Al-Watan, Al-Sharq Commend Qatar's Diplomatic Efforts in Afghan File

Doha, August 25 (QNA) - In their editorials Wednesday, Al-Watan and Al-Sharq newspapers hailed the intensive diplomatic efforts of the State of Qatar at all levels on the current developments in Afghanistan, whether on the political or humanitarian level, leading to a peaceful transfer of power that includes all Afghan parties, achievement of security and stability and preserving the gains of the Afghan people. The two newspapers highlighted in this regard, the telephone conversation HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held on Tuesday with HE Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel, who expressed her thanks to HH the Amir and her appreciation for the State of Qatar's role in Afghanistan. They also noted HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani's meeting with HE Executive Director for the UN World Food Programme David Beasley, during which they reviewed bilateral relations and the partnership between the State of Qatar and the UN World Food Programme, as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan and how it reflects on the country's food security. For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said in its editorial that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a telephone call from Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany on Tuesday evening, during which the two sides reviewed the latest developments on the regional and international arenas, in particular the developments in Afghanistan, an stressed in that regard the importance of continuing dialogue to ensure the success of a comprehensive political settlement that achieves the aspirations of the Afghan people. The phone call also touched on the strong bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of promoting and enhancing them, the paper added. Qatar's position on the developments in Afghanistan has received wide attention at the global level, both in term of its efforts to help bring peace through negotiations, or in term of its significant contribution to the current evacuation processes, the daily said. Al-Watan concluded by saying that Qatar has worked tirelessly to bring together the conflicting parties and provide all possible facilities in order to reach acceptable solutions, and to create an atmosphere of security and stability in this country. In turn, Al-Sharq underlined the continuation of the intensive efforts of the State of Qatar at all levels regarding the current developments in Afghanistan, whether at the political level, especially consultations related to the future of Afghanistan and a comprehensive political settlement, or at the level of evacuation operations, or the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation according to the relevant organizations of the United Nations. The newspaper said that the State of Qatar has been at the heart of the ongoing consultations and contacts regarding the developments of the situation in Afghanistan, noting that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call yesterday morning from HE Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Angela Merkel, during which they discussed to the developments in Afghanistan, and stressed in that regard the importance of continuing dialogue to ensure the success of a comprehensive political settlement that achieves the aspirations of the Afghan people. The German Chancellor expressed her thanks to HH the Amir and her appreciation of the State of Qatar's role in Afghanistan, the paper added. Al-Sharq also referred to the important meeting between HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani with HE Executive Director for the UN World Food Programme David Beasley, who is currently visiting the country, during which they reviewed bilateral relations and the partnership between the State of Qatar and the UN World Food Programme, as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan and how it reflects on the country's food security. The paper stressed that the State of Qatar is working, based on its humanitarian and moral duty and its international obligations, in cooperation with the United Nations and international partners, to evacuate Afghan civilians, citizens of friendly countries and journalists from Afghan territory by providing safe transit to the airport and then transferring them to Doha via special flights organized by the State. Al-Sharq concluded that the State of Qatar continues to communicate with all Afghan parties concerned, to ensure a peaceful transfer of power that paves the way for a comprehensive political settlement that includes all Afghan parties, achieves security and stability in the country and preserves the gains of the Afghan people. (QNA)