BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Pliskova storms INDEX into DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 REGION 3 BUSINESS 1–16 Turkey exporters fi nal 20,575.32 10,819.30 53.38 ARAB WORLD 3 CLASSIFIED 11, 12 -44.45 +87.77 +0.02 INTERNATIONAL 4–13 SPORTS 1–8 can pay loans in lira -0.22% +0.82% _+0.04% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10368 February 18, 2017 Jumada I 21, 1438 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Scattered rain In brief slows down life in Qatar QATAR | Diplomacy FM meets chairman of By Joey Aguilar were also advised to avoid overtaking Staff Reporter and shifting lanes unnecessarily, clean Munich conference their windshield and rear window re- HE the Minister of Foreign HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani participating in the meeting of the Friends of Syria Group peatedly, and avoid driving through Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin in Bonn yesterday. cattered rainfall across Qatar water-logged areas. Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday, particularly in Doha, The rainfall also left water-logged yesterday with the Chairman of Sslowed down life, forcing motor- roads in inner areas in Doha such as the Munich Security Conference, ists to drive in moderate speed on wet Abu Hamour, Mamoura, Matar Qa- ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger. highways and arterial roads and send- deem, east and west Al Hilal, Al Thu- The meeting, which was held on ing many residents to malls and cov- mama, Najma, and Umm Ghuwalina, the sidelines of the conference, ered venues. among others, in bad condition but re- dealt with the prominent regional The light traffi c on nearly all ma- mained passable to most vehicles. and international developments, jor roads and highways, especially on Open spaces, normally used by some FM attends Bonn Salwa, Doha Corniche, D Ring, C Ring residents as their regular parking areas, particularly the Syrian and Libyan crises, in addition to the situation and Old Airport roads, was in stark have remained fl ooded, muddy, and in- in Yemen. The Foreign Minister contrast to a usually busy Friday, espe- accessible. expressed the hope that the cially in the afternoon. Apart from roads, the wholesale deliberations of the Munich Security Many motorists heeded to the ear- market also saw a slowdown in op- Conference would contribute to lier call of Qatar’s Ministry of Inte- erations yesterday, which is consid- realising security and stability in meeting on Syria rior (MoI) on social media to drive at a ered a busy day for vendors, due to diff erent parts of the world. slower pace to avoid skidding, which rains. QNA/Agencies Foreign Minister, UN envoy to end the fi ghting. allows “the tyre’s tread to make more It is learnt that many regular cus- REGION | Weather Bonn discuss Syrian crisis But Trump has called for closer co- contact with the road and leads to bet- tomers opted for hypermarkets and Floods cause train operation with Moscow in the fi ght ter traction.” supermarkets to buy their fi sh and veg- HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh against the Islamic State jihadist group “Make sure you reduce speed when etables to avoid the hassles of shopping crash near Dammam E the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Syria, downplaying what happens to the road is wet,” MoI said. Motorists in the rain. A Saudi train derailed near the Mohamed bin Abdulrahman met yesterday with the United Nations Assad. eastern city of Dammam yesterday, Hal-Thani participated yes- Envoy for Syria Steff an de Mistura, on Gabriel said the the Friends of Syria injuring 18 people, after flooding terday in the meeting of the Friends the margins of the Munich Security Group had agreed to step up pressure from heavy rains caused the rail of Syria Group, which took place in Conference. During the meeting, they on Russia and make clear there could line to erode, the Saudi Railways Bonn. discussed the latest developments of be no alternative to the UN-led Ge- Organisation said in a statement. The meeting discussed the develop- the Syrian crisis and crucial importance neva talks. The 193 passengers and 6 crew ments related to the Syrian crisis and to stop the violence and protect the lives “There should not be any parallel members were transferred to ways to implement the ceasefi re in of innocent civilians in addition to the negotiations,” he said. another train and taken to Dammam Syrian cities and protect the citizens ways to combat terrorism in the region. A Western diplomatic source said after the incident occurred at under siege there. The Foreign Minister and the UN Tillerson had made clear in the meet- about 1am, it said, adding that all The Foreign Minister stressed