4th Session of the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council /Joint Communique

Doha , March 05 (QNA) - The 4th session of the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council held in Doha ealier Monday under the chairmanship of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the chief of the Qatari side to the Joint Counicl and HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who led the Saudi side to the joint council, has issued the following joint communique : 'In an atmosphere of cordiality and fraternity previaling the outstanding fraternal relations between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their brotherly peoples, and under their joint destiny and unity of goals and interests... and as per the guidance of the sublime and generous directives of HH the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who leads the Qatari side the aforesaid joint coordination council and their brethren the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who leads the Saudi side to the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council; They have jointly highlighted the efforts exerted by HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz , May Allah The Almighty have mercy upon their souls, in this regard for further developing and promoting relations between the two countries to enhance bonds of the distinguished fraternity between the two sisterly peoples. And to realize the goals of the joint council and which are represented in promoting bilateral relations in the political, security, financial , economic, commercial , investment, cultural and media fields and other areas necessitated by the interests of the two countries ; And in response to the generous invitation of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the chief of the Qatari side , HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who leads the Saudi side to the joint council, paid an official visit to Qatar on 22-23 of Rabia II , 1434 AH, corresponding to March 5,2013, in the company of a high ranking delegation. The aforesaid joint council held its 4th session in the city of Doha, where HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, led the Qatari side to the Qatari-Saudi joint coorindation council with the participation of HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, who is also the deputy chairman of the Qatari side the joint coordination council , whereas HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led the Saudi side to the joint coordination council with the participation of HRH Prince Mohamed Bin Nayef Bin Abdulaziz , the Interior Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi side to the aforesaid joint council. Attending on the Qatari side were each of : 1-HE Yusuf Hussein Kamal , the Minister of Economy and Finance; 2-HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Minister of State for Interior Affairs; 3-HE Dr.Mohamed Bin Saleh Al Sada, The Minister of Energy and Industry, 4-HE Sheikh Jassim Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, The Minister of Business and Trade, 5- HE Dr.Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, 6-HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani , The Office Director of HH the Heir Apparent, 7-HE Ali Bin Fahd Al-Hajeri, The Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, 8-HE Abdullah Bin Eid As-Sulaiti, The Office Director of HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, 9-HE Ali Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Qatar's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 10-HE Yusuf Bin Eissa Al Jaber, The Coordinator of the Qatari Side to the Joint Coorindation Council, While attending on the Saudi side were each of : 1-HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz , the Deputy Foreign Minister, 2-HRH Prince Mohamed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz ,the Chief of the court of HRH the Crown Prince and HRH's Special Advisor, 3-HE Dr.Mesaid Bin Mohamed Al-Abiyan, the State Minister and Member of the Council of Ministers, 4-HE Dr.Ibrahim Bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, the Minister of Finance , 5- HE Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Moheiddin Khoja, the Minister of Culture and Information, 6-HE Dr.Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabea, the Minister of Trade and Industry, 7-HE Dr.Nizar Bin Ebeid Medani , the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, 8-HE Mohamed Bin Abdullah Al-Ameel, the Secretary of the Saudi Side to the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coodination Council, 9-HE Dr. Hindi Bin Nayef Bin Hamid, the Charge D'affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Doha. Prince Salman conveyed to HH the Heir Apparent the greetings of Custodian of the two Holly Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani wishing him good health and happiness and wishing the State of Qatar and the Qatari people more progress and prosperity. HH the Heir Apparent also conveyed the thanks of HH the Emir to the King of Saudi Arabia for his generous feelings, wishing Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people further growth and development. Both Prince Salman and HH Sheikh Tamim stressed during their speeches on the two countries' respective keenness to advance bilateral relations. They also expressed their satisfaction with the progress made so far and with the levels of bilateral cooperation. They also expressed their satisfaction over the results of the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council. The joint council discussed cooperation in the political and diplomatic field. They agreed as well to coordinate their political stands vis-a-vis all issues of joint interest. The council also agreed to advance diplomacy related cooperation . It also stressed the importance of exchanging views on different regional and international issues of joint interest in order to reach a shared vision on how to face those issues. The importance of exchanging views has become relevant now in light of recent developments in the region. The joint council meantime highlighted the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia for GCC countries to elevate their relations from cooperation to becoming united. Secondly, they discussed military cooperation. The two parties expressed their satisfaction at the level of military cooperation present at the moment. They confirmed that they will continue to cooperate in that field in terms of holding workshops, cooperation in exchanging information and expertise . They confirmed that military cooperation was in accordance to the GCC. The cooperation is also supported by joint cooperation agreements the GCC member states signed in the Kingdom of Bahrain in December 20, 2000. Thirdly was cooperation in the security field where the joint coordination council stressed the importance of enhancing security cooperation in order to ensure both countries' security and stability. They said they were looking forward to strengthening ties in that field particularly counter-terrorism and drug-trafficking. They welcomed signing agreements to regulate border authorities in combating crimes in both countries. Fourth: Cooperation in the economic, financial and investment field: --------------------------------------------------------------- The two sides reviewed aspects of financial, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, and the steps taken to further enhance and strengthen such a cooperation, and agreed on the importance of constantly conducting such a coordination between the competent authorities in the two countries. Welcoming the visits and meetings that took place between the tax and zakat (Alms) bodies and customs in the two countries, the matter which has had a deep impact on the exchange of expertise and expand scopes of cooperation, in their respective fields. Both sides recommend the importance of cooperation in the field of the general budget and the exchange of expertise and qualifying capacities in the preparation of public budgets in accordance with the latest regulations and standards effective in this regard. The two sides also recommend the concerned authorities in the two countries to quickly complete the examination of the draft memorandum of understanding extended by the Qatari side, and which is related to the establishment of a mechanism for the execution of the joint investments between the two countries, and forwarding whatever results to the Joint Preparatory Committee of the Coordination Council. Each of Qatar National Bank (QNB) , Masraf of Al Rayan and Barwa Bank , showcased their respective willingness to open their respective branches in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as per the regulations applicable in this regard. Fifth: Cooperation in the Commercial and Industrial Field: -------------------------------------------- 1- Enhancing trade and investment relations between the two countries and working to increase exports between them through encouraging the chambers of commerce and the private sector in the two countries and the exchange of visits to achieve their common interests. 