At an interaction with journalists, Russian ambassador to Qatar Dr Vladimir Titorenko said the Abu Dhabi meeting is of vital importance and the GCC states and Russia would issue a joint communiqué on its deliberations tomorrow.
A host of issues, covering economic, commercial, security and politics would be part of the agenda at the meeting, said the ambassador.
“The meeting is being held in view of Russia’s growing relations with the GCC states, who we see as an important partner in our development,” said Dr Titorenko. It is after a long time that a meeting of this magnitude is taking place, involving Russian and GCC officials, he added. Besides the above topics, several issues of common interest for Russia and Arab states would also figure prominently in the discussions.
Prior to the meeting, the leaders will meet and set the agenda this evening.
The second joint meeting of the GCC states and Russia would be held in Moscow next year, said the envoy.
Speaking about recent discussions, the ambassador said a senior vice-president of the Russian Railways, which is the second largest company in the whole of Russia held a meeting with the CEO of Qatar Railway Company Saad Nasser al-Mohannadi.
The Russian official conveyed to QRC his country’s interest in associating with GCC and Qatar railway projects, revealed Dr Titorenko.
Replying to a query on Russia’s relations with the GCC states, the ambassador said his country had diplomatic missions in not only the GCC, but also in Yemen, which he said is an observer at GCC meetings.
“Russia also has consulates in Jeddah and Dubai, a consul general in Aden, and a permanent representative to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), which is based in Jeddah,” said the ambassador.
While speaking about the growing bilateral relations, Dr Titorenko said his country has offered technical assistance to develop agriculture in Qatar using innovative approaches.
“Through the import of a particular variety of soil from Russia, this country would be able to develop a sizeable number of trees and plants. The time-tested method has many takers and Russia is hopeful that this would go a long way in the development of agriculture in Qatar,” he said.
The ambassador said the trade volume between the two countries cannot be calculated in commercial terms as both Qatar and Russia are rich in oil and gas reserves and they do not depend on each other for either their imports or exports. “However, both of us consider investing in the oil and gas industry of each other so that it could bring benefits to the countries in future,” he said.
Answering another question on Russia’s prowess in the manufacturing industry, Dr Titorenko said most of his country’s equipment would suit only the interests of European countries and places with cold environs and hence could not make much for the requirements of this region’s requirements.
“The countries having huge trade volume with Qatar have major imports of oil and gas from this country and in many cases it accounted for 90% of their bilateral trade,” he pointed out. That could be one of the reasons why trade between the two countries appears to be small, only at $ 50mn in 2010, said the ambassador.
However, efforts are on to develop more joint ventures between Qatar and Russia, especially in gas and oil-related fields, said the envoy. He put the number of Russians in the country at around 1,500, as many of them are employed in hospitality, medical, banking besides the oil and gas industries.
The ambassador also said a number of new Russian doctors are providing services in the country’s medical sector and said the embassy has requested the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) to make use of Russian expertise in sectors like ophthalmology, cardiology, orthopaedics and general surgery.
Dr Titorenko said he is happy that many Russian doctors in Qatar could communicate not only in English but Arabic as well.
Third secretary at the Russian embassy Alexey Kocheshkov was also present.
