Qatar Daily News

Qatar has put itself solidly behind fellow Arab states that have decided to take Israel to the International Court of Justice for killing nine activists in a raid on Gaza-bound aid ships on Monday, and said it would meet all the expenses to be incurred on the legal proceedings.

Qatar has also said it would fund a worldwide media campaign to expose Israel, its blockade of the Gaza Strip and the aggression it has been perpetrating in the territory.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, told local Arabic dailies that Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, has assured the League of the country’s moral and financial support on the above issues.
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Israeli commandos have attacked to Aid Flotilla, killing more than 10 peace activists headed to Gaza from 50 countries. Agencies said more than 10 people died 80 wounded.

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals.

Six Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy. Turkish diplomats said that: there will be strict consequences of this terrorist action action of Israel.

Industry and Commerce Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer left for Qatar on Sunday, becoming the first Israeli minister to visit Doha since the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war.

He is to head an Israeli delegation for a World Economic Forum Global Redesign Summit in the Qatari capital.

Turkish Minister of Industry and Trade Nihat Ergün is going to Qatar Monday to attend the Arab International Industrial Forum and Fair to be held at the Doha Exhibition Center from May 25 to 28.

According to the announcement made from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ergün will visit Qatar to attend the forum from May 24 to 26. Ergün will meet with the Qatar Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabra Al Thani during his visit to Qatar.

Some seven panels will be held during the forum under the leadership of Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Many businesspeople and 13 representatives at the ministerial level will attend the forum. Turkish Minister Ergün will also give a speech at the “Industry Policies and Strategies” panel during the forum.
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Israel has rejected two proposals from Qatar to restore diplomatic relations and let Israel reopen its office in the capital of Doha.

A senior source in Jerusalem said that in return for renewed diplomatic relations, the Qataris demanded that they be allowed to carry out a series of reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip and to import the necessary construction materials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman were unwilling to agree to this, he said.
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After maintaining almost a week’s silence after announcing his change of nationality, artist M.F. Husain appeared on NDTV 24×7 on Wednesday to speak about the change. A day later, he spoke to Mint from his new homeland, Qatar. Edited excerpts from a phone interview:

When you spoke to Mint in October, you said you were desperate to return to India and end your self-imposed exile. What changed between then and now?

I realized that all this talk was coming in the way of my work. I’m 94 and not getting younger, and I want to focus on my art at this stage. I’m dedicating myself to finishing the artworks for three permanent museums in London and Qatar that are being prepared to host my works. There’s also this project on the 100 years of Indian cinema that I’m set to finish soon. I’m really looking forward to all of this. Read the rest of this entry »

Renowned Indian artist MF Husain, under attack from hardline Hindus for his paintings of nude Hindu goddesses, has been offered Qatari nationality.

The artist made the announcement in The Hindu newspaper. It is not clear whether he will accept the honour.

Since 2006, 95-year-old Mr Husain has been living in Dubai and in London.

The Hindu said that his “impending change of nationality brings to a close one of the sorriest chapters in independent India’s secular history”.

Correspondents say that Mr Husain – who has been forced to flee the country – is one of India’s most pre-eminent artists. Read the rest of this entry »

Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri will pay a two-day visit to Qatar Feb. 24.

This visit as the minister’s previous visits to Dubai and Kuwait, aims to attract investment into the country.

During the visit, Gilauri will be accompanied by the ministers of the economic bodies

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday, “I hope that visa requirements between Turkey and Qatar would be lifted soon. We want to commence a new era in our relations with Qatar like we did earlier in our relations with Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Turkey’s gates are wide open for Qatari investors, tourists and businessmen.”

Speaking at the Turkey-Qatar Business Forum at Doha’s Four Seasons Hotel, Prime Minister Erdogan said, “Turkey is among the countries that were least-affected from the global financial crisis. Recently, our economy has begun giving signals of recovery from the crisis. As of the second half of 2009, shrinkage in our economy stopped. International organizations affirmed that Turkish economy would grow rapidly in 2010 and 2011. Our target is to make Turkish economy one of the world’s biggest economies in 2023.”
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official two-day visit to Qatar starting on Saturday at the invitation of Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabir al Thani.

Erdogan is to attend the forum U.S.-Islamic World, which will take place in Doha on Saturday.
The Turkish prime minister is also scheduled to meet the Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and participate in a Turkish-Qatari business forum.