Page 01 June 28.Indd

3rd Best News Website in the Middle Eastst BUSINESS | 17 SPORT | 24 EU ﬁnes Google Confederations record $2.7bn in Cup: All eyes on ﬁrst antitrust case record-chasing Ronaldodo Wednesday 28 June 2017 | 4 Shawwal 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7206 | 2 Riyals Qatar's pavilion at Astana Expo marks FM: Demands unacceptable National Day Agencies Astana What has been QNA oreign Minister H E presented by the Sheikh Mohammed bin countries of the THE PAVILION of the State Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar in Expo Astana 2017 said yesterday that blockade are merely in the Republic of Kaza- demands by Arab claims that are not khstan celebrated Qatar's Fstates that his country stop aid- proved by evidence National Day, where a ing terrorism were baseless and and are not demands: number of different events Al Jazeera unacceptable, televi- Foreign Minister. were organised in addition sion reported. to a range of cultural and “What has been presented by heritage activities. the countries of the blockade are "We continue to call on those Minister of State for For- merely claims that are not countries to work together and eign Affairs H E Sultan bin proved by evidence and are not work this out." Saad Al Muraikhi attended the demands,” Sheikh Mohammed Saudi Foreign Minister Adel function along with Kaza- was quoted as saying. Al Jubeir, who was also in Wash- khstan's Vice-Minister of “The demands must be real- ington, was unbudging amid National Economy, Bakenov istic and enforceable and attempts by US and Kuwaiti dip- Ernar Bakytzhanovich. otherwise are unacceptable.” lomats to mediate the row. Al Muraikhi said that The Foreign Minister met US Riyadh has laid down a list marking the National Day at Secretary of State Rex Tillersoni of 13 demands for Qatar, Qatar's pavilion in Astana in Washington, yesterday. Tiller- included the closure of Al Expo 2017 reflects the pio- son is also meeting with Kuwait’s Jazeera, a downgrade of diplo- neering achievements and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al matic ties with Iran and the comprehensive renaissance Ahmed Al Sabah and Kuwait’s shutdown of a Turkish military of Qatar under the wise and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with US Secretary of State Minister of State for Cabinet base in the emirate. established leadership of the Affairs. He will then hold joint Meanwhile, German Foreign Rex Tillerson at the US State Department in Washington DC, yesterday. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin meeting with United Nations Sec- Minister Sigmar Gabriel yester- Hamad Al Thani. retary-General António Guterres day appealed to all sides in the escalation will serve no one." this is the starting point of nego- blockade imposed on Qatar by The Minister of State for and the Kuwaiti Minister to dis- Qatar crisis to hold direct talks to Gabriel told reporters at a tiations, that is not the end. And the Saudi Arabia-led bloc. Foreign Affairs added that cuss the current GCC crisis, avoid a further escalation, and joint news conference in Berlin so…necessary is to come to the Iranian Foreign Minister Qatar has provided an attrac- reported Al Jazeera. warned that continued tensions following a meeting with Iranian table and then negotiate. Then pointed out that "Problems, tive investment environment State Department Spokes- between Qatar and its neighbors Foreign Minister Mohammad we will see what kind of result issues, differences cannot be for various projects and woman Heather Nauert said would further deepen fault lines in Javad Zarif, that he viewed the is reachable," resolved through imposition of launched projects that reflect talks would continue through the the region. "The longer the crisis Arab list as the "starting point of For his part Zarif supported pressure and sanctions and the values of partnership week, but added the Saudi around Qatar continues, the deeper negotiations, not the end" when Gabriel's appeal for direct talks blockades". Zarif said Iran was between the public and private demands remained "challeng- and stronger the lines of conflict asked about a 13-point list issued between Qatar and the Arab interested in working towards a sectors in addition to promis- ing" for Qatar. will become," said Babriel, adding by Arab states. states calling for a political solu- political solution to the conflict ing investment opportunities in "Some of them will be diffi- that "We hope that there soon can Gabriel argued that this tion to the crisis."Our region with Qatar arguing that "pres- various sectors such as educa- cult for Qatar to incorporate and be direct discussion among all could be discussed at the nego- cannot tolerate any further esca- sure and sanctions and tion, health, tourism and sports. to try to adhere to," she said. those involved because a further tiation table. "My