SUNDAY MARCH 1, 2020 RAJAB 6, 1441 VOL.13 NO. 4882 QR 2 Fajr: 4:41 am Dhuhr: 11:46 am P ARTLY CLOUDY Asr: 3:07 pm Maghrib: 5:37 pm HIGH : 25°C Isha: 7:07 pm LOW : 18°C Gulf / ME 6 Business 8 Sports 11 Erdogan says chemical IPA signs LOI with Sabalenka flies away sites hit in Syria, vows Business France to with the Falcon Trophy further retaliation boost cooperation on Doha debut Amir offers AMIR MEEts US SECREtaRY OF STATE, LEadER OF TalIBAN POLITICal OFFICE all support to Iran in virus fight QNA DOHA THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani held a telephone conversa- tion with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Hassan Rouhani on Satur- day. During the phone call, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and the means to promote them, in addition to major regional The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met Head of the Political Office of Afghan Taliban and international develop- his accompanying delegation at the Al Bahr Palace on Saturday. During the meeting, the US Secre- Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his accompanying delegation at the Al Bahr Palace on Saturday. ments. The Amir also ex- tary of State extended thanks to the Amir for hosting the signing ceremony of the peace agreement The Taliban delegation is in Doha to participate in the signing of a peace agreement between the US pressed Qatar’s solidarity between the US and Taliban, and for undertaking the rounds of negotiations between the two sides to and the Afghan Taliban. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in Afghanistan. Furthermore, with Iran which is battling facilitate access to the agreement, appreciating the mediation efforts of Qatar to resolve disputes and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed deep thanks and appreciation to the Amir for Qatar’s gener- outbreak of novel coro- bring peace to the region and the world. The meeting also dealt with the strategic bilateral relations be- ous mediation between the US and the Taliban movement. The Amir congratulated the delegation navirus cases. The Amir tween the US and Qatar and the ways to support and enhance these relations, in addition to the most on reaching this important moment in the history of Afghanistan, hoping that security and peace will expressed Qatar’s readi- prominent regional and international development. (QNA) prevail throughout. (QNA) ness to provide necessary support to Iran to combat and prevent this virus. US, Taliban sign peace deal in Doha Amir condoles with Turkish Pact will pave the way president for full withdrawal of US Deal will pave the way for forces from Afghanistan THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on ASHRAF SIDDIQUI sustainable peace: FM Saturday sent a cable to DOHA he US-Taliban peace deal will act Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. Turkish President Recep Tas a first step towards comprehen- The FM highlighted Qatar’s Tayyip Erdogan, offering THE US and the Taliban signed sive and sustainable peace in Af- initiative in holding the intra-Afghan his condolences to the a historic peace deal on Saturday ghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister and conference, saying it placed the first president and to the broth- under the auspices of Qatar, after Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh building block of an expanded so- erly people of Turkey on the months of negotiations in Doha to Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al cietal dialogue between all Afghan deaths of Turkish soldiers end the US’ longest war fought in Thani has said. parties. The FM said he looks in the aerial bombardment Afghanistan since 2001. “The agreement must unite forward to seeing this process in the Syrian city of Idlib, The agreement, signed by US US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul all segments of the Afghan yield a comprehensive and wishing the injured a speedy special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad Ghani Baradar after signing a peace deal in Doha on Saturday. PAGE 7 society to start building the sustainable peace in the near recovery. (QNA) and Taliban political chief Mullah future,” the FM said, add- future. Abdul Ghani Baradar, will pave representatives of various govern- “The agreement was a positive ing that Qatar continued He discussed the the way for the US to gradually ments. step in the interest of Afghans and its mediation efforts sufferings of the Afghan withdraw its troops from Afghani- The four main points of the the world. The Taliban are com- to establish peace people and the danger stan within 14 months. agreement are — a timeline of 14 mitted to the implementation of in Afghanistan, in they have to go through The agreement was signed in months for the withdrawal of all the agreement,” he said. accordance to the as a result of threats of the presence of Deputy Prime Min- US and NATO troops from Af- “The Afghans will now heave a wise direc- war and all its negative ister and Minister of State for De- ghanistan; a Taliban guarantee sigh of relief and begin a prosper- tions of implications. fense Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Mo- that Afghan soil will not be used as ous life under the shadow of an Is- the Amir hammed al Attiyah, Deputy Prime a launchpad that would threaten lamic system after the withdrawal HH Sheikh Continued on page 16 Minister and Minister of Foreign the security of the US; the launch of all foreign forces from Afghani- Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed of intra-Afghan negotiations by stan,” he added. bin Andulrahman al Thani, US March 10; and a permanent and The US Secretary of State Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, comprehensive ceasefire. said, “I know there will be a Qatari mediation succeeds in the signing of Agreement for Bringing WHO sounds Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mullah Abdul Ghani expressed temptation to declare victory, Peace in Afghanistan in Doha. We hope this historic agreement will maximum alert Mahmoud Qureshi, Turkish For- his gratitude to the Amir HH but victory for Afghans will only contribute to achieving peace, stability and prosperity in the region eign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani be achieved when they can live in and the world. HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani over virus (PG 7 ) a number of foreign ministers, for facilitating the peace process. peace and prosper.” Huge drop in fuel prices Qatar confirms first coronavirus case 36-year-old Qatari male evacuated from Iran tests positive for the virus, his condition stable TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK a flexed elbow or use a tissue which then DOHA The Ministry of Public Health has should be discarded into a closed bin. begun examining all persons The ministry has advised all those QATAR reported its first case of corona- closely related to the patient and who have been in any of the countries virus disease (COVID-19) on Saturday implementing appropriate where the virus has been reported in the after a 36-year-old Qatari man who was last 14 days and suffer from cough and fe- evacuated from Iran tested positive for quarantine measures. There is ver to come forward for testing or call the the virus, the Ministry of Public Health currently no evidence of the hotline of the Ministry of Public Health TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK (MoPH) has said. spread of the virus in the country, at 16000. DOHA In a statement on Saturday, the the MoPH said. The MoPH is working closely with all MoPH said the infected patient has been partners and with the World Health Or- IN a welcome news for motorists, Qatar Petroleum admitted to the Communicable Disease and the extent of the global spread, find- amining incoming travellers in all the ganisation to ensure the implementation (QP) has reduced fuel prices for March. Premium Center and isolated under strict infec- ing a case in Qatar was expected, the country’s entry points.” of latest guidelines and the appropriate grade petrol will now cost QR1.60 per litre as against tion control measures. His condition is statement said. The statement said the MoPH is taking public health measures. The ministry has QR1.75 in February. Super grade petrol will now be stated to be stable. “The ministry began examining all all measures to limit the further spread of urged the public to regularly check the available for QR1.65 per litre, 20 dirhams less as Qatar on Thursday evacuated a num- persons closely related to the patient and the virus. It has urged the public to take ministry’s website for the latest advisories compared to QR1.85 in February. Similarly, QP also ber of its citizens from Iran — which is implementing appropriate quarantine precaution and implement the simple pro- and information. reduced the prices of diesel. Diesel will be available battling the worst outbreak outside Chi- measures,” the statement said, adding tective measures such as frequent washing The MoPH has urged the public to ex- at QR1.70 per litre, 20 dirhams less than the Febru- na – and confined them to a 14-day pe- that there is currently no evidence of the of hands or using hand sanitizer, avoiding tend their help and cooperation with the ary price. riod of quarantine. spread of the virus in the country. sick people, keeping social distancing and health authorities in the implementation Given the nature of the coronavirus “Efforts are currently focused on ex- coughing or sneezing into the sleeve of of the public heath measures.