Newspapers Praise Integration of Qatar-US Relations

Doha, September 15 (QNA) - In their editorials on Tuesday, Qatari newspapers highlighted the holding of the third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue which reflects the flourishing relations between the two countries at various levels. The newspapers said that the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue coincides with the political momentum gained by the Qatari diplomacy by hosting the intra-Afghan talks, which is a very important development and the latest example of the close interaction between Qatar and the United States at the political level. The newspapers stressed that the third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue does not seek only to strengthen existing economic, defense and security cooperation between the two countries, but also to expand it to include other important areas such as education, culture and development, pointing out that Qatar views the United States as an ally and friend. The papers also hailed the depth of the Qatari-US relations and the two countries' common desire to develop and turn them into a comprehensive strategic partnership in the political, security, military, economic and commercial fields. Moreover, the Qatari dailies said that the partnership between Qatar and the United States in international anti-terrorism coalitions affirms that the two countries are at the forefront of partners in international coalitions to confront this scourge. In its editorial today, Lusail newspaper said that the outcomes of the third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue charted a new course in the Qatari-US relations, noting that Qatar was keen during the two previous sessions of the dialogue to strengthen economic, military and security cooperation, and during the third session, it focused on expanding cooperation in new areas such as education, culture and development. The paper also referred to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Qatar US 2021 Year of Culture and the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Agency for International Development, noting that this ultimately reflects Qatar's constructive engagement in cooperation despite the unique regional challenges. Lusail noted HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani's affirmation that Qatar's foreign policy reflects the values of peace, stability and prosperity, which are the elements that represent the State's national values, and that Qatar is not only resilient, but also strong after it strengthened its relations with the international community to unprecedented levels. The paper indicated that the Qatari-US relations are currently entering the stage of integration in many files, as confirmed by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs during his meeting with his American counterpart, referring to Qatar's commitment to deepening the partnership in areas including joint political and regional interests. The third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue, the paper said, reflects the main role of Doha, the main partner of Washington in many important files, whether inside or outside the region. In conclusion, Lusail said that Doha is an important partner for the United States in combating terrorism and its funding, and also a very important partner to support the US economy, whether through the investments it has made, worth more than $200 billion, or by providing tens of thousands of jobs. Qatari newspaper Al-Watan affirmed in its editorial on Tuesday that holding of the third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue is a demonstration of the commitment to continue strengthening strategic relations between the two countries, and what has been achieved since the first strategic dialogue in Washington, DC, in January 2018, and then in the second dialogue held in Doha in January 2019. The newspaper clarified in its editorial that this dialogue gains additional importance through approaches that are raised in a number of issues which are of particular concern to the region, especially due of the rapid developments that it witnesses on more than one level that need clear and fair views to be solved. Al-Watan said that this important strategic dialogue is taking place while the parties to the Afghan conflict are holding their negotiations in Doha, which the whole world aspires to in the hope of reaching historical results that will end one of the most complex crises, in addition to many other issues that need to be reviewed in order to reach ideas that allows the reaching of fair and objective solutions, through high-level discussions between the two countries, including a number of political, economic, defense and cultural fields. The newspaper noted that the third Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue comes amid the Gulf crisis, adding that during the second dialogue, the two countries expressed their concern about the adverse security, economic and human effects of this crisis on the region. The United States, the paper said, has also emphasized the effective leadership of the State of Qatar in its mediation efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. Al-Watan concluded that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Qatar's efforts and its important role in reducing tension in the region, expressed US appreciation for helping it to achieve peace in Afghanistan, and confirmed that time has come to find a solution for the Gulf crisis. For its part, Al-Sharq newspaper said in its editorial that the holding of the third session of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue is a demonstration of the flourishing relations between the State of Qatar and the United States at various levels. The Qatari daily pointed to the affirmation of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani that these relations were enabled by the mutual commitment between HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HE President Donald Trump of the United States of America as well as the close friendship between the two countries. The paper indicated that these meetings also coincide with the political momentum gained by Qatari diplomacy by hosting the intra-Afghan dialogue rounds, after the success in the conclusion of the Doha Agreement between the United States and the Afghan Taliban, which is a very important development and the latest example of the close interaction between the State of Qatar and the United States at the political level. The newspaper added that the third session of the Strategic Dialogue does not only strengthening the existing economic, military and security cooperation between the two countries, but also expanding it to include other equally important areas such as education, culture and development, pointing out that the two countries are celebrating next year the Qatar US 2021 Year of Culture which reflects Qatar's vision to the United States as an ally and friend and the constructive cooperation reached by Qatar-US relations. In conclusion, Al-Sharq said that regional challenges impose on the countries of the region to end crises and build relationships based on good neighborliness and mutual respect for the States' sovereignty and this is what the State of Qatar has demanded from the beginning of the crisis until today, that there is no way to end the crisis except through dialogue. Al-Raya newspaper said that the importance of Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue comes from the fact that it reflects the depth of Qatari-American relations and the common desire to develop them, as well as the keenness of both Qatar and US to transform these relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership in the political, security, military, economic and commercial fields. Al-Raya said that the 3rd Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue confirmed the common keenness to strengthen the Qatari-American strategic partnership, adding that through it a common vision for the future of this solid partnership was established. Al-Raya pointed out that the Qatari-US relations have transformed, through the outcomes of this dialogue, from the stage of joint cooperation and coordination between the two countries on issues of defense, counterterrorism and counter-extremism to an effective bilateral strategic partnership. It also considered that the US administration's praise of Qatar's efforts in combating terrorism and extremism in all its forms, and its confirmation that it has made great progress in this field, is a clear message to skeptics of Qatar's efforts in the field of combating terrorism and its role in regional and international stability. The newspaper indicated that the new dialogue's session came to reflect the depth of the flourishing relations between the two countries, and the keenness to expand economic, military and security cooperation relations to include the fields of education, culture and development, which confirms that the strategic dialogue is an important achievement of the historical course of Qatari-American relations. Al-Raya explained that Qatar views with full satisfaction its strategic partnership with the US. HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani also affirmed that Qatar views the United States as an ally and friend and not just a partner, and that the signing of new joint memoranda of understanding confirms that the partnership is stronger than ever, especially since Qatari investments in the US economy exceed $ 200 billion, and the United States is a major investor in Qatars development, the paper added. According to the newspaper, the 3rd Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue reflects the two countries' keenness to strengthen the existing economic, military and security cooperation between them and expand it to include other equally important areas such as education, culture and development. Therefore, this session is an important milestone in historically deep relations between Qatar and the United States of America, the paper said. Al-Raya stressed that there are many external challenges that faces the Qatari-American cooperation, thus, this session comes to discuss a set of defense and security issues, including common interests, opportunities for regional cooperation, and mechanisms for confronting and defeating malicious threats to the two countries, especially since they agree that such threats come among the biggest challenges facing their common vision today, to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East region in general. In the editorial's conclusion, Al-Raya said that the partnership between Qatar and the US in the international alliances to combat terrorism confirms that the two countries are at the forefront of international alliances to confront this scourge, and therefore it is an important indicator for strengthening coordination and cooperation in a way that reflects all the common values between the two countries derived from international law, as well as considerable security standards, especially as they contribute with great efforts to confront the terrorism's threat. (QNA)