The 5th joint Qatari-Saudi co-ordination council asserted that the fight against terrorism is a shared international responsibility that requires concerted efforts to confront it at all levels – security, intellectual, financial, media and military.
This came in a joint statement released at the end of the 5th meeting of the joint Qatari-Saudi co-ordination council co-chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.
The meeting was held at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah.
The statement called for wisdom in dealing with the events taking place in some Islamic and Arab countries to ensure the preservation of safety and stability of these countries as well as the prosperity of their people.
The two sides also welcomed the recent release of Qatari and Saudi abductees in Iraq, praising the efforts and endeavours exerted for their release and safe return to their country and their families.
The council expressed its satisfaction that the crisis has ended.
The Qatari-Saudi co-ordination council commended the positive results of the historic visit paid by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, to Qatar last December, which ushered in a new stage in the relations between the two countries and reflected their leadership’s keenness to promote integration in all fields between them.
The Saudi-Qatari Co-ordination Council noted that the two sides held extensive talks on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of joint interest.
Talks also focused on facets of bilateral co-operation in a number of fields.
The council commended Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Expo of “Made in Qatar 2016” as a real opportunity for business ties to move to a bigger scale.
Qatar also welcomed the awarding of the George Tenet Medal to Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. The medal was awarded by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for the distinguished intelligence work in the field of combating terrorism, in recognition of his contribution to establish peace and security.
The Qatari side presented a number of draft memorandums of understanding (MoU) for co-operation between the two countries in several fields and the Saudi side promised to study them and present the outcomes to the Joint Preparatory Committee of the Co-ordination Council at its next session.
Saudi Arabia for its part also presented several draft MoUs and Qatar’s participating delegation promised to examine those drafts closely and present their finding in the next council meeting.
The two sides welcomed the signing of an agreement in the field of air transport services as well as the third executive programme in the field of education.
The council thanked HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia for their support for and keenness on facilitating the council’s work in overcoming obstacles.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani expressed thanks and appreciation to Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz for warm hospitality accorded to the Qatari delegation during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the visit of Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, head of the Saudi side at the Saudi-Qatari Co-ordination Council, and members of the Saudi side of the council to Doha next year to co-chair the 6th session of the Council.
Earlier, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior witnessed the signing of the third executive programme in the field of education between the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar and an agreement on air transport services between the governments of the two countries.
Then, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud signed the minutes of 5th joint Qatari-Saudi co-ordination council meeting.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia held a bilateral meeting.
Following the meeting, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attended a luncheon banquet hosted by Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, in honour of the Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation, at Al-Salam Royal Palace in Jeddah yesterday.
A number of Princes and ministers attended the banquet.
Later yesterday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior left Jeddah concluding his visit to Saudi Arabia.
The Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation were seen off at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Dr Awwad bin Saleh al-Awwad, Qatar’s ambassador to the Kingdom Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer al-Thani, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Qatar Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Aifan and the staff of the Qatari consulate in Jeddah.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz al-Saud signing the minutes of 5th joint Qatari-Saudi co-ordination council meeting in Jeddah yesterday.
