HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressing a joint press conference in Berlin yesterday.

QNA/Berlin

HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani and German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday underlined the importance of the relations between Qatar and Germany and the need to further strengthen them.

Addressing a joint press conference here with Merkel, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani said that yesterday’s talks with the German chancellor reflected the positive relations between the two countries in various respects, including consultation on  political, economy, education and  health areas.

He said the biggest evidence of the positive relations is that Qatar was now holding the Business and Investment Forum in Qatar in the German capital, Berlin.

“We confirmed during our discussions the importance of supporting the Egyptian economy so that it would take the right track and also the need to adopt diplomatic approaches to solve the issue of nuclear energy in Iran  and not to resort to using  force in the region. We are fully aware that the use of force is not in the interest of the region in general,” the Premier and Foreign Minister noted.

He added that the talks also touched on the Syrian affairs in detail, stressing Qatar’s clear position in support of the Syrian revolution and the aspirations of the Syrian people. The Premier and Foreign Minister said the German chancellor also has same approach in support of the demands of the Syrian people. 

Answering questions on President Assad’s allegations that Qatar was helping Syrian rebels in order to destabilise Syria, and that some neighbouring countries were scoffing at Qatar’s close relationship to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Prime Minister said that Assad was only partially right. He explained that Qatar only began supporting the Syrian uprising after exhausting all efforts to remedy the situation and effecting a real change. He noted that he visited Damascus twice before the revolt only to find persisting procrastination and a regime’s insistence to dismiss all other solutions, barring the military. Hence, he explained, Qatar shifted to the side of the Syrian people, not to destabilise the Syrian regime but to realise the aspirations of the Syrian people.

As for allegations that Qatar was seeking to destabilise the region, he said history stood witness to those who used to hatch plots in many areas - “terrorist machinations and plots for destabilisation” - stressing the peaceful intentions of Qatar. 

Asked about Qatar’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said Doha supports the popular will of each country as the Brotherhood won elections in Tunisia and Egypt. “We deal with governments and not individuals or groups. This rumour emerged in some neighbouring countries,” he said.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim added that there are a lot of rumours, but insisted that it is actions that matter. “We know what we are doing. We only support the popular will and never interfere in the affairs of other countries or who rules them. We did not bring the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt or elsewhere and we started to support Egypt before they came to power,” the premier said, adding that HH the Emir, HH the Heir Apparent and he himself all visited Cairo before the Brotherhood ruled the country.

Speaking on the Iranian issue and negotiations in relation to Tehran’s nuclear programme and its upcoming presidential vote, the Prime Minister said Iran is a neighbour of Qatar and an important state in the region, which has the right to some nuclear technology in line with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Asked about the military agreements between Qatar and Germany, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said the issue was not addressed during his talks with Merkel.  

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel  said  that the talks with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister  addressed a number of topics, including ways to enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.

She said her country hopes for closer ties with Qatar in various fields.  With respect to the agreement on the prevention of double taxation, she said it is an impediment to investment so far.

She added: “We are pleased that Germany can contribute to projects, many of them are related infrastructure.  We also talked about the development of society, especially with regard to the situation of human rights in Qatar and the overall bilateral relations.”  

Merkel said: “We also discussed possible solutions to the Syrian conflict”. She said Germany would not supply arms to the Syrian rebels, but would not block talks in the European Union about such aid. Britain and France advocate sending weapons.

“If there are to be further talks, Germany is willing to conduct such talks, without infringing on our own position that we will not be able to supply weapons ourselves,” she said.

Berlin wants a political, rather than a military solution to the Syrian crisis.

“We are convinced that Assad has lost his legitimacy, and that this is all about supporting the wishes of the Syrian people and thus supporting the peaceful forces of the opposition,” Merkel said.

The chancellor also praised Qatar’s financial aid to Egypt.

“We want Egypt to get onto a sensible path economically ... I would like to thank Qatar for its multiple commitments,” she said.