{"id":54825,"date":"2022-11-22T16:52:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T00:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=54825"},"modified":"2022-11-23T16:53:18","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T00:53:18","slug":"secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-qatari-deputy-prime-minister-and-foreign-minister-mohammed-bin-abdulrahman-al-thani-at-a-joint-press-availability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=54825","title":{"rendered":"Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at a Joint Press Availability"},"content":{"rendered":"
11\/22\/2022 01:10 PM EST<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State<\/p>\n

Doha, Qatar<\/p>\n

Diplomatic Club<\/p>\n

FOREIGN MINISTER AL-THANI:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter) (Inaudible) the most compassionate, may the blessings of God be upon you all.\u00a0 First of all, I would like to welcome my friend and colleague, His Excellency Mr. Antony Blinken, who visited us yesterday first of all to encourage the American team, and I congratulate you on the performance \u2013 American national team \u2013 and we wish you luck in the matches to come.\u00a0 And we look forward for this tournament in Qatar 2022, will be a milestone for peoples and cultures and countries to come together and enjoy the atmosphere here in Qatar, and also to experience our hospitality in Qatar.<\/p>\n

We had the opportunity to hold the fifth round of the Strategic Dialogue between the United States and Qatar, which we consider an important platform to enhance the bilateral relations, which is built on solid grounds and is considered one of the most important strategic partnerships of the state of Qatar.\u00a0 And this partnership expands from political, economic, defense, diplomatic, developmental aspects to all other aspects.<\/p>\n

We had the opportunity to discuss different topics today regarding regional issues and the challenges faced by the world today, and on our agenda today we discussed the developments of the Iranian nuclear deal and the developments in Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, and the Palestinian issue, which is considered by us to be the central cause, and also the efforts \u2013 and we agree with the United States regarding positions vis-\u00e0-vis these issues.\u00a0 And also, so far as the dialogue between our institutions, there was also the opportunity to discuss the response to the challenges \u2013 global challenges \u2013 jointly, especially when it comes to food security, energy security, and other challenges.<\/p>\n

Here in the state of Qatar we always look forward to consolidate our partnership with the United States, and we look forward to have an open dialogue and the \u2013 a relationship based on openness and transparency between our two countries.\u00a0 And on \u2013 I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to commend the efforts by the United States, and we thank United States for all their efforts and help to the state of Qatar in organizing the football tournament when it comes to the security aspect and other aspects.\u00a0 And we thank you, Your Excellency, for all your help and support.<\/p>\n

And this is part and parcel of our cooperation, which goes beyond the partnership, the multifaceted partnership between us.\u00a0 And we thank you for being with us and we wish again, with your football team, a \u2013 luck, and we also wish you and our national team success in the tournament.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, good afternoon, everyone, and Mr. Minister, Mohammed, thank you.\u00a0 Thank you for your wonderful hospitality.\u00a0 Thank you for the very good and detailed conversations that we just had as a part of the Strategic Dialogue.<\/p>\n

I have to say that having proudly hosted the opening of the 4th U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Washington last year, I can objectively concede that our hosts have outdone us when it comes to entertainment surrounding the dialogue.<\/p>\n

It was absolutely thrilling to watch Team USA play last night \u2013 thrilling as an American, thrilling as a soccer fan, a football fan.\u00a0 And our team played with so much heart and made our country proud, and we\u2019re anxious to see the rest of the tournament and the games that follow.<\/p>\n

Now, I know that neither of us notched the win that we wanted in our first match.\u00a0 I\u2019m reminded of the wisdom of a great American philosopher \u2013 basketball coach Greg Popovich \u2013 who once said, and I quote, \u201cThe measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn\u2019t go our way,\u201d which is true for diplomacy as well as in sports.<\/p>\n

So we meet at what is a high point of the five-decade-long diplomatic relationship between our countries.\u00a0 On every issue that matters to our nations, our collaboration, I think it\u2019s fair to say, is deeper and our people are better off for it.<\/p>\n

