ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 24 March 2014 23 Jumadal I 1435 - Volume 19 Number 5613 Price: QR2 Focus on primary Pakistan beat construction Australia in materials World T20 Business | 17 Sport | 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 PM meets European Parliament members Ukraine leaders Qatar calls for fear Russian invasion Arab solidarity KIEV: Ukraine’s Western- backed leaders voiced fears of an imminent Russian inva- sion of the industrial heartland yesterday, as NATO’s top com- amid threats mander warned of a “very size- able” Russian troop presence on Ukraine’s eastern border. Challenges have multiplied: FM The warnings came a day after Kremlin troops seized Ukraine’s DOHA/KUWAIT: The stalled peace negotiations were due last airbase in Crimea, deploy- Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid to the intransigent positions of the ing armoured personnel carriers bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yes- Israeli government, its violation of and stun grenades in a spec- terday called for “effective and the resolutions of the international tacular show of force after seal- constructive Arab solidarity” to legitimacy and the international ing its annexation. The interim address the challenges facing law, implosion of the fait accompli leaders in Kiev fear that Russian the region, which he said, is at a and the intensification of settle- President Vladimir Putin — flush historic juncture. ments , especially in Jerusalem,” with expansionist fervour — is Addressing the preparatory min- said the Foreign Minister. developing a sense of impunity isterial meeting of the 25th Arab He called on Israel to abide by the after being hit by only limited summit, which begins in Kuwait peace process and halt its assault EU and US sanctions for taking tomorrow, the Foreign Minister on the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque the Black Sea cape. The crisis will said that the responsibilities of the and the Islamic and Christian dominate a nuclear security sum- Arab countries and the threats fac- sanctities, the Judaisation of East mit opening in The Hague today. ing them have multiplied. Jerusalem and the continuation of The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday AFP “The challenges facing every- the settlement policy. with members of the European Parliament, Angelika Niebler and Holger Krahmer who are on a visit to Qatar. See also page 10 one are urgent and serious and “Time has come for a real They discussed aspects of cooperation between Qatar and the European Union and issues of mutual interest. their impact on the Arab world Palestinian reconciliation. We today and tomorrow cannot be must double our efforts for collec- underestimated,” said Al Attiyah. tive action to end the inter-Pales- He expressed confidence in tinian differences and support the the ability and determination of unity of the Palestinian people,” the Arab nations to deal with said Al Attiyah. Turkey shoots down Syria fighter jet the current problems and future The Foreign Minister reiter- challenges through effective and ated Qatar’s full and unreserved DAMASCUS: Syria accused “in a flagrant act of aggression dubbed “Anfal”, or “spoils of war”. adopted after a Turkish warplane constructive Arab solidarity and support for all Arab and inter- Ankara of “flagrant aggression” that is evidence of (Turkish Prime In a move expected to further was downed by the Syrian air force integration. Without this the national efforts to salvage Syria yesterday after Turkish forces Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan’s exacerbate tensions, Erdogan in June 2012, since when Ankara Arab nation will not have the from the painful ordeal it has been shot down a warplane near support for terrorist groups”. and Turkish President Abdullah considers any military approach aspired position in the interna- going through, achieve security the border, raising tensions as The aircraft “was chasing ter- Gul praised Turkey’s military for towards the border a threat. tional order, said Al Attiyah. and stability in that country, avert Syrian loyalists and rebels bat- rorist groups inside Syrian terri- downing the warplane. The Britain-based Syrian On developments taking place foreign intervention in its inter- tled for control of a frontier tory at Kasab”, said the source, Erdogan also warned Syria Observatory for Human Rights in the Arab region, he stressed the nal affairs and maintain the unity crossing. referring to the disputed border against any response. said the plane downed yesterday need for a serious national dia- of its territory and people. “We all Relations between the neigh- crossing. The pilot was able to “Our response will be heavy was bombing rebels fighting to logue in countries that are going have to provide forms of material bouring states