Daily Archives: June 9, 2019
Qatar football team prepare for Copa America
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Qatar squad under coach Felix Sanchez continued its intensive training sessions in preparation for the prestigious Copa America 2019.
Asian champions Qatar are currently training in Porto Bela, a coastal town near Rio.
On June 5 Qatar suffered 2-0 at the hands of five-time World Champions Brazil in an international friendly took place at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia.
Qatar will face Paraguay on June 16 followed by a match against Colombia on June 19. Qatar will take on former World Cup champions Argentina on June 23.
The Copa America will take place from June 15 to July 7 at six stadiums in five cities with the participation of 12 teams. Qatar and Japan are the invited teams for this year’s Copa America.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee
Qatar placed in group E in FIBA Asia Cup 2021
BENGALURU, India, The International Federation of Basketball Associations (FIBA) Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers Draw was held in Bengaluru, India on Saturday. The Draw placed Qatar in Group E along with Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
24 participating nations must go through the qualifiers in order to book a spot in the 2021 edition of the FIBA Asia Cup.
The Draw ceremony was attended by FIBA President Horacio Muratore and Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) First Vice-President and President of FIBA Asia HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al-Thani, in addition to a number of FIBA’s Executive Committee and Central Board.
The draw placed Philippine, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea in Group A; Chinese Taipei, Japan Malaysia and China in Group B; Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Guam in Group C; Bahrain, Lebanon, India and Iraq in Group D; and Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Palestine in Group F.
Source: Qatar Olympic Committee
Alternative Roads after closing one direction of Immigration Bridge
Due to emergency maintenance work, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ had to close the immigration bridge in the direction from North to South, as the maintenance work will last for almost 1 month duration.
As a result, Ashghal calls all the drivers that are coming from North towards South of Doha to use the temporary traffic diversion on Al Gharafa interchange (Immigration interchange) or to use Sabah Al Ahmed Corridor or Al Jamaa Street as alternative routes.
Ashghal would like to note that road users coming from Dukhan Road towards Khalifa Street (Al Markhyia) can use Immigration Tunnel. As for Al Luqta residents that are approaching east, they can use Makkah Al Mokarama Street and Omar bin Al Khattab tunnel as an alternative of Al Gharafa interchange (Immigration interchange) to avoid the temporary traffic diversion there.
Madinat Khalifa North residents if approaching Gharafa can use the bridge which is connecting Madinat Khalifa North with Al Itihad Street to avoid the traffic Jam which may be witnessed at Al Gharafa interchange.
Public Works Authority also emphasises the safety of the structure of the bridge and confirms that the maintenance works are limited to filling works and asphalt sub-base only.
Source: Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’
UAE welcomes efforts to defuse tension, maintain stability in the region, says H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
The UAE welcomes any efforts to defuse tension in the region and looks forward to see a calm, stable, developed and forward looking Middle East in the future, said H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Sheikh Abdullah made the remarks on Sunday during a joint press conference with Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, who is currently on an official visit to the UAE.
“The visit of His Excellency Heiko Maas comes at a time when we mark 47 years of relations between the UAE and Germany. We discussed strategic bilateral relations and a number of regional issues,” he said.
“It is good to talk with our friends in Germany about various issues related to the countries of the region, such as Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Palestine.
Sheikh Abdullah expressed his pleasure over the German Foreign minister’s first visit to the UAE, saying that around 500,000 Germans visit the country every year.
On the attack on four tankers off Fujairah and within the UAE’s territorial waters, he said it was not only an attack against the UAE, but also against the global maritime safety and the countries whose flags were flown by the vessels, such as Saudi Arabia and Norway.
“When the attack on the vessels took place, there were more than 184 vessels docked off the UAE coasts in Fujairah. This is the world’s second largest bunkering hub after Singapore. It is a key port for ships to dock and refuel before entering the Strait of Hormuz.”
He continued: “This attack raises great concerns and regional tension as well. Yet, we, in the UAE, welcome any role by our German and other friends. The UAE, Norway and Saudi Arabia, along with other partners from the GCC countries, will continue their collaboration to investigate it and to update the Security Council with any details in the future.”
Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE is committed to the agreement with the Security Council to keep discussions on this attack behind closed doors for now.
“We intend to be objective and professional in managing this process and leave the decision to the international community,” he said.
Regarding the German Foreign Minister’s visit to Iran, scheduled tomorrow, and Iran nuclear deal, Sheikh Abdullah said: “For any (nuclear) agreement to succeed, we believe the region’s countries have to be part of it. Moreover, we also believe that the agreement should cover broader issues, be it the ballistic missiles, terrorism support and interference in other countries’ internal matters.”
“Of course we are not part of the agreement, but there is a host of regional issues of concern that should be taken into consideration.”
Sheikh Abdullah said the region went through a lot of conflicts and wars; now diplomacy and dialogue should be given a chance.
“More importantly, we need to give hope, especially to the young people. We also need bigger efforts by our friends and allies, Germany and the five permanent Security Council members, to see the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf remain calm, stable and developed.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the UAE is a pivotal actor and an important player in addressing regional issues.
Minister Maas commended the UAE’s reaction to the attacks on four oil tankers off Fujairah Port.
He stated that his trip to the UAE aimed at exchanging views with influential regional actors on de-escalating the current tension in the region. All parties, he stressed, must shoulder their responsibilities and use every possible means in their power to avert the ”the spiral of escalation.” He indicated that his talks with his Emirati counterpart addressed the situation in Yemen also. ” It is necessary we see a progress in the implementation of the stalled Stockholm Agreement.” He said the UAE has made substantial contributions and milestones in the political process in Yemen, especially in regards to this agreement.
He underscored the importance of seizing the opportunity to go ahead with the UN-sponsored political process as the only way to realise a durable solution.
On the current developments in Sudan, the German top diplomat said there should be a quick return to the negotiating table, expressing Germany’s support for the African Union’s efforts in this regard.
Addressing the Iranian issue, the German foreign minister said the European Union is always critical of the Iranian role in Syria and Yemen as well as of its ballistic missiles programme. ”We also believe in dialogue with Iran.”
Earlier, Sheikh Abdullah had talks with his German counterpart, focusing on ways of bolstering friendship and cooperation, and the latest regional and global topics of mutual concern.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs, also attended the meeting.
Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affair
UAE Leaders condole with Emir of Kuwait over death of prime minister’s mother.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a cable of condolences to Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, on the death of Wadha Ali Abdurrahman Al Munir, the mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa expressed sincere sympathies and solace, praying to Allah Almighty to rest the soul of the deceased in Paradise.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highnes
Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affair
UAE, Slovakia discuss bilateral ties.
A UAE delegation, headed by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, participated in the GLOBSEC 2019 Bratislava Forum, which was held in Slovakia on 7th and 8th June.
Dr. Gargash met during the Forum with Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and discussed with him ways to enhance bilateral relations.
Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affair
