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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
Ambassador of France to Qatar HE Franck Gellet has reiterated his country’s support to the initiatives of Qatar geared towards becoming more self-sustaining, such as diversification of its economy and opening up Qatari talents to all disciplines.
The envoy was speaking at a reception held on the occasion of the National Day of France on Sunday.
The gathering was attended by Minister of State HE General Hamad al Attiyah, Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem Nasser al Ali, Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassem bin Saif Ahmad al Sulaiti, and Chief of the Protocol HE Ibrahim Fakhroo, along with other dignitaries.
“France, for its part, has remained all the more committed as it perfectly measures the challenges that Qatar, its friend, its partner and its ally, has been facing for two years. In such complex circumstances, it would not act any differently than Qatar, which rightly intends to maintain control of its policies by giving itself all the means of its independence, in an unsettling and uncertain regional moment. And France understands this all the more as it applies this same course of action to itself,” said Ambassador Gellet.
On the occasion, the envoy further stressed the strong bilateral relationship between Qatar and France marked with recent exchange of high-profile visits. He also highlighted the launch of important initiatives that would further deepen and strengthen the ties of the two nations, such as the Qatar-France Strategic Dialogue aimed at setting the common roadmap and reviewing implementation.
He further said, “An illustration of things we have done concretely together: our two national hydrocarbon companies, Qatar Petroleum and Total, have found together and will jointly exploit one of the largest oil fields in the world off the coast of South Africa. Qatar has entrusted the most celebrated French architect, Jean Nouvel, with the construction of the most beautiful museum ever built in our epoch, the National Museum. The most modern automatic metro in the world, for which the most efficient French companies have given their genius, has come into operation.”
Similarly, Gellet highlighted the cooperation of the two countries in defence sector with the arrival of some of French-built Rafale jet fighters in the country.
He said, “France is glad and proud that the anteriority in its relationship has enabled it to bring to Qatar, in the present moment of the region that I described earlier as critical, the Rafale, the best plane of its generation, the weapon of deterrence against anyone who would question its independence and the ultimate means of its protection. It will continue to ensure, in the same spirit of cooperation that has always prevailed, that its Qatari friend will always detain the means to guarantee its sovereignty.”
Gellet also brought to the fore the importance of the celebration of Qatar-France Year of Culture 2020 with activities to be held both in Qatar and in France. According to the ambassador, there are about 5,500 French citizens in the country who are giving their best in the service of Qatar-France friendship and their gratitude for the warmth of the host country.
DOHA
Ambassador of France to Qatar HE Franck Gellet has reiterated his country’s support to the initiatives of Qatar geared towards becoming more self-sustaining, such as diversification of its economy and opening up Qatari talents to all disciplines.
The envoy was speaking at a reception held on the occasion of the National Day of France on Sunday.
The gathering was attended by Minister of State HE General Hamad al Attiyah, Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem Nasser al Ali, Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassem bin Saif Ahmad al Sulaiti, and Chief of the Protocol HE Ibrahim Fakhroo, along with other dignitaries.
“France, for its part, has remained all the more committed as it perfectly measures the challenges that Qatar, its friend, its partner and its ally, has been facing for two years. In such complex circumstances, it would not act any differently than Qatar, which rightly intends to maintain control of its policies by giving itself all the means of its independence, in an unsettling and uncertain regional moment. And France understands this all the more as it applies this same course of action to itself,” said Ambassador Gellet.
On the occasion, the envoy further stressed the strong bilateral relationship between Qatar and France marked with recent exchange of high-profile visits. He also highlighted the launch of important initiatives that would further deepen and strengthen the ties of the two nations, such as the Qatar-France Strategic Dialogue aimed at setting the common roadmap and reviewing implementation.
He further said, “An illustration of things we have done concretely together: our two national hydrocarbon companies, Qatar Petroleum and Total, have found together and will jointly exploit one of the largest oil fields in the world off the coast of South Africa. Qatar has entrusted the most celebrated French architect, Jean Nouvel, with the construction of the most beautiful museum ever built in our epoch, the National Museum. The most modern automatic metro in the world, for which the most efficient French companies have given their genius, has come into operation.”
Similarly, Gellet highlighted the cooperation of the two countries in defence sector with the arrival of some of French-built Rafale jet fighters in the country.
He said, “France is glad and proud that the anteriority in its relationship has enabled it to bring to Qatar, in the present moment of the region that I described earlier as critical, the Rafale, the best plane of its generation, the weapon of deterrence against anyone who would question its independence and the ultimate means of its protection. It will continue to ensure, in the same spirit of cooperation that has always prevailed, that its Qatari friend will always detain the means to guarantee its sovereignty.”
Gellet also brought to the fore the importance of the celebration of Qatar-France Year of Culture 2020 with activities to be held both in Qatar and in France. According to the ambassador, there are about 5,500 French citizens in the country who are giving their best in the service of Qatar-France friendship and their gratitude for the warmth of the host country.
