Qatar's FM discusses with French peer ME question, Iraqi crisis

Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani has discussed with France's Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin at the French foreign ministry headquarters in Paris international and regional issues of mutual concern especially the Middle East question and the Iraqi crisis.

The two ministers also reviewed means of backing bilateral cooperation relations between Qatar and France. The meeting was attended by Qatar's ambassador in Paris and officials concerned representing the two sides.

Meantime, the Qatari foreign minister announced that there are current contacts to lift the Israeli siege imposed on the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. On the report made by the British prime minister Tony Blair concerning claims on Iraqi weapons and intentions, the Qatari foreign minister said "I am not an expert in this matter. We heard the report. I think it is important that the UN inspectors will decided whether the report is true or not. If True, Iraq has to abide by UN security council resolutions."

As for the American- Qatari military cooperation, the Qatari foreign minister said that cooperation between the two sides is old, continuous and will be lasting.

Replying to another question on the possibility of using the American base in Qatar against Iraq, he expressed his regret in linking always between the existence of this base and using it. He indicated that American bases exist in all the Gulf region.