Qatar's emir and French president hold talks

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and President of the French Republic Francois Hollande held official talks at the Emiri Diwan before noon on Monday.

The meeting was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani and a number of ministers.

On the French side, the meeting was attended by members of the official delegation accompanying the French President.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations of cooperation between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them at various levels to achieve the common strategic interests.

They also exchanged views on a number of current issues in the region and the latest regional and international developments of mutual interest.

HH the Emir and the French President witnessed the signing of an agreement on the purchase of Rafale jets, an agreement on the contract of Rafale arming, an agreement on the programme pertaining to the possession of Rafale jets and a declaration of intent between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in the French Republic on cooperation in the organization of matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Following is the Joint Communique between the State of Qatar and the French Republic: (Doha 4 May 2015) 1- At the invitation of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, President of the French Republic Francois Hollande paid an official visit to the State of Qatar on 4 May 2015, his second to the country.

2- This visit came in the context of the two visit made recently between the two countries' leaderships: the official visit HH the Emir of the State of Qatar paid to Paris in June 2014 and the official visit which the President of the French Republic paid to Doha in June 2013. This visit confirms the depth of the close strategic partnership between the two countries, which its dimension covers all aspects of bilateral cooperation. The visit gave a new and ambitious push to the relations between the two countries particularly in the fields of defence and security, in addition to the economic and tourism fields which could be further expanded thanks to the exemption of the Qatari citizens from Shingen visa. The visit enahanced consensus between the two countries to ensure the success of the 21st of the parties agreement of the united nations framework agreement on climate change, due to be held in Paris from 30.11 to 11.12, in addition to the organizing of the 2022 FIFA World Football Cup in Qatar.

3- The Emir of the State of Qatar and the President of the French Republic underlined the importance of maintaining peace and stability in a world suffering from many crises. In this context, the French republic and the State of Qatar reconfirm their interest in promoting their cooperation in the defence and security fields and the two countries welcome, in this respect, the agreement concluded today the provides for Qatar's purchase of 24 Rafale fighter aircraft which confirms Qatar's choosing of France as a strategic partner in the field of defence. The two countries intend to develop a comprehensive partnership in an endeavor to enhance the capability of the Qatari army with a special focus on a set of equipment in some major areas, as the case today in the field of military aviation.

4- In the field of air transport, the President of the French Republic and HH the Emir of the State of Qatar confirmed their interest to improve exchanges between the two countries and to work together to ensure a better air link. They agreed to achieve swift progress in this regard in a way realizing the mutual interests of the two sides.

5- The French Republic and the State of Qatar are intending to continue their cooperation in the transport infrastructure sector.

6- The President of the French Republic congratulated HH the Emir of the State of Qatar on the holding of the 2022 FIFA World Football Cup in the State of Qatar, for which Freance will pool its expertise and the experience of its companies in order to avail the French skills for Qatar in preparation and organization of big sporting events and the contribution making a success this big event which confirms the involvement of the State of Qatar.

7. His Highness the Emir of Qatar, and His Excellency the President of the Republic of France confirmed that Qatar and France were partners in the field of security of the stadiums in major sporting events, where Qatar and France had been working side by side, specially, during the World Handball Championship in 2015.This major sporting event had met remarkable success. France will stand by Qatar in the same manner in the FIFA World Cup finals in 2022, and in this regard it signed agreements in October 2014 between Qatar Internal Security Force and the National Gendarmerie, and between the Directorate General of the Qatari public security and French National Police and it had also signed in April 2015 an agreement between the National School of Magistrat du Parquet (French Judiciary system) and Qatar Public prosecution for the training of judges on the judicial administration of sports events. Work has also been commenced on a promising cooperation in the field of civil defense between the two countries.

8. His Highness the Emir of Qatar and His Excellency the President of the French Republic have confirmed their desire to develop the investments in the two countries, as well as partnerships between companies in the two countries. The parties agreed to strengthen the financial partnership between the financial company (CDC International Capital) and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), in order to achieve new investments. Moreover, and in general, France and Qatar are working now to identify joint investment projects in other countries, particularly in Africa.

9. HH the Emir of Qatar, and His Excellency the President of the French Republic expressed their satisfaction with the conclusion of the new partnership agreement between the French Agency for Development and "Educate A child" Foundation. They have also reaffirmed their desire that France and Qatar should undertake joint development assistance projects in Africa. Experts from both countries began to identify these projects which should be implemented by the Qatari and French specialized institutions.

10. The State of Qatar, which hosted the Eighteenth Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the French Republic, which will host the twenty-first session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, had decided to move together with a joint aim to reach an international agreement with a legal framework implementable by all parties with a view to cut global warming below two degrees Celsius which also takes into consideration the circumstances and interests of all parties including the principle of joint but variable responsibility for all countries.