The security ties between us have never been stronger.\u00a0 Qatar hosts our largest military base in the region, which is an anchor for regional security and regional stability.\u00a0 In March, President Biden designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally \u2013 several months later, we began delivering F-15 aircraft to the Qatar Emiri Air Force, raising its defense capabilities, making our militaries more interoperable.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re partnering in the region and beyond to enhance stability, to reduce tensions, to end conflicts.\u00a0 Qatar has provided vital economic assistance to the Palestinian people.\u00a0 It\u2019s helped pay the salaries of security forces in Lebanon.\u00a0 It\u2019s brokered peace between Chad\u2019s transitional government and opposition groups.\u00a0 And Qatar consistently works to mend regional rifts, which is essential to addressing the common challenges that we face.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also deepening economic ties.\u00a0 From civil aviation to renewable energy, Qatari and American businesses, innovators are creating new opportunities for people in both of our countries.<\/p>\n

We welcome the emir\u2019s commitment to ramp up Qatar\u2019s production of liquefied natural gas.\u00a0 That will bolster global energy security.\u00a0 It will help people around the world who are struggling to keep up with rising costs.\u00a0 And we recognize Qatar\u2019s efforts to curb emissions like joining the Global Methane Pledge, and its investments in technologies to foster a clean energy transition in the years ahead.<\/p>\n

Where conflicts and deep instability persist, we are working to help people who are suffering as a result.<\/p>\n

When the Taliban forcibly took power in Afghanistan, Qatar played an indispensable role in helping the United States relocate tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans, aid workers, diplomats, and others.\u00a0 More Afghans came through Doha than any other place in the world.\u00a0 The work continues, as Qatar continues to provide a transit point for Afghans who are on their way to starting new lives in the United States.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re profoundly grateful for the role that Qatar \u2013 and Mohammed, you in particular, your team have played in helping secure the release of U.S. citizen Mark Frerichs after more than two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

The Strategic Dialogue that we launched today will build on this robust cooperation in all of these areas but also many others, including cultural and educational cooperation, counterterrorism, visa and consular issues, labor issues, human trafficking, all of which we\u2019ve worked on in the run-up to this historic sporting event.<\/p>\n

We congratulate Qatar on hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

The emir\u2019s statement that all are welcome here for the World Cup is an important message for an event that brings together people from all walks of life, nations, faiths, sexual orientations, races, and other forms of diversity.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s important to make that inclusivity a reality.<\/p>\n

We also applaud the historic step of opening direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha for the duration of the World Cup, which shows the promise of expanding people-to-people ties and economic ties between countries.<\/p>\n

Now, a massive amount of work goes into hosting an event like this.\u00a0 We know that without workers, including many migrant workers, this World Cup simply would not have been possible.\u00a0 Qatar has made meaningful strides in recent years to improve its labor laws, to expand worker rights.\u00a0 The United States has been and will continue to be a consistent partner in those efforts.<\/p>\n

Of course, real work remains on these issues.\u00a0 And the United States will continue to work with Qatar on strengthening labor rights and human rights more broadly long after the World Cup is over.\u00a0 Today, we signed a letter of intent to expand our cooperation on promoting accessibility, combating human trafficking, improving labor practices.<\/p>\n

These efforts align with President Biden\u2019s commitment to making human rights a pillar of our foreign policy and core to our values and our interests.<\/p>\n

Before last night\u2019s game, I had a chance to watch some young players \u2013 teenagers from the United States and Qatar, from Canada and Mexico, doing drills on a pitch.\u00a0 As a lifelong soccer fan \u2013 and, it\u2019s charitable to say, a mediocre player \u2013 it reminded me of one of the very best things about this sport.\u00a0 No matter where you go, every corner of the world \u2013 this has been my experience the last few years \u2013 you find people who love the game.\u00a0 They love to play it; they love to watch it.\u00a0 They love to argue about it.\u00a0 They love rooting and supporting a team with all of the joy and occasional heartbreak that that brings.<\/p>\n

And in a world where we\u2019re so often on a daily basis reminded of what makes us different, what divides us, soccer is a powerful unifying force, a language \u2013 a common language \u2013 that pretty much the entire world speaks.<\/p>\n

So I wish all of the countries represented here a successful tournament.\u00a0 And go Team USA.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n

MODERATOR:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter) Now we move to the questions.\u00a0 We start with Amina.\u00a0 Please, the floor is yours.<\/p>\n

