Qatar major player in regional peace: British Foreign Secretary
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was in Doha yesterday to discuss regional policies and investment plans.
DOHA: Qatar is a major player in promoting peace and dialogue and dealing with regional issues, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said here yesterday.
In an interview with the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Hammond praised Qatar’s role in the International Syria Support Group as well as Doha’s efforts to bring the conflicting parties in Libya closer either through reconciliation agreements or hosting meetings and talks.
The British foreign secretary said that during his meetings with Qatari officials several issues were discussed, including regional policies, bilateral security and defence ties, and economic, commercial and investment plans.
He described the visit as successful, highlighting the strong ties between his country and Qatar at the political, economic and security levels. Hammond said that his country supports Qatar’s right to host the 2022 World Cup even if a section of the British media is opposing it.
He added that British media do not reflect the stance of the government but, on the contrary, mostly disagrees with the official stance over a lot of issues.
The British official said his country’s view on the Yemeni crisis and the mechanism of settling it is fully identical with that of GCC, adding that the UK is committed to supporting the Yemeni people to help them for a peaceful future.
The UK Foreign Secretary also rejected Iranian interference in the internal affairs of states and its attempts to dominate the region, particularly in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. He pointed out that the signing of the nuclear deal with Iran is a step forward in protecting the security of the Gulf against the threat of nuclear weapons.
ISIS ‘a threat to world’
Hammond said that ISIS constitutes a threat to the region and the whole world, including Britain, through destabilising the Arab region, adding that the international community should work together to destroy ISIS ideology.
“We have to demonstrate that there is an alternative future for the younger generations across the Middle East and North Africa region,” the UK Foreign Secretary said, pointing out that violence and extremism are not a means to achieve a better life and that the practices of Islam are compatible with economic development and achievement of good growth rates as well as better standards of living, as it is the case in the Arab Gulf states.
The Peninsula