ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER THE PENINSULA EXTENDS TO ALL OUR READERS Thursday 18 December 2014 • 26 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6283 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Hamas taken National pride on show today off EU terror Colourful parade, dazzling fireworks and cultural shows lined up for National Day blacklist BRUSSELS: The Palestinian DOHA: Hundreds of events and instructed people attending the Islamist group Hamas should activities are in store for citi- parade and other events to keep be removed from the European zens and expatriates at various away from stunt driving dare- Union’s terrorist list, an EU locations as Qatar celebrates its devilry and not to decorate their court ruled yesterday, saying National Day today. vehicles in a way that obstructs the decision to include it was While celebrating this glori- visibility. based on media reports not ous occasion, Qatar recalls the “National Day is a joyous occa- considered analysis. achievements of its Founder sion to show your loyalty to the However, in its ruling, the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammad country. It is everybody’s respon- bloc’s second highest tribunal said bin Thani, who laid the founda- sibility not to make it a sad day by member states could maintain tion of the modern state at a time your reckless behaviour,” the min- their freeze on Hamas’ assets for when the region was experienc- istry reminded citizens and expa- three months to give time for fur- ing a state of conflict, unrest and triates in a statement yesterday. ther review or for an appeal to be instability due to competition As in the previous years, the launched. Israel, which has clashed between the colonial powers. Ministry of Interior has arranged repeatedly with Europe in recent Kicking off today’s events is a exclusive activities for different years over Palestinian statehood spectacular National Day mili- expatriate communities to ensure ambitions, reacted with dismay. tary parade on the Corniche this their active participation in the “We expect them to imme- morning in which the Qatari celebrations. diately put Hamas back on the army, air force, navy, Emiri A total of 282 cultural and list,” said Israeli Prime Minister Guards, Lekhwiya, Al Fazaa, sporting events will be held at Benjamin Netanyahu. Coast Guards, and other units of four venues as part of Associated Looking to limit the fallout, the Ministry of Interior will march Activities for Qatar National Day EU’s foreign policy arm said the past along with military vehi- under the theme ‘One Love’. bloc continued to view Hamas as cles and warfare equipment. West End Park Amphitheatre a terrorist group. Schoolchildren dressed in tradi- and Cricket Stadium in Industrial “This was a legal ruling of tional and military costumes will Area, Wakra, Al Khor and Rayyan the court based on procedural also join in the colourful parade Sports Clubs will stage the events grounds. We will look into this which will also feature a breath- from 8 am to 10 pm. Students The Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani during an event to mark National Day at Al Wajba Castle and decide on appropriate reme- taking aerial show. from 17 schools will stage a total yesterday. The Father Emir also participated in Bani Tamim Arda (traditional dance). dial action,” spokeswoman Maja Around 5,000 soldiers and offic- of 102 shows and nine community Kocijanic said. ers from the armed forces will teams will stage 180 performances parachuting, awareness initia- host children games and activi- with army rifles and fire shots. Hamas holds sway in the Gaza march along the Corniche, accom- at the four venues. tives and an all-new ‘Katara FM’ ties while 11,000 LED and helium- Meanwhile, Lekhwiya and the Strip and its founding charter panied by sophisticated weaponry National Day celebrations at radio station. The 42 festivities filled balloons will be released on Qatari Armed Forces will per- calls for the destruction of Israel. and military equipment. The Darb Al Saii in Al Sadd which are organised in collaboration Katara’s Corniche over the two form Paratroopers shows with It has regularly battled Israel, parade is scheduled to begin at 8am kicked off several days ago are with more than 20 different pub- days. fireworks and photo displays of most recently in a 50-day war and last for 48 minutes. expected to attract a huge number lic and private institutions. Between 2 pm and 5 pm, mili- the national flag. this summer. For a first, top military delega- of citizens and expatriates today. During the two-day pro- tary shows will be one of the cel- Different ministries, govern- Hamas says it is a legitimate tions from three countries that Katara has lined up 42 events gramme, Katara will witness ebrations’ highlights. The Qatar ment departments and a number resistance movement