The French embassy in Doha will highlight the various developments in the France-Qatar bilateral relations to mark the Bastille Day today.
The French community in Qatar, Qatari dignitaries, and members of the diplomatic corps are to attend the celebration at the Ritz-Carlton Doha.
“For this second National Day, for me as ambassador to Qatar, I can say I am extremely happy when I arrived here due to the quality and deeply rooted dimension of the relationship between the two countries,” French ambassador Eric Chevallier told reporters recently.
“I thought it would be at the same time easy to work here because the relation is very good but also not so easy because it was a challenge to see how it can be improved,” the envoy noted. “After two years, I am extremely happy because last year for example, and again in the last month, we had many developments in various sectors and domains of the
relationship.
“This year is also developing very well,” according to Chevallier citing the recent partnership signed in June between Qatar Petroleum and Total to jointly work for 25 years on
Al Shaheen oilfield.
He said the two countries have also forged several partnerships in different fields, including sports, aimed at ensuring a safe and well-organised FIFA World Cup in 2022.
The envoy noted that they organised a cluster comprised of more than 40 companies called French Team for Sport, which will cover events management, communication, ticketing, smart innovation programmes, and security, among others.
“Many (French) companies are proposing their service so it is up to Qatar, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and the different stakeholders to decide when and how the support of these French companies could come,” he added.
Some 40 experts from Qatar coming from the SC, Lekhwiya, and the Ministry of Interior also went to France recently to watch and see how a major sporting competition such as the Euro 2016 is being hosted, said Chevallier.
In partnership with Qatar’s Public Prosecution, he said they also started a programme to train judges to deal with major sport events in Qatar.
Chevallier also cited their iconic partnership with the French football giants, Paris Saint-Germain, a move that could further boost tourism in Qatar.
“On cycling, the famous Tour De France, which is currently happening, I hope this experience could benefit Qatar for organising the World Cycling competition which will take place here in the beginning of October,” he said.
The envoy stressed that all these sports activities, programmes, and partnerships help enhance the relationship between the people of Qatar and France.
“We have a broad partnership with Qatar in sport,” he said, adding: “Qatar knows that we are providing full support for FIFA 2022, it could be in construction, so many companies are supporting the process, there are many elements in the organisation itself, as well as for the security.”
Besides sport, he added that the two countries also have ongoing projects in the field of culture in partnership with the Doha Film Institute.
Three young Qatari filmmakers, including one female, will be travelling to France this summer to participate in a training programme at La Femis, considered as among the best film academy in Europe.
Chevallier said Qatar also signed an agreement with Pasteur Institute, a world-class institution dealing with health and science, particularly in the field of infectious disease.
“For the first time in the Gulf region, Pasteur Institute decided to develop a partnership with Qatar especially in the field of infectious disease which is very important,” he said.
The two countries are also working together to tackle terrorism and other security
issues in the region.
About the celebration in France, Chevallier said many residents can be seen dancing on the streets, playing music, and watching the fireworks display in many cities.
“Fire brigades organise in their premises (fire stations) big dancing activities. You have old man, old woman, young man and young woman, and children, all of them gathering everywhere and of course the impressive military parade along Champs-Elysees,” he added.