ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Home | 5 Business | 17 Sport | 26 Ashghal signed contracts Qatar Exchange is likely Roi De Vitesse relied on worth over QR1.2bn with to see firms from GCC an explosive late surge Qatari companies to and Mena region listing to win the Qatar 2022 build 17 new schools and on it. Dual listing is Cup at the Qatar Racing six kindergartens. under discussion. and Equestrian Club. WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2015 • 6 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6352 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Qatar committed to peace: Emir Emir, Obama meet in Washington; US President praises Qatar as a strong partner in fight against terrorism DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has conveyed Qatar’s readiness to work with the US to address the growing threat of terror- ism in the Middle East but said “inclusive” solutions to regional disputes are necessary for such efforts to succeed. US President Barack Obama praised Qatar as a “strong part- ner” in the fight against the Islamic State militants as he hosted the Emir in the Oval Office yesterday. “Qatar is a strong partner in our coalition to degrade and ulti- mately defeat ISIL,” news agen- cies quoted Obama as saying. “We are both committed to making sure that ISIL is defeated, to making sure that in Iraq there is an opportunity for all people to live together in peace,” Obama said. Speaking after the meeting, the Emir also praised the strong bilateral relationship and urged efforts to advance the Middle East peace process. “We have to find a solution for Palestine. And Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC yesterday. RIGHT: Emir with US Vice-President Joe Biden. I’m happy to learn, to hear from you Mr President, that you’re The Emir cautioned against hopelessness that abounds in the to address if we are to stem the inclusive, power-sharing solutions Middle East where human dig- committed,” he said. Libya and attempts to deepen the sectarian Syrian and Palestinian refugee tide of terrorism. This is not to regional disputes. And it will nity is respected and justice is fair Yemen were also discussed. divisions in the region and exploit camps, and in war-weary towns meant as an excuse for terrorism, require that tyrants be held to and true. But their hopes will not In an article in New York Times the Sunni-Shia divide for politi- and villages in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, because it is not,” he added. account”. endure if we don’t act, as we must, titled “Qatar’s message to Obama” cal ends. Libya and Gaza,” said the Emir. The Emir said addressing the The Emir said despite all of the to win back their trust and support published shortly before his meet- He said the problem behind the “It’s the hopelessness we see root causes of terrorism will pessimism generated by the forces by renewing our commitment to ing with Obama, the Emir con- terrorist threat is not Islam as in the poorer neighbourhoods of require “a deeper, longer-term, of violence and repression, the the values they marched for in the veyed Qatar’s readiness to work perceived by many in the West. Europe’s great cities, and, yes, and more strategic approach youth of the Arab world remain Arab Spring,” said the Emir. together with the US “to pull the “But as a Muslim, I can tell you even in the United States. And it to the problem. It will require steadfast and committed to a bet- THE PENINSULA Middle East back from the brink that the problem isn’t Islam — is this hopelessness, which knows political leaders to have the ter future. Full NYT interview on page 2 of collapse”. it’s hopelessness. It’s the kind of no state or religion, that we need courage to negotiate pluralistic, “They continue to hope for a See also pages 2 & 3 Sons of Emir win in camel race Banks closed on Mar 1 FIFA group calls for Nov-Dec 2022 DOHA: Qatar Central Bank has announced that Sunday (March DOHA: A FIFA World Cup by the FIFA executive commit- AFC head and taskforce chair- 1) will be an official holiday taskforce yesterday called for tee at their meeting in Zurich, man, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim for banks and financial insti- the 2022 World Cup in Qatar Switzerland, on March 19-20 Al Khalifa, said there was also a tutions under its jurisdiction. to be shortened and held in and looks likely to be approved. recommendation for a shorter The closure of banks, exchange November-December. If the move goes ahead, it will be competition. outlets, investment companies A tournament from the end of the first time the World Cup has The move to shift the tournament and financing firms on that November to the end of December been played in these months and was backed by the Qataris. “We date comes in line with Cabinet was “the most viable period” for the away from its traditional north- have always committed ourselves Decision No. 33 of 2009. QNA World Cup, the taskforce decided, ern hemisphere summer format. to what the football community according to a FIFA statement. “There is one solution, decides,” said the country’s World INSIDE A source later said that the dates November-December,” said FIFA Cup chief, Hassan Al Thawadi. “We proposed would see the tourna- Secretary-General Jerome Valcke are onboard whatever the executive ment begin on November 26 with after a meeting of the taskforce in committee decides.” Page 8 the final held on December 23. Doha. “It is clear there are pros Officials from football’s global “The proposed event dates have and cons for all but there is one governing body, top leagues and Katara aims to build a the full support of all six confed- solution coming out from this players’ representatives attended creative global society erations,” said a FIFA statement. discussion, which is November- the crucial meeting in Doha. of arts and culture A final decision will be made December 2022,” said Valcke. AFP Page 11 H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani awarded yesterday trophies Sisi regime exporting to winners of the fourth day of the Camel Racing Festival, held in Al Two Qatar varsities crises, falling at home Shahaniya. H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad awarded H E Sheikh Hamad Chamber comes to rescue By Jaber Al Harami bin Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and H E Sheikh Jassim bin Tamim bin among top 30 Hamad Al Thani, the sons of the Emir, with golden daggers for the win. of schools over rent rise in Mena rankings Why the heightened DOHA: The Qatar Chamber the private sector, said it hoped activity in the Gulf? BY FAZEENA SALEEM has come to the rescue of private the rent dispute settlement panel By Dr. Mohammed schools that are operating from would take action against the err- Saleh Al Misfer More lanes may be added DOHA: Two universities in Qatar rented premises and whose land- ing landlords. has scored high in a preview of lords have been increasing rents As a first step, the complaints new ranking of universities in the in violation of the law. of the schools against the land- to February 22 Road Middle East and North Africa, to The law permits the owners lords are being referred to the be announced next year. of properties that house private Chamber’s legal committee. The DOHA: There is a possibility number of lanes on either side of Texas A&M University at Qatar schools to raise rents by only five committee is being asked to make more lanes may be added to the the February 22 Road to seven. stood first and Qatar University percent annually. But there are a strong case for the school man- arterial February 22 Road so as Five of the seven proposed came fourth in a pilot ranking of some landlords who have been agements for the central rent dis- to broaden it and prevent traffic lanes will be for light vehicles 30 universities released by Times flouting the rule and raising rents pute settlement panel to look into. snarls during peak hours. while the remaining two would Higher Education (THE) at their by as much as 30 to 50 percent, The Chamber’s education com- The Ministry of Municipality be reserved for heavy vehicles, inaugural Mena summit held here according to the Chamber. mittee met yesterday presided over and Urban Planning is mull- including trucks and trailers. yesterday. A comprehensive rank- The complaints of all the by Mohamed bin Ahmed Tawar Al ing easing traffic congestions Plans are also afoot to convert ing will be released in February 2016. aggrieved schools are being col- Kuwari, and took the above deci- TODAY’S EDITION on this major thoroughfare by Al Thumama Roundabout into a Lebanese American University is lected by the Chamber. sion. The committee also raised INCLUDES A 4-PAGE SPECIAL adding several more lanes on traffic signals intersection. placed second, while King Abdulaziz They will be forwarded to the the issue of fees being increased by its either side. There will also be a tunnel and University is in the third position Central Rent Dispute Settlement some schools and said that the fee SUPPLEMENT ON The planning department for a flyover there to help reduce according to THE ranking which Committee of the Ministry of hike should not be done for profit- transport and road infrastruc- traffic jams.