DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday discussed relations between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them in addition to regional and international issues.
During a working lunch at the headquarters of the German government in Berlin last afternoon, both sides also discussed the prospects for further developing cooperation, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reports. Following that, Merkel, at a joint press conference, expressed happiness over the Emir’s visit and said talks were fruitful and constructive and dealt with relations and ways of promoting them, particularly in economic and investment areas.
She also voiced happiness over the convening of the Qatari-German Economic Forum.
Merkel said she was briefed on plans and Qatar National Vision 2030, and that talks also dealt with Qatar’s preparations for hosting the World Cup 2022 and hoped that Qatar would create favourable conditions for the workers on projects related to the event.
She said the Emir had assured her that these issues had been taken care of seriously.
Merkel said both sides discussed the security situation and developments in the region and the Islamic State organisation, confirming that they had identical viewpoints in this regard.
Merkel said they agreed that Muslims in particular are suffering alongside Christians and people of other religions, expressing happiness over Qatar joining the international coalition against terrorism. the peninsula
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She added that the talks also covered the peace process in the Middle East, pointing out that there is a difference in this matter. That the two sides agree on the need for a two - state solution and find a lasting peace rather than a truce agreement.
She said that cooperation with the Arab states were also discussed, noting the importance of the exchange of cooperation to confront the dangers.
She added that the developments in a number of countries of the Arab Spring were also discussed, referring to the situation in Libya, which it described as complicated, expressing the hope that would not affect Tunisia, “but rather that stability in Tunisia, which continues the positive developments would stabilise the situation in Libya .
For his part, The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, thanked the German Chancellor for the warm reception, praising as fruitful the talks between the two sides, which dealt with the relations between the two countries, especially in economic and investment areas.
The Emir described that talks as “frank”, adding that they did not see any reservation and it came out with positive results.
The Emir said the two sides also discussed the difficult and complicated situation in Syria, Iraq and Libya as well as the bright spot in the region, which is Tunisia, praising the Tunisian experience and saying that it called for its support .. the Emir said: “As Chancellor kindly state that Germany supports the Tunisian experience, Qatar supports this experience as well.”
The Emir noted that the risk of extremism in the region was also discussed , stressing that Qatar had warned against it (extremism) since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution. The Emir added that the longer the conflict in Syria, the violence will continue and will generate extremist groups that cannot be controlled.
The Emir expressed his regret over the suffering of the Syrian people from the regime tyranny and extremism and noted that in addition to the fight against extremism, that rights of the people who had revolutions for dignity and full rights must be ensured.
With regard to the issue concerning the conditions of workers in Qatar, the Emir said that mistakes occurred in the past .. and that Qatar is not perfect in all things .. But the good news that Qatar has made significant changes to maintain the rights of workers and to provide favorable conditions for them, the Emir said, stressing his personal keenness on this matter.
On the differences of opinion on the Middle-East peace process, the Emir said that there was an agreement on establishing peace based on a two-state solution. The Emir added that the two parties agreed to hold more talks on the matter in the future.
On whether the visit of the Emir will boost relations, Merkel said that Qatar is an important investor in Germany. She added that there is an increasing level of coordination on cooperation in the economy, investment and energy fields. The German Chancellor added that there is an interest to cooperate with Qatar in the future in the fields of infra-structure and the environment. She added that Germany will be a strategic investor to Qatar.
On allegations that the Qatar was financing extremists groups, the Emir stressed that Qatar did not and would not support any extremist group in Syria and Iraq, noting that the situation in Syria and Iraq were terrorism acts carried out by the state and extremist groups.
Meanwhile, the Emir had separate meetings at his residence in Berlin yesterday with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Energy Sigmar Gabriel and his accompanying delegation.
Yesterday in the afternoon, the Emir paid a visit to the Municipality of Berlin. The Mayor Klaus Wowereit received the Emir. The Mayor the Emir on a visit to the Brandenburg Gate.
QNA
