Category: Government

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held a session of political talks with Luxembourg Foreign Minister of Jean Asselborn, who is on a visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

The meeting discussed means of enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, renewable energy and other fields. It also touched on several regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Al Busaidi affirmed the keenness of the Sultanate of Oman to continue developing bilateral relations in all fields. He reiterated the importance of exchanging views on various matters of mutual concern. The Luxembourg Foreign Minister expressed his country’s keenness on boosting cooperation in various fields.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al-Sabah met on Tuesday with visiting Libyan counterpart Najla El-Mangoush.

The meeting discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of developing them.

The latest regional and international developments were also discussed during the meeting.

The two sides reviewed the situation in Libya and the continuous efforts exerted to enhance the desired political process.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari underscored the major role undertaken by the State of Qatar in de-escalation, reaching the truce agreement and ceasefire between the Palestinian and Israeli parties.

During the media brief held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, he added that the State of Qatar has received international commendations from the U.S. Department of State, the White House, the United Nations, the General-Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and others for Qatar’s diplomatic efforts in accelerating the ceasefire between the two sides.

He pointed out that Qatar acts as mediator by being present in Gaza and communicating with the Palestinian factions there through conveying the messages with the “other side” and coordinating with the United States of America and the active actors.

Regarding the relations between Qatar and Afghanistan, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlined that such relations are based on providing support, security and stability to the Afghan people, whilst the mediation role undertaken by Qatar comes within the framework of the frank relations between Qatar, Taliban and the caretaker government which are based on firm and preliminary stances pertaining to the situation in Afghanistan generally, specially the empowerment and prosperity of Afghan people.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the State of Qatar had a certain role in operationalizing the Kabul Airport and had efforts to evacuate foreign nationals, and this role has ended, and the caretaker government is currently managing this file, pointing out that the visit of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani to Kabul comes in the context of the State of Qatar’s political role in communicating with various parties in addition to facilitating the relations between the caretaker government and the international community and seeking to achieve security and prosperity for the Afghan people.

On the Qatari-Bahraini relations, Dr. Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari pointed out that the Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries based on the concurrence between the ministries of transport in the two countries, effective from May 25, 2023, adding that the technical teams have completed their works with regard to the buildings of the embassy of the State of Qatar in Bahrain and the embassy of the State of Qatar in the United Arab Emirates which are poised to be opened soon upon the completion of some routine matters related to working cadres and operation crews.

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs talked about the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Annalena Baerbock to Doha, saying that it comes within the framework of the multi-lateral relations between the two countries, indicating that a contract has been signed recently to secure the arrival of Qatari energy products to Germany besides economic cooperation, various investments as well as cooperative political relations in many files.

Commenting on the level of the State of Qatar’s participation in the Arab summit which is scheduled to be convened in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Al Ansari noted the participation of HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi in the meeting of Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs, underscoring the State of Qatar’s permanent keenness to participate at the highest levels in such summits to stress the cooperation ties with the Arab brothers.

About the Lebanese affairs, he said that currently there is no meeting on Lebanon in Doha, adding that the Qatari role in the convergence of views is continuing, and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs is communicating with different parties and continues its positive role in coordination with regional and international parties.

On the Qatari assistance provided to Sudan, Dr. Majed Al Ansari indicated that the State of Qatar continues to provide humanitarian and medical aid, in addition to evacuating hundreds of Sudanese people through the air bridge between Doha and Port Sudan, pointing out that about 162 tons of aid were provided, and 1019 of Qatari ID holders were evacuated.

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majed bin Mohammad Al Ansari discussed the activity of the Ministry and its officials during the last week including their efforts in developing and promoting bilateral relations with several brotherly and friendly countries.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Acting President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) Mohammed Faleh Al Hajri met with HE Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Benin Herve Hehomey, in the attendance of the Director General of the National Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Benin Karl Legba.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector, in addition to topics of mutual interest.

The meeting reflects QCAA’s commitment to developing the civil aviation sector’s safety and security system in Africa and to raise African countries’ civil aviation sector’s efficiency and strength by meeting all international standards.

The meeting also comes as an affirmation of the State of Qatar’s pioneering and vital role in supporting and developing the civil aviation industry worldwide and continuously enhancing the sector’s future out of its duty and its effective international position in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani received today the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Steven C. Bondy.

