* French President has held talks five times over the phone with the Emir since the crisis began
* Qatar-France cultural co-operation continues to grow
France has been acting relentlessly to promote a diplomatic solution to the ongoing rift in the region in support of the efforts made by the Kuwaiti mediation, French ambassador Eric Chevallier has said.
Speaking at the French National Day celebrations in Doha Friday, the envoy also called for the lifting of all measures with negative consequences on the people, and urged the parties involved to engage in dialogue and de-escalation.
“To our Qatari friends and more generally to all those whose daily lives are severely affected by the measures taken against our host country, I would like to express my friendship,” he said.
“My thoughts go, especially but not exclusively, to bi-national families, suddenly and brutally torn apart, to students who had to interrupt their curriculum overnight, and to those who lost their jobs,” the envoy added.
The event was attended by HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro and other dignitaries.
Chevallier noted that French President Emmanuel Macron has held talks five times over the phone with His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani since the beginning of the events, “as a tangible sign of the strong implication of France to help finding a solution to this crisis”.
The Emir also received a written message from President Macron last month through HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani during the latter’s meeting with Chevallier.
About France and Qatar’s relationship in other fields of collaboration, he disclosed that the past 12 months have seen the development of the two countries’ co-operation in science and higher education, particularly emphasised by the implementation of the partnership with Institut Pasteur in the domains of training, teaching and research.
Chevallier said the two countries’ cultural co-operation also continues to grow, citing the Picasso/Giacometti exhibition hosted by Qatar Museums at the Fire Station “in a very different style”, and the exhibition of French artist JR held recently at Katara – the Cultural Village.
France was also proud to host this year in Paris a curator and two Qatari artists in Residence.
“The sportsman I pretend to be must also mention the important agreement concluded in spring between Insep and Aspire,” he said. “And of course, I cannot help but highlight before you, with enthusiasm, the candidacy of Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024.”
“This evening of 14th of July is, for that matter, dedicated to this candidacy. Finally, I would like to congratulate the State of Qatar on the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement,” he said.
The French embassy also screened a short film in honour of Qatari women – six ladies speaking of their hard work and talent beyond limits in different domains.
“To me, such individual destinies are to be regarded as examples,” the envoy stressed.
