The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday met the special envoy for Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State (IS), General John R Allen, and his delegation. Talks dealt with efforts to face IS, international coordination to confront threat to regional security and stability and issues of common concern.
DOHA: Qatar will stand together with its allies in the Middle East and around the world to fight the terrorist threat, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani has said.
In an article in British newspaper The Guardian, in connection with the visit of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the UK, the Prime Minister said: “We share common goals and an intertwined history but today the UK and Qatar also share a common enemy. The shadow of international terrorism looms large, and not just over Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East. It is a threat to our region and the world. The state of Qatar joins the United Kingdom in rejecting utterly the vision, the views and the methods of these abhorrent organisations. Their members purport to represent Islam, though they do nothing of the sort.”
“But this week, even as we meet to strengthen our friendship with the UK, there are those who would seek to drive a wedge between our two countries, who suggest that the state of Qatar has somehow turned a blind eye to terrorism. It is a serious allegation and it is one we refute completely. Let me be clear, for the avoidance of doubt, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the Middle East and around the world to face down the terrorist threat,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, Qatar has joined the US-led military coalition to take action against extremist groups. “We are a member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. We coordinate counter-terrorism initiatives with 28 other member countries, including the UK. Our ministry of finance and central bank work to counter the financing of terrorism. We strive to be effective, vital and honest partners in the fight against terrorism, and we will be,” said the Prime Minister.
He added that Qatar has reinforced its commitment to fighting terrorism with two new counter-terrorism laws introduced this year.
“The first, focused on cybercrime, gives our government new powers to monitor and stop terrorist groups from promoting their activities or recruiting for their causes online. The second expands our ability to closely monitor the transactions of charities based in, or with links to, Qatar. Through this, we will be better able to identify individuals who may be trying to channel funds to terrorist groups. We will continue to take all steps necessary to counter terrorism in all its forms and methods,” said the Prime Minister.
On Qatar-UK relations, the Premier said that bilateral trade between the two countries today is worth £4bn. Qatar is one of the UK’s biggest export markets in the Middle East – up more than fourfold since 2005.
“We have long invested in British commerce and creativity. Our interests, in companies as diverse as Barclays and Sainsbury’s, Heathrow airport, Harrods and Canary Wharf, total more than £23bn. These are not short-term investments.
It is clear that both our countries benefit hugely from them. Our investment in the Shard, for example, should be seen as a vote of confidence in the extraordinary economic powerhouse of London,” he added.The Peninsula