QUESTION:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter)\u00a0Salaam Alaikum<\/em>.\u00a0 Amina from Qatar TV.\u00a0 Question to Your Excellency Secretary of State.\u00a0 Taking into account the competition at the international level, including the war in the Ukraine and the American strategic presence in the Middle East, how can this impact the Qatari-American partnership in the future?\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, thank you.\u00a0 I think what you\u2019re seeing evidenced here today, throughout all of the strategic dialogues that we\u2019ve done and the new one that we\u2019re launching, is that we have a partnership that is both bilateral, it\u2019s regional, and increasingly it\u2019s global.\u00a0 And we\u2019ve seen that just in recent months and recent years in a whole variety of places \u2013 the cooperation that I mentioned on Afghanistan, for which the United States is genuinely grateful; of course, the longtime hosting of U.S. forces here in Qatar; the status that Qatar has as a major non-NATO ally that President Biden designated just a few months ago; the work that Qatar is doing and doing, in some cases in cooperation with us, to mend regional rifts; the work that Qatar is doing to support the Palestinian people, which is vital and important; the principled stand that Qatar has taken on Ukraine; and, of course, helping to provide for the world\u2019s energy needs.\u00a0 In these and so many other areas, we\u2019re working ever more closely together, and Qatar is having a very, very significant impact.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something else that we talked about today that I think is very important, and that is the work that we\u2019re doing and that I hope that we coordinate even more together on providing support and humanitarian assistance to people who need it.\u00a0 This is something that Qatar has been a leader in, and the needs around the world are great.\u00a0 We see this in terms of food insecurity, where we are working together; we see it in terms of energy, of course; global health.\u00a0 One of the efforts that we\u2019re going to be taking through the Strategic Dialogue is heading a working group together to better coordinate and focus our joint efforts on providing this kind of assistance to countries that are in need.<\/p>\n

It is hugely important that even as we\u2019re dealing every day with the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine \u2013 and we have to do that, not only for the sake of the people of Ukraine but because Russia has committed a terrible aggression as well against the very principles of the United Nations Charter that are vital in trying to keep peace and security and stability around the world \u2013 even as we\u2019re doing that, we\u2019re also determined to address the many challenges that people around the world face, some of which have been exacerbated by the Russian aggression.\u00a0 But in all of these efforts, our countries are working closely together, and that cooperation is deepening.<\/p>\n

MODERATOR:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter) Thank you, Your Excellency.\u00a0 Sara Rasheed from Al Jazeera Network.<\/p>\n

QUESTION:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter)\u00a0Salaam Alaikum<\/em>.\u00a0 My first question (inaudible).\u00a0 After the success in organizing the World Cup tournament in collaboration with the state of Qatar, the United States and Qatar, how this will impact future relations and the joint mechanisms between the two countries?<\/p>\n

My other question is to the Qatari foreign minister.\u00a0 On this attack and criticism of the state of Qatar, is it waning now?\u00a0 Is it getting easier than from the start of the tournament?<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 I think what\u2019s most important to highlight is this:\u00a0 Our countries have been working closely together, collaborating; dealing with, as I said, both issues between us, regional issues, global issues, well before the World Cup.\u00a0 We continued that collaboration during the World Cup.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to pursue it after the World Cup is over.\u00a0 In fact, the baton has passed to the United States, Mexico, and Canada for 2026.\u00a0 And the Strategic Dialogue is at the heart of that.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it was so important for us to launch the latest round, which we did today, but in launching the Strategic Dialogue, that starts a whole process where we have working groups between our countries that in a whole variety of areas that we\u2019ve agreed we\u2019ll pursue deeper collaboration, deeper cooperation.\u00a0 That\u2019s the work of the coming months.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we started today.<\/p>\n

FOREIGN MINISTER AL-THANI:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter) (Inaudible) this attack in the media, first of all, I would like to mention that the state of Qatar (inaudible) organizing the World Cup (inaudible), we were taking this into account.\u00a0 We thought, were expecting that we will be facing different reactions (inaudible) the organization of (inaudible) was amazing (inaudible) testify to that.<\/p>\n

As for the reforms the state of Qatar carried out, I think there were some quarters who did not take this into consideration.\u00a0 And, unfortunately, they based their (inaudible) preconceived judgments, even after visiting the state of Qatar and meeting with officials in the state of Qatar.\u00a0 We always open our doors to everyone.\u00a0 We always engage in dialogue with everyone concerned since the start of this criticism (inaudible).\u00a0 We cannot change the opinions of those who just want to attack us and distort our image, and this may have nothing to do with Qatar itself.<\/p>\n

