Qatari foreign minister meets Ross and chairs GCC- EU Meeting

Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani received at his residence in New York yesterday afternoon the US envoy and coordinator of the Middle East peace talks, Dennis Ross.

They discussed developments connected with the peace process in the Middle East and preparations under way to host the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economic conference due to be held in Doha from 16th to 18th of November.

On Thursday, the Qatari Foreign Minister chaired the GCC side of a joint ministerial meeting with EU counterparts. The EU side was chaired by the Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jacques Poos. This came at a working luncheon the Qatari minister hosted. The meeting was attended by other Gulf States' top officials and the GCC Secretary General Sheikh Jamil al-Hujailan.

Discussion at the meeting centered on issues of common interest, foremost the Middle East peace process, EU-GCC cooperation, security in the Gulf Region, and UN reforms.