BUSINESS | 01 SPORT | 12 Qatar and Oman Croatia's strengthen trade, Luka Modric investment wins ties Ballon d'Or Tuesday 4 December 2018 | 26 Rabia I 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7730 | 2 Riyals 2019 Amir receives credentials of new Ambassadors Amir to honour Qatar exits Opec winners of International Anti-Corruption after 57 years Excellence Award; MOHAMMAD SHOEB the globe. It had to take steps to meet Malaysian PM THE PENINSULA review its role and contributions QNA on the international energy scene DOHA Minister of State for Energy and on the ways to enhance that Affairs H E Saad bin Sherida Al role and those contributions in a Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Kaabi announced yesterday manner that helps achieve its Hamad Al Thani will honour Qatar’s decision to withdraw strategy and objectives in the the winners of His Highness’ from Organisation of Petroleum long term. International Anti-Corruption Exporting Countries (Opec) The Minister said: “It has Excellence Award during a membership effective from become clear to us that achieving ceremony on Friday in Kuala January 1, 2019. our ambitious strategy will Lumpur, in cooperation with The withdrawal from the oil undoubtedly require focused the United Nations. exporting countries forum is part efforts, commitment, and dedi- The ceremony will be of a major policy decision and cation to maintain and attended by Prime Minister of long-term strategy to focus strengthen Qatar’s position as the Malaysia Dr Mahathir resources on expanding gas leading LNG producer.” Mohamad where H H the Amir business and continue to rein- “Therefore, based on that and the Prime Minister will force Qatar’s position as the requirement, as well as the size honour the winners of the four leading supplier of clean energy of our oil production the State of awards which are Lifetime/Out- to the world. Qatar has decided to withdraw standing Achievement, Inno- With the announcement, its membership from the Opec,” vation, Youth Creativity and Qatar has become the first country the Minister said. `P2 Engagement and Academic from the Middle East to leave Opec. Research and Education. Qatar was also the first country H H the Amir will hold dis- from the region to join the Vienna- Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received at the Amiri Diwan yesterday morning the credentials cussions with Malaysian Prime based organisation in 1961, within of Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin. H H the Amir wished him Minister on Thursday on ways success in his mission and the relations between the State of Qatar and Denmark further progress and a year after it was founded by five The withdrawal of the State to promote bilateral relations prosperity. H H the Amir also received the credentials of three other new Ambassadors. `P2 leading oil producers — Saudi of Qatar from OPEC is a wise and a number of regional and Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Ven- decision. This organization has international issues. ezuela — in 1960. become useless and adds The decision is in light of nothing to us. It is only used for Qatar’s pursuit to strengthen its purposes that harm our national position as a reliable and trust- interest worthy energy supplier across Amir chairs fifth meeting of SCEAI Qatar takes pride in its QNA Amiri Diwan. of the Council, attended the Free Zones Authority and its efforts international standing DOHA H H the Deputy Amir Sheikh meeting along with Their Excel- in attracting major international at the forefront of Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, lencies members of the Council. companies to the State of Qatar in natural gas producers, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Deputy Chairman of the Council, The Council discussed the order to diversify the economy and and as the biggest exporter Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the attended the meeting. topics on the agenda of the transfer modern technology. of LNG, which has given Supreme Council for Economic The Prime Minister and meeting and took the appro- The Council also reviewed a Qatar a strong and Affairs and Investment, chaired Interior Minister H E Sheikh priate decisions on them. program for localising services resilient economy. the Council’s fifth meeting of Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa The Council was briefed on the and industries in the energy 2018, yesterday morning at the Al Thani, the Executive Member latest developments related to the sector. 