But thankfully the vast majority of people, especially football fans, when they came to Doha, they were surprised and amazed by our preparations.\u00a0 The people of Qatar is always welcoming and always receive people (inaudible).\u00a0 And it\u2019s amazing to see the joy in the eyes of people, the fans, and the enjoyment of this event, which was something (inaudible) sees for the first time.\u00a0 The World Cup in previous sessions (inaudible) usually held in countries which were very advanced European, Western, and African countries.\u00a0 This is the first time a Middle Eastern country bears this responsibility.<\/p>\n

And as for the reforms which took place (inaudible), many may be of the opinion that the World Cup was the prime reason for that.\u00a0 But we think the World Cup was (inaudible) catalyst, an agent to accelerate our reform, because we based everything we do on the vision of his highness the emir, which is Qatar national vision, which is in line with the developments of the world around us.\u00a0 And this is a continuous process and is not linked to a particular event or a particular stage.\u00a0 This is a journey, a journey which we undertook based on our own experiences and the help of countries like the United States, Canada, Mexico, who will be organizing the next World Cup.\u00a0 And we wish them, by the way, good luck in their efforts.<\/p>\n

And our message to international world opinion \u2013 and the state of Qatar welcomes everybody.\u00a0 The state of Qatar\u2019s doors are open.\u00a0 Let\u2019s focus on football, on people, and what takes place in the stadium and on the pitch.\u00a0 And let\u2019s not forget what Qatar has done.\u00a0 And if everybody wants to rely on the (inaudible) ideas, this will be only of a temporary impact, but the facts on the ground will remain and speak for themselves.<\/p>\n

MR PRICE:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our first question goes to Michel Ghandour.<\/p>\n

QUESTION:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Mr. Secretary, after resolving the immunity issue for Saudi crown prince in Washington, should we expect him in Washington soon?<\/p>\n

And also, two weeks ago, President Biden said we are going to free Iran.\u00a0 What has the U.S. been doing in this regard?\u00a0 And do you have any comments on Iran announcement today that they have begun producing enriched uranium at 60 percent purity, and do you consider the JCPOA dead?<\/p>\n

(In Arabic.)<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 With regard to MBS, there are no plans for him to travel to Washington.\u00a0 Let me say just more broadly on this question, the question of immunity, we received a request from a federal court that had litigation before it via the Justice Department to ascertain our opinion on his status, and we conveyed an opinion based on longstanding legal practice that given his position as a head of state, head of government, or foreign minister, that he was as a legal matter entitled to immunity.<\/p>\n

This is a determination that we\u2019ve made in dozens \u2013 hundreds \u2013 of cases over the years, and in every case we simply follow the law.\u00a0 And that\u2019s what we did.\u00a0 The opinion that we provided does not speak in any way to the merits of the case nor the current status of the bilateral relationship.\u00a0 Our review of that relationship is ongoing.\u00a0 And again, I would note that this opinion was solicited by the court, and it has been our practice \u2013 in fact, I can\u2019t think of a case where we didn\u2019t, when asked by the court, provide an opinion.<\/p>\n

As to Iran, I can\u2019t confirm any reports about their activities.\u00a0 It\u2019s something that we\u2019re looking at very carefully and very closely, and what we\u2019ve seen and we\u2019ve spoken of many, many times before is that while we continue to believe that the best way to resolve the challenges posed by Iran\u2019s nuclear program are through diplomacy.\u00a0 Iran, for a variety of reasons, is \u2013 has chosen to insert extraneous issues into the effort to revive the JCPOA.\u00a0 And, of course, meanwhile, the world is rightly focused on what\u2019s happening inside of Iran.\u00a0 The protests that have arisen since the killing of Mahsa Amini are something that have galvanized the world, and that is where the focus is.<\/p>\n

And, of course, at the same time, the steps that Iran has taken to provide weapons, to provide drones to Russia to aid in its aggression against Ukraine are of deep concern and something that we\u2019re very focused on.<\/p>\n

We are taking steps across the board to push back against both the actions that Iran has taken to repress its own people in terms of sanctioning those who are responsible and also helping companies make sure that the Iranians have the technology that they need to continue to communicate with one another and to be connected to the outside world.\u00a0 We\u2019re also sanctioning entities that are involved in the provision of weapons, like drones, and looking at whatever means possible to help the Ukrainians defend against the use of these weapons.<\/p>\n

