ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 6 March 2013 24 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5630 Price: QR2 Muntajat ready India crush to market Australia in Qafco products Hyderabad Business | 19 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Chavez dies Act now to save Syria, says PM from cancer CARACAS: Venezuelan Pres- Secretary of State John Kerry says focus is on strengthening moderates ident Hugo Chavez has died after a two-year battle with DOHA: There is a change in cancer, ending the social- the position of the international ist leader’s 14-year rule of the community and the US on the South American country, Vice Syrian conflict but if Syrian President Nicolas Maduro said rebels had been armed earlier in a televised speech. it would have saved many lives Earlier report on Page 10 and destruction, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Qatari citizen bin Jabor Al Thani said here yesterday. in UAE custody Addressing a joint press con- ference with the visiting US DOHA: A Qatari citizen, Dr Secretary of State, John Kerry, Mahmoud Al Jaida, was taken the Prime Minister said that the into custody by the UAE proposed transitional government authorities as he was transiting in Syria should be for a limited through the Dubai International period to avoid procrastination Airport on February 26, Al by the Syrian regime which has Sharq reported yesterday. already turned down many Arab Al Jaida still remains under cus- initiatives. tody in the UAE and no explana- “The regime adopts tactics tion has been given until now for to protract the crisis to effect a his arrest, said the daily. He was change in the international com- also not allowed to contact his fam- munity’s position or to achieve ily and relatives. High-level con- gains in the battlefield,” said the tacts are being made with UAE Prime Minister. On fears that officials to ensure his early release, weapons supplied to the opposition said the daily. THE PENINSULA in the Arab Spring countries would RIGHT: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with US Secretary of State John Kerry at Al Wajba Palace yesterday. LEFT: The Prime Minister fall into the hands of extremists, and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani and Kerry holding a joint press conference. he said the same was said when Prince Alwaleed Qatar supported Libyan rebels in it was he who started killing his weapons are going to the right Middle East peace process. regime of Bashar Al Assad and the early days of the revolt against own people,” he added. people, referring to moderates. After his meeting with the his allies, Russia and Iran, said slams Forbes Muammar Gaddafi. He noted that the recent Geneva “You can’t guarantee that one Prime Minister, Kerry met with the US diplomat. RIYADH: Saudi billionaire “The West listens to talk about declaration by the Friends of Syria weapon or another will fall in the Emir and the Heir Apparent. Kerry stated that Qatar and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has terrorism and some parties are called for transfer of power to a the wrong hands but the Prime Kerry disapproved of the inter- the US have worked very hard to attacked the Forbes Billionaires exploiting the issue. Only people transitional government with full Minister shares the belief that we ference of Iran and the Lebanese strengthen international sanctions. List as flawed and biased have the right to choose their authority. The Prime Minister said need to do what we need to do Shia movement Hezbollah, and the At the same time, “we need to against Middle Eastern busi- leaders,” said the Prime Minister. that “with each day more people rapidly,” he stated. terrorist network Al Qaeda and ensure that our support strength- nesses and asked for his name “The longer the Syrian cri- are killed, and this problem could Kerry was on his first visit to related groups in the Syrian con- ens the moderate opposition, the to be removed. The prince was sis persists the more extremist have been solved much quicker but Qatar as Secretary of State and on flict. The Geneva initiative, which Syrian people have suffered a lot, ranked 26th in the 2013 list, groups are attracted... The danger President Al Assad decided to do the last leg of a trip that included pushes for the transfer of power with a level of brutality that is with a personal fortune esti- lies in the actions of the regimes it his way.” stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and in Syria and the formation of a shocking.” THE PENINSULA mated at $20bn. Other rich that kill civilians….Bashar Al The US Secretary of State said the UAE. Other issues discussed transitional government, could Continued on page 2 lists put his wealth at $28bn. Assad now is the terrorist because that the question is whether the included the Arab Spring and the be supported both by the Syrian See also page 6 REUTERS Full report on page 20 Malls may get powers to fine smokers UK MP to take up visa BY AZMAT HAROON Department at the Supreme SCH is waiting for its approval. and November in 2012. Council of Health (SCH), said at a “The law is with the Cabinet. Qatar’s Law No. 20 of 2002 pro- issue in parliament DOHA: Shopping complexes press conference on the launch of They sent it for some modifi- hibits smoking outside designated BY ISABEL OVALLE will have more powers to con- the Global Adult Tobacco Survey cations to be reviewed by us, areas, and violators can face fines. percent of the applicants using trol smoking in their premises in Qatar. and now we are waiting for the Penalties can be handed out to the fast track system, it becomes once a new anti-tobacco law The managements of shopping approval,” Dr Al Anood Al Thani, those who sell tobacco less than DOHA: The Home Affairs slow. comes into force. complexes have long expressed Director of Health Protection and 500 metres from an educational Committee of the British parlia- “One of the first things I’ll do The law will be stringent and their inability to implement anti- Non-communicable Diseases at institution. Selling tobacco to ment will make a case to grant when I get to the visa hub in Abu may give shopping mall manage- smoking laws due to lack of legal the SCH, said. anyone under 18 years of age is Qatari citizens exemption from Dhabi is make a strong case for ments the right to impose fines, authority. The anti-tobacco unit of SCH also prohibited. visas to enter Britain. The chair additional support to be given to a senior public health official said “The new law will support collected more than QR300,000 in “We are hoping that the new of the Committee, Keith Vaz the embassy here,” stated the MP, yesterday. health inspectors to collect fines fines from smokers for lighting up law will come soon from the (pictured), who was in Doha acknowledging that “I didn’t have It will also help public health in a better way and it will also in public places last year. Cabinet and that it will be stricter,” yesterday, plans to take this to queue up for a visa to come inspectors collect fines system- support the people who control A total of 829 people were Dr Mohammed Al Thani said. proposal to parliament after a to Qatar; I arrived and it was atically, Dr Mohammed Al Thani, public places,” Al Thani said. The handed out fines in over 1,000 THE PENINSULA tour of the region. obtained at the airport.” Director of the Public Health law is with the Cabinet and the raids conducted between January See also page 3 Three British members of par- In view of this, he said, “there liament are in the Gulf to compile is a case to look at the issue of information about exempting Qataris counterterrorism from visas, but this Qatar Executive at Air Expo measures taken has to be done very US to allow small by Qatar, and to carefully, for good address immigra- and valid reasons.” knives into planes tion issues at visa Vaz underlined hubs in Dubai and that every coun- WASHINGTON: The US Abu Dhabi, which try had to protect Transportation Security Admi- they will visit in itself in terms of nistration said yesterday that the following days. whom it let in. travellers can soon bring small Speaking to Nevertheless, “it pocket knives on board aero- The Peninsula, Vaz seems clear to me planes for the first time since said, “visas are that, having seen the September 11 attacks, also an issue for the situation here sparking outrage from flight our committee, in Qatar, people attendants who said the deci- and during our actually want to sion would endanger passengers stay, a number of Qataris have come to visit the UK and then and crew. raised the issue.” He said the come back. It is clear Qataris go The TSA said effective April UK visa process was very good, for tourism, health and studies. 25, it would allow small knives “However, there is no doubt that We’ll make a strong case because with blades that are 2.36 inches it’s too slow.” there are very few examples of (6cm) or less in length and less The committee will take this abuse,” he added.