They reviewed solid historical relations and strategic partnership between the two friendly countries, stressing common efforts to further bolster them.

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held today a phone call with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry.

During the call, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations between the two brotherly countries, the recent escalation in the Palestinian territories, and the Egyptian efforts towards de-escalation.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed, during the call, the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the Israeli bombardment of civilian facilities and homes in Gaza, and its welcome to the cease-fire agreement reached today.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Interior, held separate meetings today with the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the Kingdom, Ludovic Pouille, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine to the Kingdom, Anatolii Petrenko, at his office in the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters.

During the meetings, several topics of mutual interest were discussed

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Bahrain will host the meeting of the Standing Committee on Economic and Sustainable Development at the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) on May 16-17.

The two-day meeting will be chaired by the member of the Council of Representatives, APA Vice-President and APA’s Standing Committee on Economic and Sustainable Development Chairman, MP Ahmed Sabah Al-Salloum.

The meeting is within the framework of the interest of the Shura and Representatives councils’ interest in consolidating joint Asian parliamentary work, broadening areas of cooperation and coordination, as well as enhancing the exchange of expertise and experiences with APA member states, in line with the fundamentals of Bahrain’s parliamentary diplomacy and the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The meeting will discuss several draft resolutions on establishing an Asian energy market, environmental issues, ensuring efforts for Asian economic growth, poverty eradication, the role of APA parliaments in supporting the implementation of sustainable development goals, water and sanitation in Asia for all, the adoption of a roadmap providing for measures to stimulate green finance and the Asian Climate Finance Initiative.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) yesterday hosted the third weekly raffle draw of the Manama Gold Festival.

Receipt holders, including citizens, visitors and GCC residents and participated in the draw in which 13 valuable prizes were given out in Souq Al Manama.

As many as 416 gold, jewelry and pearl shops are participating in the second edition of Manama Gold Festival, which kicked off on April 13 and runs until May 27.

The festival offers weekly promotions to the Manama Market visitors. In addition, raffle draws are held on a weekly basis to offer distinguished prizes for lucky shoppers.

The festival features distinguished shows by jewelry designers and goldsmiths, a retail market, various musical and artistic performances, as well as artworks that reflect the history of goldsmithing and the ancient jewelry industry in the Kingdom.

A series of specialised workshops will also be held on the sidelines of the festival. They will focus on introducing types of gold and jewelry and their prices, the art of goldsmithing, the art of designing jewelry and ornaments, the basics of making gold jewelry and how to convert the design idea into a three-dimensional drawing on paper.

The festival will also host various musical and artistic performances by Hazem Al-Rawas, Silvia Saad, Abdulla Haji, Noor Al-Basri, Basma Othman and The Brother Guitarists.

On the occasion, BTEA Chief Executive Officer congratulated the winners of the third weekly raffle draw of the festival, pledging more promotions and valuable prizes to delight the citizens, residents and Bahrain gold lovers among tourists, as well as boost the tourism sector in the kingdom.

He indicated that the specialised workshops will add more diversity to the festival, and attract more shoppers and Bahrain gold lovers.

It is worth noting that 32 gold stores sponsor the festival’s awards this year, including mainly Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Al Seef Jewellers, Jumbo Gold, City Mashallah Jewellers, Al Tawheed Jewellery, Jasra Jewellers, Al Sharhan Pearls, Niyaz Pearls & Diamonds, Manama Pearl Jewellery, Bin Naser Jewellery, Al Nafeesa Jewellers, Bahar Jewellery, Al Hashimi Pearls and Tbabat Al-Bahrain Jewllery.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the signing of the “Jeddah Declaration” between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the brotherly Republic of Sudan regarding the commitment to protect civilians, and to facilitate their movement and access to humanitarian and medical aid, in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the role of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the friendly United States of America to resolve the Sudanese crisis through peaceful dialogue, hoping that this declaration would constitute an important step towards an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive and final settlement of the armed conflict.

This comes in light of the commitment of all Sudanese parties to give priority to wisdom and the supreme national interest, to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the state, to protect its national and civil institutions, and to meet the aspirations of its brotherly people for security, peace, stability and development.

Source: Bahrain News Agency