Newspapers Highlight Close Qatari-Somali Relations

Doha, March 06 (QNA) - In their Sunday editorials, Qatari newspapers highlighted the ongoing meetings of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani with leaders of brotherly countries to strengthen relations that serve the interest of the Qatari people and the brotherly people of Arab and Islamic countries. The newspapers indicated that HH the Amir will meet on Sunday with HE President of the sisterly Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who arrived in Doha on Saturday on a working visit to the country. The papers unanimously agreed that HE Somali President's visit to Qatar is an additional opportunity to strengthen relations between Doha and Mogadishu in various fields, especially in light of the existing brotherly relationship between the two countries. Al-Arab newspaper said in its Sunday editorial that the meeting between HH the Amir and HE the Somali President is the second between them in about five months, pointing out that in Nov. 2021, HH the Amir met with HE the President at the Amiri Diwan, where they reviewed bilateral relations and aspects of their development and strengthening in various fields of cooperation between the two countries. The newspaper stressed that the Qatari support for Somalia has not stopped over the past years across all fields in an effort to restore stability to the country and its proud people who deserve a decent and stable life. The State of Qatar plays an important role in implementing many vital development, reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in Somalia, and provides aid for the plans and programs of the federal government in several areas, the newspaper added, which constantly affirms that it will remain a fundamental supporter of the brotherly Somali people in order to achieve their hopes and aspirations in building their state and preserving their territorial integrity and sovereignty. Concluding, Al-Arab said that support for brotherly peoples throughout the nation occupies an important place in Qatars foreign policy, in line with the vision of HH the Amir, by harnessing the political and economic capabilities of the State to serve the interests of our brothers through thick and thin. For its part, Al-Watan newspaper said in its Sunday editorial that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will meet with HE President of the sisterly Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Sunday at the Amiri Diwan to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them, in addition to a number of issues of common interest. The newspaper underlined that the visit of HE the Somali President to the State of Qatar comes within the framework of the strong bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and that it will contribute to strengthening relations between Doha and Mogadishu in various fields, especially in light of the brotherly relationship between HH the Amir and HE the President. Al-Watan stressed that bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Somalia have witnessed great development during the past years as Qatar provided development support in several areas, including financing roads linking Mogadishu with the cities of Afgoye and Jowhar. Moreover, the State of Qatar, represented by Qatar Fund for Development, also undertook the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a number of government buildings, the paper noted, underlining the State of Qatar's continuous humanitarian support to enable Somalia to face the difficulties arising from the war that Somalia witnessed in previous periods and the natural disasters which left effects that made the country in dire need of relief and humanitarian support. Concluding, Al-Watan said that within the framework of developing the relations between the two countries, a number of agreements were signed in various fields, most notably agreements in the field of education, investment, prevention of financial evasion and double taxation, political consultation, and the field of civil aviation, stressing that the visit of HE the Somali President is an opportunity to strengthen these relations and push them forward. In its editorial, English-language newspaper The Peninsula said that the State of Qatar always seeks to expand and strengthen its diplomatic relations with various countries of the world, further expanding areas of cooperation in various fields that serve the common interests of the Qatari people and the peoples of friendly countries. Bearing its responsibility as an active and responsible member of the international community, the State of Qatar also works for enhancing peace and security in countries facing conflicts and instability through implementation of development programs to help the country consolidate gained peace and stability and prevent them from slipping again into violence, extremism, and terrorism, the newspaper said. Since the Federal Republic of Somalia began to recover from the bloody conflicts, its bilateral relations with the State of Qatar witnessed a great development for more than two decades, the paper said, stressing that these relations between the two countries have been strengthened by exchanging visits by officials of the two countries, holding consultative meetings and coordinating in various fields of cooperation. The current working visit of HE President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo to Doha and his meeting today with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani comes within the framework of enhancing this bilateral cooperation and discussing issues of common interest, the paper noted. The paper also underlined the State of Qatar's commitments to provide development support in several areas, including implementation of infrastructure projects that benefit the Somali economy as a whole. HE Qatars Ambassador to Somalia Hassan bin Hamza Hashem has reiterated that the State of Qatar will continue its support to Somalia in implementing vital infrastructure development projects, government institutions and providing humanitarian supports in coordination with international partners and specialized UN agencies, it added. The paper referred to HE the Ambassador's affirmation that Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) also undertook the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a number of government buildings, including the Government Building, the Mogadishu Municipality headquarters, and the Diplomatic Institute of the Somali Foreign Ministry, in addition to providing 68 armored vehicles from the Qatari Ministry of Defence to support the Somali armed forces in their fight against terrorism. The talks between the two leaders will contribute to strengthening relations between these friendly countries in various fields, as both the countries are already bonded by a number of agreements covering various fields, most notably the agreements in the field of education, investment, prevention of financial evasion and double taxation, political consultation, and in the field of civil aviation, The Peninsula concluded. (QNA)