ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 16 January 2013 4 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5581 Price: QR2 Qatar committed UAE and Iraq to sustainable reach Gulf growth: Al Sada Cup final Business | 17 Sport | 27 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Jewish pianist Emir meets Libya’s Interim PM wows crowds at Katara Debate over inviting Israeli to Qatar BY RAYNALD RIVERA those who are making noise (a reference to Barenboim’s critics) DOHA: Hundreds of music that he is a famous and excellent enthusiasts, including Qatari musician. Although Israeli Jewish, men and women, gave a stand- he is an open backer of the peo- ing ovation to renowned pianist ple of Palestine and Gaza,” said and composer Daniel Barenboim another. after an enthralling performance “Barenboim calls himself secu- by him at the Katara Cultural lar and progressive. He is a man Village here yesterday. of peace,” he added, even as many There were doubts whether of the musician’s critics dubbed anyone, especially Qatari citizens, yesterday’s event a shame. The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Libya’s Interim Prime Minister Ali Zaidan Mohammad and his accompanying delegation at would turn out for the perform- “We couldn’t get hold of any the Emiri Diwan yesterday. They discussed bilateral ties and means to develop them. ance by Barenboim, a Jew, after other musician?, asked an angered media reports about his visit Qatari. “Our country has a led to a heated debate on local respectable stance vis-à-vis the social networking sites, stoking a Palestinian issue, but this event controversy. would spoil our history,” he said. But the Opera House at “Qataris are changing with Katara Cultural Village was time and it is a welcome sign. Qatar keen to promote Afghan peace process almost filled to capacity last Opinion in the community is at evening and among Barenboim’s least divided on Barenboim’s issue DOHA: Qatar aims to see a them to a democratic system it bankrupt, a week after Qatar Islamist fighters. The 15-nation fans could be seen Qatari citi- and we see some supporters as peace process in Afghanistan accepted by all, or most, of the said it would lend Egypt $2bn and UN Security Council on Monday zens as well as other Arabs, and well,” a community observer told by the time Nato combat opera- parties in Afghanistan,” he added. grant it an extra $500m outright. expressed its unanimous sup- they sat through the perform- this newspaper. tions end in 2014, the Prime US President Barack Obama “I think it is in the interest of port for the French offensive. ance literally mesmerised. Three of Barenhoim’s shows Minister and Foreign Minister and his Afghan counterpart the World Bank and the inter- But the Organisation of Islamic It was, arguably, the first were cancelled last year at the H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Hamid Karzai said last week national community not to see Cooperation, of which Mali is a time that despite a large Katara Music and Dialogue bin Jabor Al Thani said yes- they supported the opening of a Egypt brought down,” he said. member, called for an “immedi- number of Qatari nationals Festival. terday as the Afghan Taliban Taliban office in Doha. About the crisis in Mali, the ate ceasefire, dubbing the offen- expressing displeasure on social The performances, with an movement prepared to open an The planned office is one of Premier said he believed it could sive “premature” and urging all networking sites — especially orchestra featuring Palestinian office here. a series of gestures, including be solved through dialogue. “I do parties to return to negotiations. Twitter — over Barenboim’s and Israeli musicians, were can- Preparations were under way the possible transfer to Qatar not think force would solve the On Libyan-Qatari ties, the visit and music show, many had celled a week before they were to open the Taliban’s office as soon of Taliban detainees from the problem,” he said. Prime Minister said Qatar was spoken openly in favour of him scheduled apparently due to pres- as possible to facilitate talks, the US military’s Guantanamo Bay He stressed that the issue must dealing with the elected Libyan and asked why music should be sure from Boycott, Divestment, Premier said. “The US and others prison, aimed at injecting momen- be discussed among Mali’s neigh- government without any financial mixed with politics and hatred and Sanctions activists to boycott will withdraw in 2014, and I think tum into the tentative reconcilia- bours, the African Union and the or political ambitions. “We’re a among nations. all Israeli artists. it’s an important core ideal that tion efforts. UN Security