2- Working to activating the joint businessmen council between the two countries and the importance of periodically holding of these meetings. 3- Emphasize the importance of holding a coordinating meeting to the professionals concerned with the World Trade Organization (WTO) affairs in both countries to bring closer together views on the WTO's topics with special emphasis on trade facilitation. 4- Encourage the participation in the establishment of exhibitions and commercial markets in both countries with a view to introducing commodities and manufactured products in each of them and acting to reactivate the participation and involvement of all sectors of the two countries. 5- Contribution of the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council in providing an appropriate environment to support economic ties, through implementing joint and private projects, especially on part of the private sectors'investors from the two countries. 6- The two sides discussed the desire of the Qatari side to exempt the State of Qatar from Saudi Arabia's decision to halt the export of certain commodities produced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , as well as the proposal set for the working out a mechanism for coordination between the two countries regarding any future decisions in this regard. The two parties agreed to form a technical team to study the issue and propose the appropriate solutions on condition the to meet the team as soon as possible. 7- Praising the positive results of the visit of the Saudi businessmen delegation to Qatar and which was led by chairman of the Saudi Chambers'Council during the period from 15- 16/06/1433 AH, and meeting with their counterparts in the State of Qatar, and holding the second meeting of the Qatari-Saudi Business Council , and emphasizing the importance of holding continuous meetings between the businessmen of the two countries within the framework of the Saudi-Qatari Business Council, and work to overcome the difficulties facing them in order to provide the environment to support the economic and trade ties and establishing joint ventures via taking advantage of the economies of both countries. 8- welcoming the signing of the minutes of the exchange of instruments of ratification of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for industrial cooperation between the two countries, as well as the signing of the executive program of this memo . Sixth: Cooperation in the Cultural and Media Fields: --------------------------------- The two sides expressed satisfaction at the level of cooperation existing between the two countries in the field of culture and media, and emphasized the importance of continuing the follow-up and activation of all aspects of cooperation contained in the MoU for cultural and media cooperation. The two sides welcomed the signing of cooperation accord and the news exchange between Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), and thus contributing to the promotion and development of cooperation and the news exchange between the two parties. The Qatari side showcased its desire to allocate a plot of land to be the permanent headquarters for the pavilion of the State of Qatar in the heritage village in the National Festival for Heritage and Arts (Janadriya), and the Saudi side promising to give this request the necessary attention and following it up according to the procedures effective to the authority concerned with this subject in the kingdom. The Qatari side wished to obtain a radio frequency in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to rebroadcast the Voice of the Gulf to the kingdom and the Saudi side promised to refer the matter to the competent authority in the Kingdom to make thereon as it deems appropriate. The Saudi side presented a draft executive program for cultural and information cooperation between the two countries in the framework of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural and media cooperation signed between the two countries, with the Qatari side welcoming to study such a draft and to communicate with the Ministry of Culture and Information in the Saudi Kingdom concerning it, and present what is reached in this regard to the Joint Preparatory Committee of the next session of the Council. Seventh: Cooperation In Higher Education And Scientific Research Fields. ---------------------------------------- The two sides welcomed cooperation in that field via the following topics; 1- Holding research projects that serve the two countries' developmental plans. 2-Exchanging of visits of academics in order to develop and upgrade their scientific and practical skills at the scientific faculties. 3-Encouraging studies and researches between the universities based in the two countries and the exchange of academic textbooks and manuscripts . 4- Other agreements included developing new systems to discover the talented and creative students at the universities in the two countries. 5- preparing plans for exchange programs and developing new educational syllabi. Eighth: cooperation in municipal affairs and urban planning field: ------------------------------------------------- - In terms of municipal affairs and urban planning ,the two sides agreed on the importance of continued consultations in that field to the interest of the two countries. Ninth: cooperation in the field of transport , roads and infrastructure: ------------------------------------------ - Welcoming the visit made by a delegation from Ashghal Authority of the State of Qatar to Saudi Arabia on 7-9/3/1433 AH. The two sides agreed on the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in that field and that specialists should continue to find ways to boost ties in that sector. The joint coordination council thanked HH the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who chaired the Qatari side in the council. They also thanked the custodian of the two holy mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud ,the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and chief of the Saudi side to the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council for their support to the council. Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud ,the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and chief of the Saudi side to the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council expressed at the end of his visit his thanks and appreciation to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who is also head of the qatari side to the aforesaid joint coordination council for their warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to them during the visit. HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the saudi side members also welcomed HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani who is also the deputy chairman of the qatari side to the aforesaid joint coodination council to participate in the council's next 5th session due to open by next year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Issued in Doha city on Rabia II 1434 corresponding to March 05, 2013. (QNA)