Al Kuwari Stresses Qatari-French 'Strategic' Ties Ahead of Hollande Visit

Doha, June 21 (QNA) - The French President Francois Hollande's upcoming State visit to Qatar comes at "an important time," Qatar's Ambassador to France, HE Mohamed Jaham Al Kuwari told Qatar News Agency (QNA). HE Al Kuwari described the bilateral Qatari-French relations as "strategic," implying close links, deep friendship and strong cooperation. In terms of economy and investment, HE Al Kuwari said Qatari investments in France have reached a very high level and are expected to increase, especially after the agreement on the establishment of a joint French-Qatari fund to invest in small and medium-sized enterprises. He underlined the important French investments in Qatar, referring in this regard to the world-class French construction and infrastructure firms, which contribute in the completion of infrastructure projects, especially those related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup He also stressed the arts, cultural cooperation between the two countries, especially that the Qatar has become an associate member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). At the regional and international levels, HE Kuwari pointed out that France and Qatar have cooperated in many issues and successfully passed a number of international tests, which contributed to further promoting the bilateral ties. In addition to this close cooperation, the points of view between the two sides are greatly close with regards to the a number of regional issues of mutual concern including the Palestinian Cause, the situation in Syria, the regional repercussions of the Arab Spring and the Iranian nuclear file, which would give an important dimensions to Hollande's upcoming visit, the Qatari diplomat said. Being a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and one of the largest nuclear powers in the world and the world's fifth largest economic power, in addition to its role as a main driver of Europe's policies, France plays an important and primarily role on the international level and in particular on the Mediterranean region, HE Al Kuwari said. Qatar a country with aspirations of active diplomacy, is adopting an independent policy and establishing diplomatic relations with other states based on the principles of mutual respect, cooperation and good neighborliness, he explained. Talks during this visit are expected to deal with the existing partnership between the two countries in economic, investments and cultural sectors as well as the latest developments and a number of issues of mutual concern, HE Al Kuwari said. As for the role of Qatar and France in achieving peace and security in the Middle East, HE Qatar's Ambassador to France Mohammad Jaham Al Kuwari said since the beginning of the nineties, the two countries have established the basics of bilateral relations based on durability, cooperation, friendship and mutual respect. In 1995, he added, Qatari-French ties saw giant progress thanks to the openness and modernization policy led by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, noting that relations continued to develop in the recent years to reach the level of strategic ties as the two countries engaged in real political partnerships and initiatives that contributed to solving some humanitarian issues, and the peaceful settlement or easing the tension in some other issues. HE the ambassador said Qatar works to achieve stability and security in the Gulf region and the Middle East as it realizes it is in Qatar's interest and the next generations' interest to live in peace with neighbors. "We hope the strategic partnership between France and Qatar will enhance stability in the region and help in resuming the peace process in order to settle the Palestinian issue based on a two-state solution, which is the core of the Arab initiative and what forms, at the same time, the essence of the French policy towards this issue," HE Mohammad Jaham Al Kuwari told QNA. Speaking on Syria, the Qatari ambassador said Doha and Paris hold the humanitarian side of the issue ahead of any other aspects, adding that the two countries want to stop the bloodshed and protect the Syrian people pointing to the significance of Syria in the region and the vacuum created by its absence. Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue , HE Al Kuwari stressed that: "Qatar is opposed to resorting to the use of force in this area, and we believe that negotiations are the only way to resolve this crisis and our position on this is no different from the positions of the French authorities." "We believe that Iran has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and Qatar calls to free the Middle East of nuclear weapons, including Israel, a matter which would ensure stability and security and to ensure the independence of the region and the well-being of their people and provides them with the necessary conditions to achieve sustainable development. " On the Syrian crisis, HE Ambassador Al Kuwari said that France is one the major international countries and is committed to the international legitimacy of any external interference, explaining that after ending European ban on the export of arms to Syria it appears that France began moving in this direction and now officials are convinced that the lack of balance between the forces in Syria would lead to the killing of the Syrian people and to impose a fait accompli, especially before the Geneva conference 2. He added that there was a notable development in the position of France and a number of Western countries such as Britain and even the United States in terms of supporting the Syrian rebels , pointing out that the authorities recognize that any delay in helping the Syrian people may lead to the transfer of the crisis to neighboring countries, threatening to ignite a sectarian war may affect all countries of the region, a war that no one has an interest in, HE Ambassador Al Kuwari added. On the size of Qatari investments in France and the prospects for cooperation between the two countries, HE Ambassador Al-Kuwari said Qatari investments were not new and not confined to a particular sector, and has been growing continuously and parallel to the development of relations between the two countries, especially the French economy, despite the global financial crisis, it is a strong economy, promising and able to overcome the current crisis . HE Al Kuwari that Qatar runs long-term investments in various fields which is important at this stage stressing that these investments fall within the framework of the existing partnership between the two countries, The latest evidence of this is the Qatar- French Joint Fund , and the success of the objectives of this partnership would push the French institutions of small and medium enterprises, which form the backbone of the economy, to return to invest in Qatar. He described this exchange as a guarantee for the continuation and growth of the relationship between the two countries, adding that any diplomatic mission today is no longer confined to strengthen political relations but that modern diplomacy has become involved in facilitating and conducting cooperation and economic exchange. "This is what we are trying to do in order to strengthen the links between the two countries and the service to future generations that Qatar considers its primary capital", HE Ambassador Al Kuwari underlined. With regard to trade exchange between Qatar and France, HE Al Kuwari noted that it continues to grow, and in 2011 the size of this exchange in amounted to $ 2 billion, an increase of 40% compared with 2010, and this increase is the result of increased movement of French exports which rose by 8% The high proportion of the Qatar's exports to France of oil derivatives by 68%. HE Ambassador Al Kuwari said that the Qatari investments had created several thousand jobs in France, in addition to the Qatari-French Investment Fund French with a capital of around 300 million euros equally between the two countries, dedicated to invest in small and medium enterprises, that besides Qatar plans to invest 10 billion euros in the major French institutions, which would lead to a quantum leap in the French-Qatari relations, HE Ambassador al Kuwari noted. (QNA)