newswatcher
19th Dec 2002, 08:19
Form "The Peninsula"(19/12):
"DOHA: Qatar and France yesterday signed an agreement that provides for maintenance and upgradation of equipment used by the Qatar Armed Forces, French Defence Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie said here yesterday. The agreement comes as a further boost to the relations between Qatar and France in the military sector.
The two nations have enjoyed enhanced defence cooperation since 1998, under which armed forces from the two countries can conduct military exercises. France has also undertaken to defend Qatar in the event of an aggression.
Alliot-Marie was on a two-day visit to Doha during which she called upon the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani and Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah.
During her visit, Alliot-Marie and Qatari leaders discussed a wide range of issues, from bilateral ties between Qatar and France and defence cooperation between the two countries to the Iraqi situation.
Addressing the media, she said the visit to Doha had also provided her an opportunity to explain the French position on Iraq to the Qatari leadership. Alliot-Marie said that last summer, the US wanted to initiate unilateral action against Iraq but France managed to convince the Americans to act within the framework of the United Nations (UN).
France, which is one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, has received a copy of the 12,000 page report from Baghdad about its weapons programme and experts will scrutinise it, she said.
The ball, Alliot-Marie said, was in the court of the UN weapons experts who are currently inspecting Iraqi facilities suspected of manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.
The visiting defence minister added that France and Qatar have agreed to further strengthen their defence cooperation through exchange of data and analysis.
France can also assist Qatar in the civilian field such as in the development of a new international airport in Doha and other infrastructure, she said."
It will be interesting to see what "actual" assistance they give, if war develops in this region!
"DOHA: Qatar and France yesterday signed an agreement that provides for maintenance and upgradation of equipment used by the Qatar Armed Forces, French Defence Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie said here yesterday. The agreement comes as a further boost to the relations between Qatar and France in the military sector.
The two nations have enjoyed enhanced defence cooperation since 1998, under which armed forces from the two countries can conduct military exercises. France has also undertaken to defend Qatar in the event of an aggression.
Alliot-Marie was on a two-day visit to Doha during which she called upon the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani and Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah.
During her visit, Alliot-Marie and Qatari leaders discussed a wide range of issues, from bilateral ties between Qatar and France and defence cooperation between the two countries to the Iraqi situation.
Addressing the media, she said the visit to Doha had also provided her an opportunity to explain the French position on Iraq to the Qatari leadership. Alliot-Marie said that last summer, the US wanted to initiate unilateral action against Iraq but France managed to convince the Americans to act within the framework of the United Nations (UN).
France, which is one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, has received a copy of the 12,000 page report from Baghdad about its weapons programme and experts will scrutinise it, she said.
The ball, Alliot-Marie said, was in the court of the UN weapons experts who are currently inspecting Iraqi facilities suspected of manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.
The visiting defence minister added that France and Qatar have agreed to further strengthen their defence cooperation through exchange of data and analysis.
France can also assist Qatar in the civilian field such as in the development of a new international airport in Doha and other infrastructure, she said."
It will be interesting to see what "actual" assistance they give, if war develops in this region!