ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Friday 8 February 2013 27 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5604 Price: QR2 Trading volume Powerboats on Qatari set for bourse jumps Qatar action Business | 13 Sport | 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Annual Pure Bred Arabian Horse Race OPINION Emir calls for John Kerry and the Palestinian cause S President Barack Obama picked John unity among UKerry as his new secre- tary of state at the end of January to suc- Islamic states ceed Hillary Clinton. Clinton Terror top threat to peace, security left office after several Khalid Al Sayed CAIRO: The Emir H H Sheikh years of serv- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani OIC backs Doha ice, during yesterday called on Muslim which the Arab world wit- countries to form a unified vision pact on Syria oppn nessed many political changes to face the challenges of a world CAIRO: The 12th Islamic and shifts. where barriers were crumbling summit yesterday welcomed After announcing his and crises transcended interna- in its final statement the choice, Obama praised Kerry, tional boundaries. Syrian opposition’s agree- saying: “Few people such as Nihilist terrorism, which had ment on November 11 in Kerry know so many presi- no regard for communities and Doha under the auspices of The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani giving the Golden Sword to H E Sheikh Hamad dents or prime ministers who nations and used religion as a the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani, owner of ‘Al-Mujahaz’, the winner of the main seventh race of the Annual are familiar with the foreign cover, remained one of the biggest bin Khalifa Al Thani, which Pure Bred Arabian Horse Race at the Racing and Equestrian Club in Doha, yesterday. The Heir Apparent also policy as he does, and this challenges facing Islamic states resulted in the formation of makes him a suitable candi- handed two trophies of the fifth and sixth races to H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Personal as it threatened the peace and the Syrian National Coalition. date to lead the US diplomacy Adviser of H H the Emir, and the owner of both ‘Tabarak’ and ‘Very Nice Name’. security of Islamic people, he said. The summit thanked Qatar in the coming years.” The Emir was speaking at the for its efforts that culminated Israel’s annoyance and 12th summit of the Organisation in the agreement and urged concern over Kerry’s of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo. other opposition groups to appointment to this very He said these challenges called join the opposition umbrella, important position — which for four things, first being the while also offering solidar- Qatar’s budget surplus at $26bn in Q2 some analysts dubbed the need to adopt dialogue and other ity with Syria’s neighbours. position of US prime minis- peaceful means to resolve disputes QNA ter — was clear and obvious between states as well as between DOHA: Qatar’s state budget long-term investments to reduce analysts polled by it last January to one and all. conflicting parties within states. in the Middle East peace process turned a hefty surplus of its dependence on income from its forecast Qatar’s budget surplus Kerry’s stances are con- Also needed was attention to to compel Israel to comply with QR94.6bn ($26bn) in the second vast hydrocarbons resources. would be 9.1 percent of GDP in the trary to Israel’s policy, in human development and issues fac- UN resolutions, stop settlement quarter (July to September) of What is, however, a bit disturb- current fiscal year. some aspects, vis-a-vis the ing youth, who should be helped to activities that harm the peace the current fiscal year (2012-13). ing is the inflation data which show Expenditure rose nearly 14 per- Palestinian cause, particu- achieve their aspirations through process, remove its separation Preliminary data released by prices went up 2.6 percent in the cent from a year earlier to QR40.8bn larly on issues such as Jewish education and employment, and barrier and not jeopardise the the banking regulator, Qatar country in the third quarter of in July-September. Revenue was settlements in Jerusalem and involvement in decision-making, he status of Jerusalem. Central Bank (QCB), show the 2012 (the second quarter of fiscal QR135.3bn, up 74 percent. Oil- and the West Bank. He has also said. The Emir highlighted the need The Emir said the Syrian crisis fiscal surplus was 53.9 percent of 2012-13). According to Reuters, the gas-related revenue accounts for built good relations with to spread the correct teachings would end only if the Bashar Al gross domestic product (GDP) in budget surplus was more than dou- roughly 70 percent of Qatar’s budget Arab