interpretation... lation," he said criticising the blockades" were not the answer. → See also page 2 Qatari riyal Hotel occupancy during Eid at 95% US Democratic Senator supports strengthens withholding arms sales to GCC THE Qatari riyal has QNA increasing demand from local demand for travel to Qatar from strengthened against the tourism, noting that demand for new markets in and out of the S Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland expressed US dollar in the forward otel occupancy in Qatar bookings during the Eid holiday Gulf region. his support to the announcement of Republican Senator market after two days of during Eid Al Fitr holiday was high, with Kuwaiti and The growing demand Uand Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on sharp falls caused by the Hwas over 95 percent Omani tourists making up the encouraged a drive in promo- Foreign Relations Bob Corker, who said he will withhold approval continued diplomatic rift despite the siege imposed on the biggest share of reservations tions that some hotels offered of US weapons sales to members of the Gulf Cooperation Council between Qatar and neigh- country, a number of officials besides the local residents' during the Eid holiday. Residents (GCC), until there is a path for settling the crisis in the region bouring Arab powers. and directors in Qatar's hospi- growing interest to benefit from of many luxury hotels enjoyed resulting from the siege laid by Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain One-month riyal for- tality sector said, dismissing promotions offered by hotels. a free extra night when they on Qatar. wards showed the reports in some media outlets Hospitality sector leaders booked two consecutive nights In a quote reported by the New York Times, Cardin said that currency marked as firm that claimed occupancy rates aim to diversify the markets by during Eid. Wael Maatouk, Gen- he shares "Senator Corkers concern that the current GCC dispute as 3.751 per dollar, accord- were low. attracting visitors from new eral Manager of Sharq Village distracts from our shared, most pressing security challenges defeat- ing to Reuters data, after Speaking to QNA, the offi- countries as the occupancy rates and Spa, said the property ing ISIS." In a letter sent to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and hitting a low of 3.793 on cials highlighted the growth in during the weekend shows the enjoyed a good occupancy rate circulating in different media outlets, Corker said that the GCC coun- Monday. tourist numbers from Kuwait substantial capacities of the hos- during Ramadan, adding that tries must put in more effort to stand up to terrorism. He noted that Three-month for- and Oman as well as the pitality sector and the increasing Eid reservations reached 100%. the recent conflicts can only harm efforts to fight ISIS. wards also saw the riyal strengthening to 3.755 compared to the previous day's low of 3.796. Qatari assets have Visitors from Kuwait and Oman praise Katara Eid Festival come under pressure since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt QNA because it provides visitors with imposed a boycott on the all kinds of entertainment and Arab Gulf country three isitors from Kuwait and fun in an intimate family weeks ago. Oman have praised the atmosphere." Vvarious entertainment Abdullah Karam, also from FIFA: No improper activities in Qatar during Eid Al Kuwait, described Katara as a Fitr holiday, commending Katara's comprehensive cultural and activity by Qatar Eid festival and its attention to touristic city in the region that Arab heritage and presenting it in speaks to the cultural and urban THE World Cup bidding an amusing fashion. renaissance in Qatar. "What I report published for the Nasser Al Ajamai, a Kuwaiti saw during my first visit to first time yesterday high- national, said that Katara, which Katara is more than wonderful. lights the unease of he was visiting for the second It deserves this leading status as investigators looking into time, is a cultural, touristic and an ideal destination for Gulf cit- Qatar's methods to win the social project that "reflects izens on holidays," Karam said, vote, concluded there was Qatar's civilisational vision and expressing delight about Katara's no "evidence of any its keenness on the welfare of its offerings of entertaining per- improper activity by the citizens and visitors", adding that formances and interesting bid team." the project "has become widely cultural segments. Traditional dance during Eid celebrations at Doha Festival City, yesterday. famous across the Gulf region → Continued on page 3 Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 Emergency cases treated Al Muraikhi visits Expo Astana 2017 at HGH down during Eid Fazeena Saleem should not miss medications and The Peninsula At least 590 cases must avoid rich, salty, sugary food items during the festive season.

Load more