HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving Hamas leader Khalid Mishal at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. RIGHT: HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir.
QNA/Doha
Several regional leaders arrived in Doha yesterday to convey their greetings to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Among those who met the Emir and the Father Emir at the Emiri Diwan yesterday were GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas leader Khalid Mishal, and Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Culture Sayyid Haitham bin Tarik al-Said who also conveyed the greetings of Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman.
The GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdul-latif bin Rashid al-Zayani praised the speech made by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Wednesday.
In an interview with Qatar Radio, Dr al-Zayani said HH the Emir’s speech was eloquent and reflected the authentic values and traditions of the Qatari people and the country’s leadership.
He said that the speech confirms the great attention given by HH the Emir to the GCC action aimed at reaching a higher level of integration.
The GCC secretary-general also praised the reaffirmation of Qatar’s commitment to all its regional and international obligations describing it as a ‘wise’ approach.
The speech also included a number of significant indicators, mainly those relating to the Palestinian cause and Qatar’s solidarity with the Palestinian people’s ongoing efforts to obtain its legitimate rights and establish a just and lasting peace in Palestine and the Middle East, Dr al-Zayani said.
The Emir also met at the Emiri Diwan yesterday morning the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the State, who called on him to offer their congratulations on the occasion of assumption of the reins of power in the country.
Congratulatory messages also poured in from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Comoros President Ikililou Dhoinine, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, and Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid.
The Emir also received similar cables from Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly President Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi, and Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed al-Sharqi.
Meanwhile, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday received a phone call from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during which the UN chief congratulated him on the occasion of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s assumption of power.
HH the Father Emir also received a telephone call from King Juan Carlos of Spain and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who congratulated him on the occasion.
Meanwhile, HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani held a separate meeting yesterday with Secretary General of the GCC Abdul latif bin Rashid al-Zayani.
Talks during the meeting dealt with aspects of co-operation in matters of mutual concern.
Advisory Council chief congratulates Emir
HH the Emir has received a cable of congratulations on the occasion of his assumption of power from HE the Advisory Council Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Kholaifi.
Al-Kholaifi wished the Emir success in carrying out his responsibilities and leading the country. He also expressed his “great appreciation” of HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for the many achievements Qatar has seen domestically and internationally thanks to his “wise and balanced policy” that preserved the country’s stability and strong economy, and provided a decent standard of living for citizens.
“We are full of confidence, Your Highness, that you are capable of assuming this great responsibility that you were honoured to carry, as the country closely witnessed your achievements as Heir Apparent and your sharing of achievements with HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani,” the Advisory Council speaker said.
HH the Emir responded to the cable expressing his gratitude for the “genuine sentiments” of the Advisory Council’s speaker and its members.