have collapsed eject. if you violate our airspace,” he seize Kasab when it was hit. through a period of transition. and political support, maintain during the Syrian conflict, with Syrian troops and rebels have warned Damascus. It said the rebels overran It is necessary to give priority firm solidarity with the Syrian Ankara squarely backing rebels been locked in deadly fighting The Turkish military said two the crossing but were still bat- to national interests and stabil- people, strengthen the capacity of trying to topple President Bashar since Friday for control of Kasab Syrian MIG-23 planes approach- tling loyalist forces in the area, ity, “because the state of chaos, the National Coalition for Syrian Al Assad. border post in the northern ing its airspace were warned “four while activists posted a video on terrorism and instability is not Revolutionary and Opposition It was the most serious inci- province of Latakia, a regime times” to turn away and that it YouTube showing jihadists from in conformity with national Forces and work actively to stop dent since Turkish warplanes stronghold. scrambled fighter jets when one Ansar Al Sham flying a black flag and Arab interests.” On the the killings and displacement of last September downed a Syrian The battle erupted after refused to do so and violated over the post. A Syrian military Palestinian issue, Al Attiyah said the innocent Syrian people,” said helicopter that Ankara said was three jihadist groups, including Turkish airspace. source denied the fall of Kasab, as Israeli policies have put the entire Al Attiyah. THE PENINSULA two kilometres inside its airspace. Al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate Al Nusra A statement said an F-16 jet a security source said the rebels region on the edge of danger. Continued on page 4 A Syrian military source said Front, announced the launch of an fired a missile at the Syrian plane had infiltrated from Turkey. AFP “We are all aware that the See also page 7 Turkey shot down the warplane offensive on Tuesday in Latakia in line with “rules of engagement” See also page 7 Marquez wins MotoGP Second case Israeli diplomats’ strike Probe into of H1N1 found closes all embassies gas smell within a week DOHA: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister DOHA: A second case of H1N1 JERUSALEM: Israeli dip- control on union’s part.” H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser has been reported in Qatar lomats launched an unprece- “We shall do whatever pos- bin Khalifa Al Thani has set up within a week, an Arabic daily dented strike yesterday, forcing sible to minimise the damage a special committee to inves- reported yesterday. the complete closure of embas- to the country and its citizens,” tigate the cause of a pervasive The sister of an expatriate boy, sies around the world as they Lieberman said. gas smell reported in some who was admitted at the Hamad escalated a dispute over pay, Diplomats said the strike — parts of the country over the General Hospital last week fol- officials said. involving some 1,200 foreign past few days. The committee lowing a suspected H1N1 infec- The industrial action has service employees — was open- held its first meeting yesterday tion, has also tested positive for already threatened to postpone ended and had been called after and decided to set up an expert the virus, the daily said. She a visit by Pope Francis to Israel the Treasury had failed to present team with representatives from is also being treated at HGH, planned for May — one of 25 trips any acceptable proposals. the Ministry of Environment, it added. by foreign officials affected by a They are demanding an Ministry of Energy and The two-and-a-half year old work slowdown the diplomats increase in monthly salaries, Industry, General Directorate boy was admitted at HGH on began on March 5 when wage which they put at 6,000-9,000 of Civil Defence and Qatar Fuel March 19 and remained there talks broke down. shekels ($1,700-$2,600), and want (Woqod). The team will observe until March 21. He was dis- By escalating the action to a compensation for spouses forced all air monitoring stations in the charged with instructions to full strike — the first by the dip- to quit jobs due to foreign post- country to monitor air quality. continue medication at home, lomatic corps since the country’s ings. They say about a third of It will receive complaints from the daily said, quoting his establishment in 1948 — the dip- their number has quit in the past the public at operations room of parents. lomats will close all of Israel’s 102 15 years due to poor wages. the Ministry of Environment on The parents had earlier missions abroad, paralysing most Yacov Livne, spokesman for 998 or Central Operation Room claimed that the boy was not diplomatic work with other coun- the diplomats’ union, said: “the on 999.