ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Friday 16 May 2014 17 Rajab 1435 - Volume 19 Number 6067 Price: QR2 Slew of deals Puyol bids signed at farewell to Project Qatar Barcelona Business | 13 Sport | 21 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 El Meyna trip for children FM takes part in Former PM’s Friends of Syria meet in London DOHA: The Foreign Minister interview a hit H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yesterday led Qatar’s delegation to a meet- ing of Friends of Syria basic on social media group in London. It was attended by foreign ministers of the group’s member countries and representative of Qatar’s stances come in for praise the Syrian opposition. They discussed the massive DOHA: Reactions differed with Sheikh random acts of violence per- poured in yester- Hamad bin Jassem’s petrated by the Syrian regime day on social media views on various against civilians, the best ways and news portals issues, he couldn’t of supporting the opposition, across the GCC deny that he was an achievement of urgent progress and the rest of the excellent and popu- in the alleviation of the increas- Arab world to the lar GCC and Arab ingly deteriorating humanitar- interview former politician. ian crisis and the revival of prime minister and The online edi- Children boarding a dhow yesterday on Katara beach for the launch of the three-day El Meyna, a traditional the political process which has foreign minister of tion of London-based diving activity for kids organised by Katara for the first time. Sixty kids aged 10 to 16 are participating in the stumbled due to the regime’s Qatar, H E Sheikh Al Arab newspa- event to learn more about Qatar’s maritime heritage. They will have the chance to participate in the Senyar reluctance to negotiate. Hamad bin Jassem per, reacting to the competition and the Fath Al Kheir journey in the future. In a statement to Qatar News bin Jabor Al Thani interview, wrote that Agency (QNA), the Foreign gave to Bloomberg Sheikh Hamad bin Minister said Friends of Syria H E Sheikh Hamad bin late last week. Jassem gave his ulti- group had condemned illegiti- Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani This was the first mate support to the mate elections conducted by the time Sheikh Hamad Arab Spring. regime at the expense of inno- bin Jassem gave a media inter- “His support for the Arab Guardian still biased against Qatar cent Syrian people’s lives, calling view after stepping down as Spring was unflinching and with- on the international commu- prime minister last June. out any hesitation,” it said. DOHA: London-based The under-resourced. “They have only specifically — I suggest hav- nity to categorically reject such Several Egyptians, reacting People commenting on Qatari Guardian newspaper contin- a small team of staff who have to ing a look here at this excellent illegitimate elections because on a Cairo-based website, fondly social media were also all praise ues to focus on labour issues in deal with hundreds of problems BBC investigation into labour they contradict the concepts of remembered him and recalled for Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem, Qatar, ignoring ongoing social every day,” said Pattison. exploitation in the construction democracy, freedom and justice. how Qatar, under his premiership, with some saying they missed tensions and labour rights One of the most useful things industry, including trafficking of Dr Al Attiyah also held the helped the people of Egypt during him. issues in its country. the Nepal government could do migrants.” Syrian regime responsible for different regimes. “He was a charismatic leader The daily conducted a live is increase the number of staff in Pattison said all migrant work- the barbarism and mass anni- A commentator said regard- and diplomat,” said a commenta- online chat on the issue of migrant its embassies. ers, British or Indian, are subject hilation of the Syrian people, as less of who ruled Egypt, Qatar tor, with several others recalling workers in Qatar on Wednesday, Lynch said in his opinion to the same labour laws in Qatar well as the escalation of violence extended its wholehearted sup- how Qatar extended its support the day Doha announced plans to remittances migrants routed but the laws affect them in very and the prevention of reaching port to the people of the country. to the people of Egypt even before change its sponsorship and exit home were an important source different ways. out humanitarian assistance to “Qatar deals with governments the Muslim Brotherhood came to permit rules for foreign workers. of income for the governments, To another question as to how the victims of the war that has and states and not with political power. Guardian writer Pete Pattison so their embassies felt they were likely will other Gulf countries been waged by the regime for parties, factions and individuals,” “Whether you agree with and Amnesty International’s in a delicate position — they improve workers’ rights follow- three years. wrote another commentator. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem or James Lynch answered questions don’t want to jeopardise recruit- ing events in Qatar, Pattison said He said Friends of Syria group When Qatar was backing disagree but he left his footprint from readers across the world on ment opportunities for their Dubai was taking notice now agreed during the meeting to Egypt, it really didn’t know that on the foreign policy of Qatar,” the issue. nationals by derailing relations that they have been awarded the increase support to the moder- the Muslim Brotherhood would said one commentator, writing In reply to a question about with Qatar. World Expo in 2020. ate opposition by backing the ride to power, said yet another on a local social networking site. why embassies (of major man- To another question on the role Qatar should show the rest of national alliance. commentator. The site was full of reactions power exporting countries) are of the UN in the realm of migrant the region that ambitious devel- The Foreign Minister said “We have tremendous respect to the interview. “He is one of the unable to engage with Qatar workers’ rights, Lynch said labour opment and workers rights are member states of the basic for Qatar’s stance whatever it is,” politicians I am very fond of,” was on labour rights issue, Pattison exploitation was a global prob- not mutually incompatible, said group had directed senior offi- said still another commentator. how another person reacted. said embassies do try and added lem: There are abuses of migrant Lynch. cials to prepare a plan of action On another portal, a Saudi THE PENINSULA that as for the Nepali embassy workers around the world. THE PENINSULA to face all possibilities. commentator said although he Continued on page 5 in Doha was concerned, it was “You ask about the UK Continued on page 5 QNA Three more MERS CMC against new sponsorship, exit deaths in Saudi; permit rules for domestic workers DOHA: The Central Municipal Council (CMC) is against domestic toll reaches 160 workers being covered by new proposed sponsorship and exit per- mit rules. CMC Chairman Saud Al Hanzab told local Arabic daily RIYADH: Health authori- Al Raya in comments published yesterday that household workers ties in Saudi Arabia yester- like maids, drivers and cooks should be kept out of the purview of day announced the deaths of the new sponsorship and exit permit systems. “We don’t want to see another three people from the families being blackmailed by domestic workers. They could leave MERS respiratory virus, tak- if offered a job by some other family with a salary that is just 100 ing the country’s toll to 160. riyals more.” CMC member Ahmed Al Sheeb said families spend up The health ministry’s daily to QR15,000 to hire domestic workers and spend further by sending bulletin on the Middle East drivers to obtain licence. “They could learn driving at our expense Respiratory Syndrome outbreak and try for a job elsewhere. Is it justified?” asked Al Hanzab. in the Gulf nation said the lat- est people to die were two women 10 Qatari firms added to MSCI Index aged 72 and 54 and a 63-year-old man. DOHA: In a move which will help the Qatari stock market attract World Health Organisation said additional foreign investment, Morgan Stanley Capital International on Wednesday that while concern has announced the final list of Qatari stocks that will join the MSCI about the virus had “significantly Emerging Markets Index upon the upgrade of the Qatari market, increased”, the disease was not on June 2. Qatari companies to be added to the index are Masraf Al yet a global health emergency. Of Rayan, Barwa Real Estate, Commercial Bank of Qatar, Doha Bank, One of the stalls at Al Khor-Al Zakhira market. the new cases, three had died. Ooredoo, Qatar Electricity & Water, Qatar Industries, Qatar Islamic The rate of infection in Saudi Bank, Qatar National Bank and Vodafone Qatar. Rashid bin Ali Al has surged in recent weeks after Mansoori, CEO, Qatar Stock Exchange, described the announcement Al Mazrouh markets close tomorrow big outbreaks associated with as a positive step that would improve the performance of the Qatari hospitals in Jeddah and Riyadh. stock market. “We are proud of the performance of Qatari listed com- DOHA: The vegetable and Development at the ministry. In addition, 974 tonnes of fresh The total number of infections panies as evidenced by the inclusion of 10 companies in the index.