Amir of Qatar discusses in Washington bilateral military relations

Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, currently visiting Washington, discussed with the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the congressional leaderships bilateral military and economic relations as well as the conditions in the region, following the war on Iraq and the file of peace in the Middle East.

In a press statement yesterday, Shaikh Hamad said that since there are no real democracies in the Gulf region and with the availability of large natural resources, makes it imperative to have a large security system in the region.

As for the democratic transformation in the state of Qatar, the Amir commended the voting made by the people of Qatar for the new constitution. He added that "this constitution will be the path from which we inspire in future." The visit of the Amir to the US is considered the first visit by an Arab leader since the end of the war led by Washington against Iraq.