Qatari- Saudi Coordination Council Meets

Doha, March 04 (QNA) - The Joint Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council held its fourth session here this evening at the Emiri Diwan, chaired by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the Qatari side, the meeting was attended by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, and a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers. On the Saudi side, the session was attended by HRH Princes, members of the official accompanying delegation. At the beginning of the meeting, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivered a speech in which he welcomed HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the accompanying delegation, and said : "We meet today to continue to make further support and development of the strong fraternal ties between our two countries and peoples under the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia" . HH the Heir Apparent also asserted that he is confident that this meeting is particularly important because it comes at regional and international critical circumstances that require consultation, coordination and cooperation between the two countries to serve their common interests. Then, HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delivered a speech in which he said: "I am pleased to convey the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and to Your Highness and his wishes for the State of Qatar and its people of further progress and prosperity and his keenness that this fourth session of the Qatari-Saudi Coordinating Council would strengthen prospects for cooperation between two countries. ", he added He commended HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's fraternal feelings and his keenness to deepen fraternal ties between us for the good of our countries and peoples, HRH said .. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the warm and hospitality reception extended to the Saudi side , and the good preparation and organization of this meeting. HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz cautioned against the challenges that facing the region and the world, stressing the need for joint action in various fields and deepen the approach of consultation and coordination in order to reach a common vision to deal with these challenges and in a way that achieves the interests of the two countries's peoples and be beneficial to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries Gulf Arab and Arab and Islamic nations, referring in this context, to the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at 32nd session of the GCC Supreme Council for the transition from the stage of cooperation to the Union in a strong cohesive entity that meets the aspirations of the GCC citizens. He expressed his confidence that this session of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council will add positive steps towards wider scopes. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the fraternal ties between the two countries and ways of developing and enhancing them in all fields, and discussed the latest developments and regional and international issues of common concern. HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HRH Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud witnessed the signing of a number of agreements, memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and ratification documents between the two countries. The two sides signed an agreement for the fight against crime and another one in the field of regulating border authorities. The sides also signed an executive program of the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the industrial field between the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Qatar and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Saudi Arabia, and an agreement on cooperation and news exchange between Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). They also signed the instrument of ratification of the Convention on diplomatic and consular cooperation between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and its supplement, the Executive and the instrument of ratification of an agreement to cooperate in the fight against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals and smuggling, as well as the instrument of ratification of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the industrial field between Ministry of Energy and Industry of Qatar and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Saudi Arabia. The agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed for Qatar by HE Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, Ambassador Yousuf Issa Al Jaber, Director of the Cooperation Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is also the Coordinator of Qatari side at the Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council .. The agreements and MoUs were signed for Saudi Arabia by Interior Minister HRH Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Foreign Minister HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr.Tawfig Al Rabiah, and Director General of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Hussein. Earlier, HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense held a meeting attended by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani. HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has arrived at the Emiri Diwan before the start of the joint meeting, where he was accorded official reception .(END)