The crown prince, who arrived on a landmark visit here on Monday evening, said the Kingdom is in no dispute with Qatar. “We’re in full agreement and there is no dispute between the two countries. Those who say otherwise want to fish in troubled waters,” he said.
Asked what his message for the people of Qatar was, he said, “I consider the people of Qatar as the people of the Kingdom… We are one family.”
The crown prince and Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani discussed regional and international issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue and Iraq, reviewed relations between the two countries and explored ways of expanding cooperation. Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad ibn Jassem Al-Thani, Deputy Premier and Energy Minister Abdullah Al-Attiyah and other top Qatari leaders also attended the talks.
The crown prince said the visit opens a new era in Saudi-Qatari relations. “The visit underlines the warm relations that exist between the two countries, which are seeking to promote cooperation to serve their joint interests and strengthen the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” he said.
The newly appointed Saudi Ambassador to Doha, Ahmed ibn Ali Al-Qahtani, urged Saudi and Qatari businessmen to invest in both countries. “The Saudi Embassy in Doha will be open for them to remove all obstacles and receive information,” he said.
Al-Qahtani also called for the establishment of a higher authority to promote trade and investment between the two countries.
Saud Al-Jufairy, director of economic affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Economy and Trade, backed the idea and called for more joint investment ventures.
Qatari newspapers said the visit would strengthen the GCC. Al-Sharq noted: “Gulf citizens want to see resolutions relating to GCC citizenship and their right to own land, invest and move freely in member countries.”
