Newspapers Affirm Strength of Qatari-French Relations

Doha, March 29 (QNA) - In their Tuesday editorials, newspapers affirmed that the Qatari-French relations are strong and distinct, as they are based on a solid legacy of the fruitful partnership between the two strategic allies, which is reflected in the first round of the strategic dialogue between the governments of the State of Qatar and the French Republic. In this regard, the newspapers highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian and his accompanying delegation on Monday, which reflect the support and common desire to strengthen and consolidate the close partnership between the two friendly countries and people. The newspapers agreed that the bilateral relations between Qatar and France are witnessing a qualitative leap in all fields. This is based on the sincere desire of the two political leaders in the two friendly countries to develop and transfer them into strategic partnership. Al-Sharq newspaper, in its editorial, said that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian and his accompanying delegation reflected the support and common desire to strengthen and consolidate the close partnership between the two countries and friendly people. This support culminated on Monday with the holding of the first round of the strategic dialogue between the governments of the State of Qatar and the French Republic, headed by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani from the Qatari side and HE Jean-Yves Le Drian from the French side, the newspaper said. Holding the strategic dialogue round between the two countries constituted a qualitative leap for the partnership and bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries, which are witnessing rapid growth towards broad horizons in the fields of defense and security, economy, investment, energy, education, culture, scientific research, climate change, environment, and sports, under the wise leaderships of the two friendly countries, whose solid historical relations are characterized by deep friendship, the newspaper highlighted. The continuous coordination and consultation between the two countries on many issues of common interest is what enhances this close strategic partnership, especially the Chadian reconciliation, political developments in Lebanon, Afghanistan, the Palestinian issue, Libya, and the Iranian nuclear file, the paper said. The paper considered holding this round of strategic dialogue an embodiment of the political will of the leaders of the two countries to develop these relations to a level that serves the interests of the two friendly people, especially since this year is witnessing the two countries' celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In conclusion, Al-Sharq said that the openness of the State of Qatar to strengthen its partnerships with a large number of countries in the world, including the French Republic, contributes not only to achieving bilateral interests with these countries but also to enhancing security and stability in the region and the world. For its part, Al-Watan newspaper highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting on Monday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian , and his accompanying delegation, during which bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and aspects of their development in various fields of joint cooperation were reviewed, in addition to the most prominent regional and international developments. Speaking at the closing session of Doha Forum 2022, HE the French Foreign Minister applauded the efforts exerted by the State of Qatar in resolving many regional and international issues, and highlighted particularly the flexibility and creativity that characterize its diplomacy, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; he also underlined that this flexibility and creativity of the State of Qatar was demonstrated during the Afghan crisis, praising the diplomatic efforts exerted by the State of Qatar and its cooperation in evacuating French and Afghan citizens, Al-Watan said. HE the French Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for the Qatari diplomatic efforts in resolving many issues in the region, praising the efforts made to reach solutions to the Chadian crisis by embracing the Chadian peace negotiations. In this context, he affirmed the great trust that exists between his country and the State of Qatar, the paper added. Al-Watan concluded its editorial by saying that during the last Saturday and Sunday, Qatar brought together a large number of leaders, officials and decision-makers, who participated in the discussions of the Doha Forum 2022, in a difficult time for the world. When the French Foreign Minister talks about Qatari efforts to resolve many regional and international issues, this confirms, among other things, that this diplomacy can play very important roles at the international level, in order to achieve international peace and security, the newspaper said. For its part, Al-Raya newspaper said that Qatari-French relations have always been distinguished and reflect the desire of the two friendly countries to develop and push it to broader horizons of cooperation and strategic partnership, in order to achieve further progress and development, as the relations between Doha and Paris are based on a strong legacy of the productive partnership between the two strategic allies. This was reflected in the convening of the first round of the strategic dialogue between the governments of the State of Qatar and French Republic, which constituted a new move for distinguished and rooted relations. The newspaper stated that Qatar and France are working harmoniously to coordinate political positions, as well as seek to deepen partnership at all levels and in various fields. The Qatari side in the strategic dialogue round was headed by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani , while the French side was headed by HE French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian . Al-Raya affirmed that the first strategic dialogue session in Qatar inaugurates a new era of bilateral cooperation and adds a strong momentum to relations. The discussion included bilateral cooperation relation between the two countries and means to support and develop it, as well as number of political and economic issues, and issues of common interests, especially Chadian reconciliation, political developments in Lebanon, Afghanistan, the Palestinian issue, Libya, and the Iranian nuclear file, the newspaper explained. The newspaper added that the two sides also reviewed the outcomes of the joint working committees of the Qatari-French strategic dialogue in various fields, including defense and security, economy and investment, energy, education, culture and scientific research, climate change and environment, and sports, in a testimony to the close strategic partnership between the two countries. The crisis in Ukraine was also strongly present in the dialogue session, where the two sides stressed the need for a diplomatic solution and respect for international law and international humanitarian law during this crisis. Al-Raya concluded by saying that the Qatari-French relations, which developed since the beginning of the nineties in the fields of security and economy, are on the verge of a more prosperous phase supported by political harmony, as statistics indicate that joint investments will double during the next stage, especially in light of the increasing demand for establishing new projects in important sectors, which bring great benefit to the two friendly countries, which rely on their distinguished relations to transfer the partnership to a broader and more comprehensive level. (QNA)