the special envoy to Syria reiterated the ing “there would be no military co-op- injuries were minor. Heavy rains importance of ceasefi re in Syria and importance of the cessation of hostilities eration with Russia until they distance have lashed Saudi Arabia for several providing safe zones. He also high- in the Syrian cities, and the delivery of themselves from Damascus’s stance days, causing severe flash floods lighted the importance of respecting humanitarian aid to the Syrians in the on the opposition.” throughout the kingdom and at UN Security Council resolution 2254 besieged areas. The former ExxonMobil boss reas- least one death in southern Asir and the Geneva 1 talks. sured US partners by sticking close to province. Foreign Ministers of Britain, Italy, conventional foreign policy. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, US, Ger- Gabriel told reporters in Bonn, adding Meanwhile, the UN stressed yester- TURKEY | Terrorism many, Turkey, France and the EU par- that “Tillerson became very involved day that Geneva 4 talks will take place ticipated in the meeting. in the debates”. on February 23 as scheduled, dismiss- Car bomb blast kills At the meeting the new US Secre- The meeting was the fi rst since ing reports of possible rescheduling of child, wounds 15 tary of State Rex Tillerson assured that President Donald Trump took offi ce. the meeting. An explosion yesterday rocked the Washington backed a UN-brokered Diplomats had said before the talks Spokesperson for UN Envoy on southeastern Turkish province of political solution to the Syria confl ict, they were hoping for clarity on wheth- Syria, Yara Sharif, confirmed the Sanliurfa, close to the Syrian border, the latest sign the Trump administra- er there had been a change in US policy date. She said that the negotiations killing a three-year-old child and tion will keep to existing policy. on Syria, particularly on the future of will be entirely guided by (UN) Secu- wounding 15 people. The explosion “All the participants want a politi- President Bashar al-Assad. rity Council Resolution 2254, which — which took place near a building cal solution because a military solu- Under Trump’s predecessor Barack talks specifically about governance, where prosecutors are housed — tion alone won’t lead to peace in Syr- Obama, Washington insisted Assad a new constitution and elections in was caused by a car bomb in the ia,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar had to go as part of a political solution Syria. district of Viransehir, off icial news agency Anadolu cited governor Gungor Azim Tuna as saying. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Water-logged roads slowed down motorists at many places. PICTURE: Nasar T K Twitter that no terrorist organisation or attack would weaken Turkey’s UN: Two-state solution the ‘only way’ fight against terror. Strong winds, drop in temperature forecast the only way to achieve the legiti- Israeli-Palestinian confl ict would re- Agencies Qatar is set to experience yet another places at times, while off shore, it could AMERICA | Politics UN mate national aspirations of both quire a two-state solution. peoples,” Nickolay Mladenov told Abul Gheit affirmed that the con- cold and windy spell today when the touch 38 knots at places. Trump vows to unveil the council. flict “requires a comprehensive and maximum temperature is expected Waves are expected to rise to 5ft overhauled travel ban he two-state solution remains “Some may hold the illusion that the just peace based on a two-state so- to dip to 19C from yesterday’s peak of inshore at places and up to 15ft at places US President Donald Trump has said “the only way” to meet the as- confl ict can be ‘managed’ indefi nitely,” lution with an independent Pales- 25C, according to the Met department off shore. The cold snap is on account he will issue a new executive order Tpirations of the Palestinians and Mladenov said. “That the absence of tinian state,” a statement said after forecast. The minimum temperature of a Siberian high-pressure system, to replace his controversial directive Israelis, the UN envoy for the Middle a clear strategy to advance peace is a he met UN chief Antonio Guterres in for the day is expected to be 13C expected to aff ect the country from suspending travel to the United East peace process has told the Secu- strategy in itself.” Cairo. (Mesaieed, Wakrah, Al Khor, Abu dawn today. It will be accompanied by States by citizens of seven mostly rity Council. The envoy urged Israeli and Pales- Guterres had also called for a two- Samra) in contrast to yesterday’s 17C “northwesterly fresh to strong winds Muslim countries. At a White House The council met on Thursday to dis- tinian leaders to “carefully contem- state solution on Wednesday in a (Ruwais).