And as we\u2019ve said all along, even as we\u2019ve been engaged in diplomacy to try to see if we can get a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA, we continue to exert pressure on Iran for steps that it\u2019s taken to strengthen its nuclear program in contravention of the JCPOA itself, as well as the steps that it\u2019s taking in other areas that pose significant challenges, concerns to people around the world.<\/p>\n

FOREIGN MINISTER AL-THANI:<\/strong>\u00a0 (Via interpreter) (Inaudible) dealt with in our strategic dialogue.\u00a0 First of all, we greatly value our partnership with the United States and the cooperation between government entities in the United States and Qatar, whether to do with your ambassador or any other aspect.\u00a0 As we said previously, the question of human rights in Qatar is the responsibility of the state towards the people \u2013 every people of Qatar, everybody who lives here in Qatar \u2013 and our leadership was very decisive in these reforms, which were implemented to serve the (inaudible).<\/p>\n

Of course, the question is not just giving pledges by the state towards other countries, and as we said, we value our partnership and dialogue with the United States.\u00a0 But there is also a problem, an actionable problem, between us and the United States, whether for capacity building between different institutes or law enforcement agencies or in general to benefit from the experience of the United States.\u00a0 Of course, there are topics upon which we agree and others which we don\u2019t.\u00a0 This is normal.\u00a0 We \u2013 of course, this has a lot to do with the society in which these measures are implemented, and as we said previously, for us this is both the duty and the responsibility of our government towards its people and towards providing the kind of environment which can protect the lives of everybody who lives (inaudible).<\/p>\n

MR PRICE:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our final question goes to John Hudson from\u00a0The Washington Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n

QUESTION:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thanks very much.\u00a0 Mr. Secretary, fairly or unfairly, some people have called this the most politicized World Cup in history, due much in part to migrant labor and LGBT issues.\u00a0 As a longtime soccer fan over decades, do you agree with that historical assessment of Qatar\u2019s place among World Cups?\u00a0 Did that give you any pause about making this trip?\u00a0 Separately, what do you think of FIFA\u2019s armband edict, which is discouraging a pro-tolerance message?<\/p>\n

Minister Al-Thani, it was not long ago that your country was subject to an unprecedented blockade by GCC countries, and the U.S. Government under a different administration was largely silent about that act of economic aggression.\u00a0 Was that experience of isolation what propelled Qatar to deepen its relationship with the current administration on so many fronts that have been discussed, whether it be Ukraine or Afghanistan or any other issue?<\/p>\n

SECRETARY BLINKEN:<\/strong>\u00a0 John, thank you.\u00a0 First, here in Qatar, as we\u2019ve noted, we launched the fifth edition of our strategic dialogue.\u00a0 That is work that started well before the World Cup.\u00a0 It\u2019s continuing during the World Cup and it will continue after the World Cup.\u00a0 And in that, as we\u2019ve discussed, we are working on the broad array of issues that join our countries together, as well as working through areas where we have some differences.<\/p>\n

It also happens that the World Cup is on right now, and I make no bones about having the pleasure to actually come and cheer on Team USA in its opening match, something I was really both proud to do as an American and, yes, pleased to do as a longtime soccer fan and player.\u00a0 But the main point is this:\u00a0 The work that we\u2019re doing is something that precedes this World Cup, continues during it, will continue after it.\u00a0 We\u2019ve already talked about the many areas in which the United States and Qatar are working very closely together through the strategic dialogue to deepen cooperation, to deepen coordination.<\/p>\n

And as I\u2019ve also said, human rights is one of the key pillars of our foreign policy, whether it\u2019s here in the region or, for that matter, all around the world.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been talking about human rights, labor rights, trafficking in persons with our colleagues from Qatar for a long time, and that, too, is a conversation that continued today and will continue when the spotlight of the World Cup moves on.\u00a0 We\u2019ve documented real progress.\u00a0 We\u2019ve documented ongoing challenges, including in our annual reports, and I\u2019d refer you, for example, to the Trafficking in Persons Report that we recently put out.<\/p>\n

