The outgoing British Ambassador, Michael O’Neill, addresses the press conference at the embassy in Doha yesterday. Kammutty VP
BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: The outgoing British Ambassador, Michael O’Neill, yesterday expressed his desire to visit Qatar again — at least on three important occasions — to fly from the new airport, and the other two visits after the completion of Qatar National Museum and Musheireb Downtown projects.
“I take away many good impressions with me about Qatar, but some of them are very important. Since September last year many senior officials from the UK, including ministers and the mayor of London, visited the country, and all of them were impressed with the dynamism, vision and openness of the leadership,” O’Neill said at a media briefing at the embassy yesterday.
“Qatar is fortunate to have a group of remarkably dynamic leaders which is very unusual in this region,” he said, adding: “I am very sorry to leave this incredible country in the world so early for personal reasons as I need to go back home to join my family after three years.”
O’Neill has been ambassador to Qatar since May 2012 and is expected to leave by the end of this week.
He first visited Qatar five years ago when he was an envoy to Sudan during the Darfur peace process in which Qatar was also involved.
“I learnt a little bit about the country and became very keen to come to Qatar as an ambassador… Over the past 12 months Qatar-UK relationships have deepened and strengthened in all sectors, including investment, trade, commerce, education and culture,” he added.
“The boldness and the breadth of Qatar National Vision 2030 is extraordinarily impressive. It is not simply one part of the development, but it includes the socio-economic and environmental aspects for all-round development of the country.”
He added: “I am also impressed by the dynamism and the energy of the leadership of Qatar. The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, and others.
Speaking about the Syrian crisis and Britain’s role, he said: “There is an urgent need to change the forces on the ground in Syria for a cohesive and inclusive political settlement... Any political settlement without the departure of President Bashar Al Assad would not be possible to return peace and stability in the country.”
He said that after the fall of Qusayr, the international community, including the UK, the US and Qatar, is actively looking for consideration for options. Discussions are going on in London, Washington, Paris and Doha at the highest level to explore possibilities to provide further assistance to the opposition. They are in constant touch. I can’t tell you what the outcomes of these discussions will be.”
He said that the future of Syria has to be decided by its people. It is a diverse country with multi-ethnic groups and all of them should have their representation in the post-Assad government.
“As we know, Syria is a complex country with minorities and different ethnic groups, including Christians, Alawites, Sunnis and others. So it is important that the opposition should be as inclusive as possible to represent everyone,” he added. The Peninsula
