strategic projects between the two countries, especially in the field of energy and infrastructure, HE Al Shafi said. Qatar is open to all investors especially in view of the ongoing construction boom and development as well as its efforts to host the 2022 football world cup, he said. On the cultural aspect, HE the Ambassador pointed to the ongoing Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture, adding that efforts are on to announce more permanent cultural initiatives. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Turkey delivered this lecture at the invitation of head of Bahcesehir University School of Government and Leadership in Turkey. The event was attended by university officials and Turkish and foreign students, whose questions and inquiries during the lecture focused on Qatar's foreign policy and its contribution to resolve regional conflicts as well as the Qatari-Turkish relations and the latest developments in the region. (END)