MOSCOW: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said here yesterday that Qatar and Russia are together trying to find a solution to the problems some countries in the Middle East are facing to ensure stability.

The Emir who is on an official visit to Russia earlier met at the Kremlin Palace with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin welcomed the Emir and expressed his desire to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries. There is pressing need to talk and coordinate in the field of energy particularly gas and close cooperation in investment he added.

Putin also expressed the hope that the crises facing the Middle East would be resolved Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported from Moscow.

The Emir expressed his pleasure over his visit and highlighted the mutual coordination between the two countries in the past hoping that it would be a basis for moving towards a more progressive phase of mutual relations.

The Emir noted that Qatar and Russia enjoy close ties particularly in the field of energy and gas noting that the two countries are members of the Gas Exporting Countries’ Forum.

“There also are close ties in the investment field between the Qatar Investment Authority and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.”

The Emir said he and Putin discussed the situation in the Middle East the recent developments and regional problems highlighting Russia’s vital and significant role in global stability. “The two countries are trying to find solutions to the problems as far as stability in certain countries of our region is concerned” said the Emir.

During the meeting the Emir and Putin discussed a number of regional and international issues of common concern and exchanged views on developments in the region on political and security fronts.

They reviewed the situation in Syria Palestine Yemen and Libya and agreed to reach solutions that help in stability and security of the region and the safety of its people.

The two leaders also reviewed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and stressed the urgent need for a fair settlement based on the two-state solution according to the resolutions of the United Nations and international law and agreements signed between the two countries. Members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir attended the meeting. Many Russian ministers were also present.

The Emir earlier met with the Chairperson of the Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko at the headquarters of the Council. She said the political dialogue between the two countries would enhance peace and security in the Middle East especially due to the difficult circumstances in the region underlining the need for exchange of views to find a solution to issues like terror the crises in Syria Yemen and Iraq.

She pointed to the importance of the role of Qatar in the region.

Matviyenko also referred to Russia’s support of the political dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran explaining that “Russia is against attacks on embassies and diplomatic missions”.

She expressed support for the Qatari initiative for holding Russia Year of Culture in Qatar in 2018 and Qatar Year of Culture in Russia in the same year as well as benefiting from and exchange of sports expertise in organising World Cup Soccer in 2018 and 2022. The Emir pointed to the importance of continuing political dialogue between the two sides due to the developments in the Middle East and the need to have common viewpoints regarding some regional and international issues especially in the light of the agreement between the two sides on the dangers of terrorism in the region and the need to fight it given the fact that the Middle East was most harmed by it.

The Emir underlined the need to find a political solution in Syria in accordance with the demands of the Syrian people. He also met at the State Duma headquarters Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia Sergey Naryshkin. In the meeting the Emir talked of close relations between Qatar and Russia and referred to the agreement signed yesterday morning between the two countries in the field of culture. He praised Russia’s significant role in the Middle East and the world saying: “We count on Russia to help the Palestinian people to have their legitimate rights and alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza.”

Regarding terrorism the Emir said: “We all condemn and fight terrorism but the most important thing is that we have to identify terrorism and who the terrorists are”.

Qatar is part of an international anti-terror alliance and a member of the Islamic anti-terror alliance which was recently founded by Saudi Arabia.

He said there is no doubt that the fight against terrorism is a basic and important issue but fighting its emergence and causes is more important because if “we did not fight such matters it will continue to exist and we would not be able to end it permanently”.

“We count on friends in Russia to find a solution to the Syrian people’s suffering and political settlement that meets the demands of the Syrian people adding that Qatar has indeed been supporting a political settlement from the first day. In addition we support all organisations and international initiatives aimed at finding a political solution in Syria provided it is satisfactory for all parties” the Emir said. The meeting was attended by a number of Russian State Duma members says QNA.

The Emir met his residence in Moscow with President of Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov and reviewed bilateral relations means of developing them and issues of mutual concern. The Emir also met CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev. Talks dealt with topics of common interest.

Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and discussed means of facilitating entry visas to Russia for Qataris and entry visas to Russians to Qatar through applications to both embassies within 24 hours. Competent entities have been assigned to prepare an agreement in this regard. They also signed an agreement on the exemption of citizens of both countries carrying diplomatic passports from entry visa requirements and another on cooperation in cultural fields.

The Peninsula