Eduardo González
Yesterday, the Government of Qatar conveyed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, its gratitude for Spain’s position in favor of regional and international efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region.
Albares was received in Doha by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on the first leg of his tour of the Persian Gulf, which will include Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
During this meeting, both reviewed bilateral relations and the minister conveyed to the Emir “Spain’s firm commitment to peace and stability in the region” whose main axes are the release of the Israeli hostages by Hamas, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the two-state solution, with “Israel and Palestine living together in peace,” as declared by the minister through his official account on the social network X. Likewise, as reported by the official Qatari news agency QNA, Albares delivered to the Emir a written message from King Felipe VI in which he expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral relations.
As reported this Monday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the objectives of the trip to Qatar was “to take an interest in the latest contacts that the Qatari authorities maintain with the parties and to offer the necessary help from Spain to establish a new dynamic of peace in the region.”
Next, Albares met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Abdelrahmán Al Thani, with whom he agreed to continue deepening the “strategic dialogue and economic cooperation.” Additionally, they addressed “the situation in the region” and committed to joining “efforts for peace.” “Qatar is a strategic partner of Spain in the region,” added the Spanish minister through X.
At the end of the meeting, Albares declared that both had spoken about “the best way to join forces to achieve a permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and so that the Spanish idea of a peace conference that could implement the two-state solution that can make the Palestinian state a reality, move forward.” They also addressed the situation of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, during the meeting the latest events in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories were reviewed and Al Zani reiterated “the position of the State of Qatar in favor of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. the protection of civilians and guarantees for the continuous and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip.” Likewise, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister “expressed the gratitude of the State of Qatar for the positions of the Kingdom of Spain in support of regional and international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region.”
Next, Albares was received by the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Albudaiwi, with whom he spoke about this organization’s relations with the EU, Spain’s economic relations with the Gulf countries and the situation in Gaza. “We work with our partners for a definitive peace,” declared the minister through X.
José Manuel Albares’ day began with a meeting with representatives of Spanish companies in Qatar, with whom he spoke about how to continue improving the new framework of economic relations, “after the Spain-Qatar strategic partnership that we are promoting in 2022.” The visit to Doha also included meetings with the Qatar Women Business Association, with the president of the Human Rights Commission and with Spanish students and teachers in the country to promote bilateral cooperation in Spanish culture and language, as well as a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art, where the minister took a brief tour of the section of art objects related to Spain.
