FM to visit US Wednesday: official

Dr Majed bin Mohamed al-Ansari, Adviser to HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed that HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani will visit the United States Wednesday, stressing that the visit includes meetings with American officials, led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Addressing the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, Dr al-Ansari pointed out that meetings between the two sides indicate the depth of partnership and strategic relations ahead of the remaining sessions of the Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue in Doha by the end of February.
The 5th Round of Qatar-US Strategic Dialogue was held on Feb 2 in Doha, chaired by HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs Dr Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi and Under Secretary of the US State Department for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.
The session dealt with the close strategic relations and ways to support and develop them, and the latest regional and international developments, especially developments in the Iranian nuclear file, security and energy issues, as well as the latest developments in Libya, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Dr al-Ansari noted that HE Sheikh Mohamed will deliver a recorded speech at the activities of the UN Economic and Social Council on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries as an accelerator for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, pointing out that this comes in preparation for the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), scheduled to be held in Doha from March 5-9, in completion of the Doha Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries.
He pointed out that HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will talk about the efforts made by Qatar as an effective strategic partner in response to challenges and needs, especially in the most vulnerable societies, and stress Qatar's role and contributions to various initiatives that had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the world. He also noted that HE Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with the new GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohamed al-Budaiwi. During the phone call, the two sides exchanged views on the march of the GCC, and the latest regional developments.
Director of Media and Communication Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim bin Sultan al-Hashmi reviewed the meetings of the ministry's officials with ambassadors and diplomats.
He said that HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi received copies of the credentials of Bangladeshi ambassador Mohamed Nazrul Islam and Philippine ambassador Lillibeth Velasco Pono. HE al-Muraikhi also bid farewell to Niger ambassador to Qatar Mubarak Hassan Boubacar. Al-Hashmi noted the meeting of HE the Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater with Turkish ambassador to Qatar Dr Mustafa Goksu, where they discussed bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them, along with several issues of common interest. She also met with HE US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights Rina Amiri, and the Charge d'Affaires of the US Mission to Afghanistan Karen Decker, where they discussed the latest developments in Afghanistan, and the results of the Afghan Women's Conference organised by Qatar in co-operation with Indonesia in December 2022, in addition to ways to support the Afghan people, especially their right to education.
HE AlKhater also met with UK Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Red Sea Sarah Montgomery, during her visit to Qatar, where they discussed co-operation between the two countries, the latest developments in the Horn of Africa, and ways to enhance co-operation in the field of development and humanitarian aid in countries of the Horn of Africa.
He also pointed out to the recently held first political consultation committee meeting between the foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt, where the latest Arab and international developments and several issues of common interest, particularly the Palestinian cause were discussed. Regarding the Afghani developments, he pointed out to the visit of HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani to Afghanistan and his meetings with several officials in the Afghan Caretaker Government.
The meetings dealt with the most important developments in Afghanistan, especially in politics, economy, development, and education.
HE Dr al-Qahtani reiterated Qatar's position supporting all segments of the Afghan people to obtain all their rights, particularly the right to education, especially for girls, and respect for women's right to work, stressing the continuation of Qatar's endeavours to support and facilitate efforts to reach a comprehensive political consensus that achieves security and stability in Afghanistan.