3rd Best News Website in the Middle East BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 36 Dr Al Sada attends QSTK 600: OAPEC meeting Al Sulaiti tops in Kuwait practice charts Monday 11 December 2017 | 23 Rabia I 1439 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7372 | 2 Riyals OPINION Qatar and UK Emir meets Indonesian Minister sign military agreements Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi Qatar and the UK signed £6bn Editor-in-Chief contract under which the UK will supply Qatar with 24 Typhoon Gulf summit in Kuwait aircraft. he three months prior to the 38th Gulf summit witnessed many talks The Peninsula Tand discussions. People were suspi- cious whether the summit would be held eputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for on time or suspended. But, the determina- Defence Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al tion and persistent efforts of Kuwait and Attiyah met with UK Secretary of State for its Emir, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Defence Gavin Williamson. During the meeting, Jaber Al Sabah, made it possible on time D the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral relations despite the impact of the current crisis and between the two countries, especially in defence and mil- differences between the member coun- itary fields. tries, which surely was a great success. The meeting also witnessed the signing of an agree- Qatar as usual was in favour of ment for building up a Joint Operational Squadron (JOS), cooperation and keen to maintain the which includes the joint operations and training squad- unity of the Gulf Cooperation Coun- ron, and an electronic warfare system through continuous cil, its strengthening in order to move joint cooperation between the two countries. towards new horizon and prosper- ous future. Qatar’s participation under the leadership of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim 70% of Metro project completed bin Hamad Al Thani outlined a number Sachin Kumar / The Peninsula of facts including appreciation and respects to the Kuwaiti mediation and inister of Transport and Communications H E Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime its Emir who has spared no effort to Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said around 70 per- end the rift among the Gulf countries. Mcent work of Doha Metro project has been Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, at the Emiri Diwan office completed. In all, 16 trains have been received so far. yesterday. Cooperation between the two countries and ways of developing them were → Continued on page 2 reviewed during the meeting. → Full report on page 4 02 HOME MONDAY 11 DECEMBER 2017 Emir sends cable OPINION of condolences Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi to President of Editor-in-Chief Romania QNA Gulf summit in Kuwait mir H H Sheikh Tamim → Continued from page 1 bin Hamad Al Thani sent atar aspires to see the GCC system con- Eyesterday a cable of con- Qtinuing with unity for its successes and dolences to the President of the progress to meet the aspirations of Gulf Republic of Romania, Klaus citizens. As well Qatar wanted to reiterate Iohannis, on the death of H M its commitment to dialogue, as the only King Michael I. The Deputy means to settle the Gulf crisis. Engagement Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin in dialogue to settle all differences was the Hamad Al Thani and the demand of the State of Qatar from the very Prime Minister and Interior first moment of the crisis. But this must be Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah done without compromising national sov- Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met with British Secretary bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al ereignty or confiscation of national decision. Thani also sent cables of con- of State for Defence Gavin Williamson and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their visit to Doha. The summit held on its time, but unfortu- dolences to the Prime They reviewed areas of joint cooperation, especially in the military fields, in addition to a number of regional and nately the participation of the siege countries Minister of the Republic of international issues, particularly the developments in the region was below expectation with low level rep- Romania Mihai Tudose on the resentations. Not only that but they tried to death of HM King Michael I. send negative message to the Gulf organ- ization by announcing the formation of a President of Tunisia Qatar and UK sign several joint Saudi-UAE cooperation committee in the fields of military, economy, politics, trade meets Deputy PM and culture. This step has further blurred the and Foreign Minister scene and the future of Gulf organization which was established in 1981 with mem- Tunis military agreements bership of six states. QNA The participation of Emir H H Shiekh Tamim was extremely significant at all lev- unisian President Beji → Continued from page 1 and Minister of State for Defence Affairs the region and delivering security at els: Gulf, the region and at global level. It Caid Essebsi met with JOS is a unique squadron in the hosted a dinner banquet in honour of home.’’ reaffirmed that Qatar has nothing to hide, Tthe Deputy Prime Min- region, and is considered the nucleus of the UK Secretary of State for Defence The embassy pointed out that the ready to talk and wants to find solution and ister and Foreign Minister H E future joint operations between QEAF and the accompanying delegation. Defence Secretary also agreed a pack- end of the unjust siege imposed by three Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- and RAF. The squadron tackles all air A statement issued by the British age of training and co-operation of its Gulf neighbours. Qatari participation rahman Al Thani, during his combat operations, ensuring combat Embassy yesterday mentioned that between the Air Forces which will see made the siege countries feel insecure and visit to Tunisia. The Deputy readiness for all Qatari and British pilots Qatar and the UK signed £6bn contract them working together more regularly, they minimized their representation but Prime Minister conveyed the and technicians. It will have a notable yesterday under which the UK will sup- including Qatari pilots and ground-crew Qatar affirmed its truthfulness and desire greetings of the Emir H H role in operational coverage and aerial ply Qatar with 24 Typhoon aircraft. training in the UK. for peace. Blockading countries escaped Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al security during 2022 world cup events. The Defence Secretary and his The UK and Qatar share a close and from facing the truth and they could not jus- Thani to the Tunisian President JOS will ensure ease of future real- Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Moham- longstanding defence relationship, with tify their absence from the summit. and his wishes of development time joint operations for both sides, as med Al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of a joint-exercise between the Royal Air Tamim’s Qatar still extending its hand and growth to the Tunisian well as ensuring precision of joint pro- the deal for 24 Typhoons, building on Force and the Emir of Qatar’s Air Force for dialogue, openness and paying respect people. For his part, the Pres- cedures, in light of the two countries’ the Statement of Intent signed in Sep- just last week seeing Typhoon jets fly to the Kuwaiti mediation in order to settle ident entrusted the Deputy partnership in combating terrorism. tember the statement stressed. over the Arabian Peninsula. differences within the Gulf system making it Prime Minister with his greet- A contract to supply QAF with 24 Defence Secretary Gavin William- The two countries share mutual gain respect and credibility. Qatar has man- ings to the Emir, wishing him Typhoon jets was also signed, in addi- son said: “‘It is a great pleasure to sign interests of countering violent extrem- aged to play its role at global platforms and good health and happiness and tion to the training package agreement. our biggest export deal for the Typhoon ism, and ensuring stability in the region, will continue gaining respect of the inter- for Qatari people further A number of senior QAF officers in a decade. These formidable jets will and this purchase will deepen those ties national community and achieve progress progress and prosperity. attended the meeting and the signing boost the Qatari military’s mission to by helping to prevent terrorism from despite attempts to hinder its development The meeting reviewed the ceremony. tackle the challenges we both share in spreading and protecting our prosper- march. bilateral relations and ways Later, the Deputy Prime Minister the Middle East, supporting stability in ity and security at home. to boost and develop them, as well as the GCC crisis updates and the latest regional devel- opments, especially in Libya. The Deputy Prime Minister also FM: US recognition of Al Quds as met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Khemaies Jhinaoui. The meeting dis- cussed the bilateral relations and ways to boost and develop Israeli capital a serious escalation them, as well as the GCC crisis updates and the latest regional Cairo to Israel’s violations of agree- developments, especially in QNA ments and attempts of imposing Libya. a de facto in its favour. he State of Qatar The Deputy Prime Minister Deputy PM & Defence stressed that the Pal- said that denying a fact does not Minister meets estinian issue, which negate its existence, stressing that is the central issue for Al Quds was an Arab city 3000 Indonesian Minister the Arab and Islamic years BC and will continue to be Tworld, was facing a dangerous too great and majestic for anyone eputy Prime Minister development after US President to be successful in changing its his- and Minister of State Donald Trump recognised Al toric and religious identity, as well Dfor Defence Affairs H E Quds as the capital of Israel and as its importance to Arabs and Mus- Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al issued directives moving the lims.