Qatar-US Interior Affairs Cooperation

Doha, December 04 (QNA) - HE The Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khlifa Al Thani held talks on Sunday with Janet Napolitano, the US Secretary of Homeland Security. The talks centered on relations between the two countries and issues of mutual interest. Following the talks, the two sides signed a letter of intent between the US Department of Homeland Security and the Qatari Interior Ministry. The two ministers signed the letter. Brigadier Saud Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the director of international affairs at the interior ministry said that the signature on Sunday of the letter was meant to activate a previous signature by the two ministries. The letter included many procedures related to travel between the two countries. He said the procedures would facilitate the travel of Qataris to the US and remove any hurdles at US airports for Qatari passengers. A Qatari traveler to the US could apply through the internet via the Qatari Interior Ministry and will be able pass through electronic gates at US airports when the system is completed. Col Mohamed Al Nasr , security attache at the Qatari embassy in Washington said the application will not be an alternative to a visa but would facilitate entry through the electronic gates. The procedures will be applied in a trial period and will be reciprocal, he added.(QNA)