and con- have friendly relations with Qatar and activities for its visitors today a number of marine activities Amiri Guard will showcase 14 of private companies and organi- tested the European Union’s — Georgia, Belarus and Uruguay and tomorrow. They include including a sailboat show and horses in national costumes, some sations have also lined up a series decision in 2001 to include it on — are also expected to attend the military, horses and motorcycle dhows decorated with Qatari flags of which will tour Katara’s alley- of activities to mark the National the EU terrorist list. It welcomed parade. parades, boat shows, heritage cruising along the seashore. The ways, as well as engage in a silent Day. yesterday’s verdict. REUTERS The Ministry of Interior has tents, cultural contests, power Cultural Village’s beach will also military parade and another THE PENINSULA See also page 15 2,000 pigeons released US and Cuba to normalise diplomatic relations WASHINGTON: The United of the embargo which he called The breakthrough came after States and Cuba made a his- a “blockade” — remained to be Havana released jailed US con- toric breakthrough in their resolved. tractor Alan Gross and a Cuban Cold War stand-off yesterday, In Washington, Obama admit- who spied for Washington and moving to revive diplomatic ties ted the US embargo had failed had been held for 20 years — and and launch measures to ease a and said he would approach the whom Obama called one of the five-decade US trade embargo. US Congress to discuss lifting it most important US agents in In the wake of a prisoner alongside the advances in diplo- Cuba. The United States in turn exchange, President Barack matic and travel links. released three Cuban spies, and Obama said the United States was “We are all Americans,” Obama Obama said he had instructed ready to review trade ties and to declared in Spanish, in a set-piece the US State Department to re- re-open its embassy in commu- White House address marking a examine its designation of Cuba nist Cuba that has been closed historic attempt to reassert US as a state sponsor of terrorism. since 1961. Cuba’s President Raul leadership in the Western hemi- “We will end an outdated Castro, in a simultaneous address sphere. Obama hailed the support approach that for decades has in Havana, confirmed that the he said that Pope Francis, the failed to advance our interests former enemies had “agreed to first Latin American pontiff, and and instead we will begin to nor- re-establish diplomatic ties” after the Catholic Church had provided malise relations between our two The Qatar Society for Carrier Pigeons released more than 2,000 pigeons at Darb Al Saai yesterday to mark the more than half a century. in brokering better relations countries,” Obama said. AFP National Day in the presence of an excited crowd including citizens and expatriates. The spectators rushed Castro cautioned that the issue between the long-time enemies. See also page 17 to take photos and videos of the pigeons as they moved in groups around Qatari flags fluttering at the site. Mass grave of 230 found in Syria Sharif vows to eliminate every terrorist BEIRUT: The bodies of 230 PESHAWAR: Pakistan bur- grief, Nawaz Sharif lifted a last terrorist is eliminated,” he tackling senior members of the been tolerated, and sometimes people killed by the Islamic ied its slaughtered children moratorium on the death pen- told a select group of politicians Pakistani Taliban, based in the supported, Afghan intelligence State group have been found in yesterday, as the prime minis- alty for terror-related cases, summoned to Peshawar, the site country’s lawless east. His top officials say. In recent years a mass grave uncovered by their ter promised a day of reckon- and announced a dramatic shift of the attack. “The country must priority will almost certainly be to though, the extremist violence relatives in Syria’s Deir Ezzor ing with militants behind the in government policy towards never forget these scenes.” secure Afghanistan’s cooperation that has tormented Afghanistan province, a monitoring group attack and the country’s own extremist groups. Sharif also echoed army com- in capturing Mullah Fazlullah, so long has become increasingly said yesterday. history of backing some violent “We announce that there will manders’ vows to step up military the group’s leader. The tragedy familiar across the border. The discovery brings the groups. be no differentiation between action against strongholds along that prompted the visit gave The school assault was unprec- number of Shaitat tribal members The brutal attack on a pres- ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban,” he said, the porous mountain border it urgency and gravity, but the edented in its bloody sadism slain during the militants’ sum- tigious army school killed 148, referring to the Pakistani mili- with Afghanistan.