02 HOME TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2018 Shura Council’s Legal Amir receives credentials of new Ambassadors and Legislative Affairs Committee meets DOHA: The Shura Council’s Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee held its first meeting yesterday, within its forty-seventh ordinary session. At the beginning of the meeting, the Committee unanimously elected Nasser bin Rashid Saria Al Kaabi as its rapporteur for this session. The Committee examined Decree Law No. 19 of 2018 amending some of the provisions of Law Practice Act No. 23 of 2006, and examined a draft law amending some provisions of Law No. 21 of 2004 concerning ministers. It decided to submit its recommendations thereon to the Shura Council. QNA Shura Council’s Public Services and Utilities Committee meets DOHA: The Shura Council’s Public Services and Utilities Committee held its first meeting yesterday. The Committee elected Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday received at the Amiri Diwan office the credentials of four new ambassadors tothe State of Qatar. H H the Amir as its rapporteur. It examined received the credentials of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand, Nathapol Khantahiran; the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Giuseppe a draft law regulating the Angelo Yoffreda Yorio; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin and the Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius, Rashid Ali acquisition of dangerous animals Subedar. H H the Amir welcomed the new ambassadors and wished them success in their missions and the relations between the State of Qatar and their respective and creatures, and studied countries further progress and prosperity. On their parts, the ambassadors conveyed the greetings of leaders of their countries to H H the Amir and their best wishes another draft law on conciliation for the Qatari people of further progress and prosperity. Earlier, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors were accorded official reception ceremonies at the Amiri Diwan. in the crimes stipulated in some laws concerning municipalities and the environment. It decided to complete its study of the two draft laws at its next meeting. QNA Qatar withdraws from Opec after over five decades FROM PAGE 1 Qatar condemns transparent. I don’t want to go to withdrawal will add credence to as Opec Secretary-General South Africa, and the Sultanate attack in Mogadishu The Minister said Qatar has attend the forthcoming meeting, the perception that ‘Opec has lost Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo has of Oman and others.” been in the organisation for 57 discuss next year’s budget plan, its relevance’ in today’s dynamic insisted him to attend. “I attended “Moreover, in the next few DOHA: Qatar expressed its strong years. Al Kaabi stressed Qatar’s and then surprise them by saying energy market, he said: “I believe Opec meetings before, but it will months we will be announcing condemnation and denunciation pride in its international standing that we want to withdraw,” he in the relevance of Qatar any- be my first and last meeting of the several major international part- of the attack near the parliament at the forefront of natural gas added. “I do not want to politicise where which is more important Opec as energy minster.” nerships. Our objective in this building in Mogadishu, killing producers, and as the biggest the decision. I am a practical to me. So if we are not relevant The Minster said Qatar has strategy was to remain focused one person and wounding two. exporter of LNG, which has given engineer, running QP for nearly somewhere then what is the point worked diligently during the past on our core business and activ- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Qatar a strong and resilient 32 years. Our decisions are prac- of being there. As far as the few years to develop a future ities in Qatar, and to enhance reiterated Qatar’s firm stance in economy. Replying to a question, tical based on efficiency and Organisation’s (Opec’s) relevance strategy in the oil and gas sector Qatar’s international standing as rejecting violence and terrorism if the decision to withdraw from business proposition.” He said all is concerned, it’s not my forte to based on growth and expansion, the world’s leading natural gas regardless of the motives and Opec is political due to the his life he worked in projects comment on it. ” both in its activities in Qatar and producer,” Al Kaabi said. causes. The statement expressed ongoing blockade, the Minister related to gas, so he doesn’t want However, he also added that internationally. “This strategy, he He also said Qatar’s oil pro- Qatar’s condolences to the said that it has nothing to do with to focus time, energy, and other today’s oil business is controlled underlined, has driven the duction is not huge and therefore families of victims as well as the the siege. The Opec rules states resources, elsewhere. “I am by an organisation which is expansion of our international the market will not be affected, government and people of Somalia. that if any country wants leave known as ‘Mr Gas’ so my focus managed by one country. upstream footprint to reach stressing Qatar will be committed membership, it has to do from the has always been on gas.” The Minister said he will be countries like Brazil, to the decisions taken by Opec next calendar year.