Summit meeting between ruler of Qatar, South African peer to strengthen friendship and cooperation

The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani on Tuesday started a visit to South Africa. The visit will last for three days. In an arrival statement at Cape town international airport on Tuesday evening, Sheikh Hamad expressed hope to exchange views and consultation with President of South Africa Thabu Ambiki and members of his government on issues of mutual concern, foremost being strengthening and fostering friendship and cooperation relations "between our two countries in various fields."

Today, Sheikh Hamad will meet with President Mabiki and will deliver a speech before the parliament of South Africa including his vision to issues of peace in the Middle East and Arab- African cooperation and coordination between the countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Non Aligned Movement which is led by South Africa.

South Africa's deputy foreign minister Aziz Bahhad said that the ruler of Qatar who presides over the current session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will in particular discuss with President of South Africa the Middle East crisis. He said that it is the first visit of head of a state in the Arab Gulf region to South Africa, as a result of the continued development of relations between South Africa and Qatar.

Worthy mentioning that the state run- Qatar Petroleum and the South African Sasoul signed in June, a gas project agreement at a value of USD 800 million supposed to start in 2005. Qatar ranks third in the world in its gas reserves following Russia and Iran. Its reserves of this material is estimated at 13 billion cubic meters.

Tomorrow the ruler of Qatar will leave for the Ivory Coast, Genea, Gambia, Niger and Mali.