Council, adding that state of institutions and deal with “So what if he is an Israeli? Security was tight yesterday, at least there is a political proc- A senior European diplomat Qatar was ready to be a part of the official authorities in Libya He is a supporter of the with no cameras allowed dur- ess in place, to have stability,” he said last week that several Taliban any effort to solve the crisis, but with all respect, and we do not Palestinian cause,” a Qatari ing the show, but the audience, said at a news conference with his representatives were already in not as the sole mediator. “Our interfere in affairs of any party, woman said in social networks, composed mainly of Europeans visiting Libyan counterpart, Ali Doha but a formal office had not policy is to try to help but not to and if they want any help to the risking criticism from her com- and Latin Americans, took pho- Zaidan Mohammad. been opened yet. intervene politically.” extent required by the Libyan patriots opposed to the musi- tos of the concert with their “Our aim from this effort is to Asked about Qatar’s financial France launched a cam- government, we will deal from cian’s presence here. cell phones. try to help our Afghan brethren assistance to Egypt, the Prime paign of air bombardments on this standpoint,” he said. “What’s the problem?” asked THE PENINSULA find a peaceful solution... a politi- Minister said Doha would stand Friday to halt an advance on QNA/AGENCIES another Qatari. “I want to tell Continued on page 5 cal solution, which could lead by Cairo and did not want to see the Malian capital Bamako by Picture on page 2 19 conscripts killed in Cairo mishap Qatar dismiss Brazil Central agency to coach Autuori DOHA: Qatar have parted ways with Brazil’s Paulo monitor charities Autuori and named his assist- ant Fahad Thani as the new DOHA: Qatar hopes to soon is on preventing the use of non- head coach of the national soc- enforce a law establishing a profit organisations to finance cer team. The Qatar Football central agency that would regu- terrorism. Association said that they had late and monitor the activities Addressing the workshop, mutually agreed to end the ten- of charitable bodies and dona- Mike Smith, Executive Director ure of Autuori, who replaced tions made for charity. of the UN Counterterrorism fellow Brazilian Sebastiao The aim is to ensure that chari- Committee, criticised Middle Lazaroni last February. table funds are not routed to Eastern countries, saying most Full report on page 28 finance terrorism, the head of the of them were not taking enough banking regulator, Qatar Central measures to prevent the use of Oman mulls control Bank, announced while opening a non-profit bodies for financing workshop here yesterday. terrorism. over hiring of expats QCB Governor, H E Sheikh Non-profit organisations are People inspect the wreckage of a train in the Giza neighbourhood of Badrashin, 40km west of Cairo, yesterday. Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani, said an important part of the eco- MUSCAT/DUBAI: Oman’s At least 19 people were killed and 105 injured when the train carrying conscripts derailed. that Qatar had taken a number of nomic wheel as a mind-boggling government has asked its measures to combat the financ- $2.3 trillion worth of funds are departments to review policies ing of terrorism, including requir- managed and circulated by them on hiring of foreign workers. ing banks to freeze the assets of annually worldwide. If this sum The government asked depart- suspected terrorists and terror is handed to a country, it would ments to propose rules on issu- organisations that are on the become the seventh largest econ- ing new permits for recruiting 50 nations push for Syria war crimes probe UN 1267 Sanctions Committee’s omy in the world, said Smith. foreign workers, and to assess Consolidated List. These non-profit bodies employ which sectors should be the UNITED NATIONS: More atrocities, but the United Nations the letter sent by Switzerland on In 2002, Qatar set up a 56 million people worldwide and focus of efforts to employ than 50 countries asked the UN says the government and its allies behalf of more than 50 states, and national panel to review the UN need protection in order to thrive, Omani nationals. Security Council to refer the have been more culpable. UN supported by permanent council Consolidated List and recom- since they play a very dynamic Full report on page 6 Syria crisis to the International rights chief Navi Pillay has also members France and Britain. The mended action against suspected social role. Criminal Court, which prose- called for Syria to be referred to US, China and Russia, the other individuals and entities.