countries through his of Islam and deepen rapproche- Assad regime relinquished power the second quarter. Wire agency ble the QR42.2bn surplus recorded income. Under its budget plan frequent visits over the past ment and peaceful coexistence or was toppled, and there was an Reuters calculated the quarterly in the same quarter of the previous Qatar said it would boost spending two years since Arab Spring with others, as well as to achieve immediate cessation of violence, surplus at QR94.6bn. Qatar’s year, and compared with a QR18.5bn to QR178.6bn in the current fiscal revolutions began. unity among Islamic nations on the with the Syrian people getting the statistics agency, meanwhile, deficit in April-June, 2012. That put year, including wages, services and The Israeli newspaper basis of tolerance, the recognition right to self-determination so as put the GDP at current prices in the cumulative surplus at QR76.1bn projects, but expected a comfortable Yediot Aharonot carried state- of diversity as a source of strength to preserve the unity, stability and the third quarter of 2012 (second in April-September. surplus of QR27.8bn. ments of some Israeli offi- and richness, common interests, sovereignty of the country. The quarter of financial year 2012-13 Because of the timing of rev- Qatar plans to spend an average cials on Kerry. One of them people’s aspirations, and a common Emir called on the UN Security that began on April 1 last year) enue flows, Qatar’s budget usually of over 10 percent of GDP annu- said: “It is true that Kerry vision on international issues. Council to issue a binding ceasefire at 175.29bn. records deficits in the first quarter ally on infrastructure in the run- is a friend of Israel, but he On Israel’s decision to build new decision, send peacekeeping forces The central bank’s preliminary of its fiscal year, which begins in up to hosting the 2022 World Cup, is not like other Americans settlements, and the Judaisation and ensure a peaceful transition of data show that GDP growth in April, and then bounces back into Reuters said. Economy and Finance who show their supportive of Jerusalem, the Emir said these power in Syria. the quarter under review was 1.3 surplus for the rest of the year. Minister H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal attitudes and solidarity with measures constituted a challenge Meanwhile, a former Saudi percent. A hefty budget surplus Qatar booked a robust QR54.3bn told reporters informally recently Israel in the (US) Senate. His to the international community minister, Iyad Madani, was named is good news for Qatar which has surplus in the 2011/12 fiscal year, that the country would be allocat- stand on the Palestinian issue and a violation of international as the next head of OIC to succeed been spending hugely on infra- the biggest since at least 2005/06, ing more funds for public spending is clearly against Israel’s pol- law and human values. The Emir Turkey’s Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. structure development and putting despite a surge in spending on in the next budget. icy and his criticism of the called on world powers involved QNA/AFP part of the surpluses in strategic public sector wages. Reuters said THE PENINSULA settlements is very acute.” Continued on page 3 Get vaccinated against influenza: HMC ‘Not easy for Qatar to change laws overnight’ DOHA: With a rise in seasonal influenza cases during winter, people who are vulnerable to the infection have been advised to BY FAZEENA SALEEM visit the primary health centres and get vaccinated. The influ- enza vaccine is available at primary health centres, outpatient DOHA: New York-based clinics at the Hamad Medical Corporation and vaccination unit Human Rights Watch has at the Mesaimeer health centre. “We are strongly advising the urged Qatar to announce a higher-risk categories such as children, pregnant women. the timeframe by which it hopes elderly and people with chronic diseases to have the vaccination to remove the sponsorship and as soon as possible,” Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Head of Infectious exit permit system. Diseases Department at HMC, told The Peninsula yesterday. The rights watchdog said THE PENINSULA Qatar should follow interna- Full report on page 3 tional standards in safeguarding the rights of foreign workers as it prepares to host the coveted Oman likely to limit Clashes in Tunisia; 2022 FIFA event. Senior officials from Human Rights Watch told expats, hike wages strike today reporters: “All we ask the Qatari authorities is to announce a time- DUBAI: Oman’s government TUNIS: Tunisia was hit yes- frame to do away with sponsor- will limit the number of foreign terday by fresh protests, clashes ship and exit permit rules”.