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UAE, Qatar: Addressing Political Situation in Damascus and Baghdad Ends Challenges in the Region | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Qatar and UAE Flags joined to represent their brotherly relations.


Abu Dhabi-Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, headed the UAE delegation to the sixth session of the UAE-Qatari Higher Joint Committee.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that meetings of the sixth session of the UAE-Qatari Higher Joint Ministerial Committee were fruitful and successful, affirming the two countries’ commitment to continue spending efforts to further solidify their historic, fraternal bilateral ties and coordinate joint stances on various international issues of mutual concern.

”UAE and Qatar need to work together to move their bilateral relations into a firmer and deeper future,” Sheikh Abdullah said in a joint press conference with Qatari foreign minister at the end of the two-day meetings of the committee in Doha.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said that his talks on Monday with HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, tackled renewable energy and cooperation between the two countries in this sector, noting that they both acquire potentials to develop this cooperation; especially with the drop in energy prices and the rise of new innovations.

“Cooperation in this field,” he noted, “proves the possibility of broadening relations between the two countries”; pointing to the series of agreements and memoranda of understanding they signed on Monday.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed stressed on the importance of benefiting from previous and current legal frameworks to work together and create better future and wider opportunities for the two countries.

He expressed his hope for continuous joint work that leads to a better relation that is gradually developing at all levels. He also highlighted the diverse areas for joint cooperation, including regular exchange of views on a variety of international matters.

Regarding challenges the region is facing, the UAE minister said, ”They cannot be isolated from the overall challenges we are currently facing. For this reason, UAE and Qatar are working together under the GCC or Arab League umbrella to address these challenges.”

Moreover, concerning UAE support for Qatar’s nominee for the post of “Director General” of the UNESCO, Sheikh Abdallah said, ”Mutual support is always there, whether at the bilateral level or within the GCC, which issued a statement supporting the Qatari nominee.”

Speaking about the latest developments in Syria, Sheikh Abdullah said, ”Both Doha and Abu Dhabi have issued statements regarding the situation in Syria, affirming that the dispute can’t be solved by the issuance of these statements and there is an urgent need for an action to be done; given the tragic situation that requires serious action from the UN Security Council and the Vienna Group.”

He affirmed that challenges facing the region, including terrorism, could not be addressed without solving political problems in Damascus and Baghdad.

For his part, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the two-day meetings were successful, adding that they ended with signing a number of cooperation agreements that foster ties between the two brotherly countries.

He pointed that the two sides have signed agreements in the fields of culture, exhibitions, tourism and youth in addition to developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

He also said that he is looking forward to witness the outcomes of this session on the ground and to strengthen and deepen the ties between UAE and Qatari citizens.

The Qatari Foreign Minister said that he had discussed with his UAE counterpart all the regional issues and challenges, adding that he is looking forward to the continuation of such fraternal meetings between the two countries.

He also said that the political dialogue was on the agenda of the sixth round of the Qatar-UAE Higher Joint Committee meetings. “Views on regional issues were exchanged,” he said, adding that talks also dealt with the two countries’ relations in the international organizations and continuing consultations in all international forums.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani added that he exchanged views and thoroughly discussed major regional issues with his Emirati counterpart during their bilateral meetings.

On Qatar’s request for convening an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council on the situation in Syrian city of Aleppo, the Minister said that the request received significant gulf support.