We appreciate the work that Qatar has done to improve labor practices, including efforts to investigate, to prosecute, to convict traffickers, staffing the specialized trafficking police unit.\u00a0 In 2021, under the U.S.-Qatar anti-trafficking MOU and the labor MOU that we signed, we implemented joint initiatives \u2013 and you\u2019ve heard the minister refer to these as well \u2013 to help Qatar build capacity, to develop the technical expertise, to raise awareness, to promote the rights of migrant workers.\u00a0 We\u2019re doing this through technical exchanges.\u00a0 We\u2019re doing it through sharing of different practices.\u00a0 And we\u2019re helping to actually see reforms implemented.\u00a0 That is critical.<\/p>\n

One of the things that I mentioned earlier is our hope and expectation that some of the progress that\u2019s been made continues and expands after the World Cup is over.\u00a0 I also want to commend Qatar for reopening the humanitarian care house.\u00a0 That will help protect and assist victims of trafficking.\u00a0 But as I noted, there is still considerable work to be done.\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly why it\u2019s so important that we have these sessions and we have these discussions.<\/p>\n

So that we could take advantage of having the strategic dialogue while the World Cup is going on \u2013 all to the better.\u00a0 As I said, Qatar has the spotlight on it now.\u00a0 You\u2019ve heard the minister talk about that.\u00a0 But much more important is what happens when the spotlight moves on, and what I can tell you will happen is our work together to continue to address challenges with regard to rights, to labor practices, to trafficking.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the armband question, look, as I said earlier, one of the most powerful things about football, about soccer, is its potential to bring the world together \u2013 quite literally, as it\u2019s together here in Qatar, but also figuratively in terms of just bringing human beings together and rediscovering everything that they have in common and how that really does fundamentally outweigh the differences that we deal with every day.\u00a0 That\u2019s the power of sport.\u00a0 That\u2019s the power of what we see going on.\u00a0 And the message that we heard from the Emir is hugely important, that all are welcome.\u00a0 And, of course, it\u2019s important to make that meaningful, to put that into practice.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always concerning from my perspective when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression.\u00a0 It\u2019s especially so when the expression is for diversity and for inclusion.\u00a0 And in my judgment, at least, no one on a football pitch should be forced to choose between supporting these values and playing for their team.<\/p>\n

FOREIGN MINISTER AL-THANI:<\/strong>\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Regarding, actually, the crisis of 2017 and the U.S. response \u2013 well, I think that there is some confusion here because of some levels of response to what happened in 2017.\u00a0 And we believe that the institutional relationship between the two countries has been always the most important safeguard for this relationship. And even during the crisis and the time when we had probably some cloud in understanding between the two countries, the institution has been always serving as a facilitator of dialogue between the two government, making sure that everyone at all the levels, they have the right information about the cooperation and the partnership between our two countries.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been determined about this relationship not this year, not last year, not 10 years ago, but 50 years ago.\u00a0 This relationship has been progressing in a positive direction.\u00a0 Sometimes we have probably disagreement on maybe certain issues.\u00a0 We talk, we engage in dialogue, we work together in bringing our differences closer and more important the common areas.\u00a0 And this has been demonstrated in a lot of relationships.\u00a0 As the Secretary mentioned, Al Udeid Air Base has been the center to fight terrorism, and this base didn\u2019t start with President Biden administration or with the previous administration.\u00a0 This started 20 years ago, and this relationship has been nothing but only growing.<\/p>\n

Our political position has been always on different issues, on different causes, very much principled on the international law and the UN Charter, and anything \u2013 any country, any cases \u2013 violating these principles, Qatar will definitely stand out and (inaudible).\u00a0 This is what we share with the U.S., a shared vision, a responsibility together to make the world a better place with a lot of other partners.\u00a0 And I believe that the work that we\u2019ve been doing in the past couple of years, it has been significant, recognized by both countries, that both of us \u2013 our partnership \u2013 are vital for our countries.\u00a0 It\u2019s vital for the U.S. to have a partner like Qatar in this region; it\u2019s vital for us globally to have a partner like the U.S.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019ve been saying this repeatingly:\u00a0 Qatar\/U.S. partnership is actually the most important international relationship that Qatar has on the international (inaudible) beyond our region.\u00a0 So this is something that we are committed to pursuing together with my colleague, Tony, and to continue pursuing this with also the future administration, whoever will come after me or after you.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

11\/22\/2022 01:10 PM EST   Antony...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54825"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54826,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54825\/revisions\/54826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}