Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, to the Federal Chancellery for talks. The Chancellor expressed her delight that the seventh "Qatar Business and Investment Forum" is being held in Berlin. Yesterday evening she opened the Forum with Qatar’s head of government.

40 years of diplomatic relations

Angela Merkel pointed out that Germany has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Qatar for forty years. She made special mention of the two countries’ close cultural and economic cooperation. The Chancellor reported that she had discussed bilateral relations and the foreign policy situation in the region with Sheikh Hamad.

In spite of good economic cooperation, she expressed her regret that there is still no double taxation agreement between the two countries. This is an obstacle to economic cooperation, she said.

A political solution for Syria

Alongside human rights in Qatar, the situation in Syria was on the agenda. The two heads of government agreed that a political solution must be found. Both rejected military options. The regime of President Assad hast lost all political and moral legitimacy, they agreed.

Qatar’s Prime Minister declared that the wishes of the Syrian people must finally be realised. The two politicians share the conviction that Syria could destabilise the entire region. The Chancellor praised Qatar’s broad engagement in Egypt, where it has been very generous in its assistance.

Prime Minister Al Thani thanked the German side for the political talks and the Chancellor in particular for attending the Investment Forum. He also praised Germany’s important role in Europe.

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Against nuclear weapons in Iran

Qatar’s Prime Minister underlined that Iran is entitled to make peaceful use of nuclear technology. Like the Chancellor though, he categorically rejected the idea of nuclear weapons in Iran. The two heads of government agreed that the problems with Iran must be resolved at political level, and that no violence should be used.

The seventh Business and Investment Forum "Business & Investment in Qatar" was held for the first time in Berlin on 15 and 16 April 2013, having previously taken place in New York, London and Paris. Chancellor Angela Merkel opened it on 15 April with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

At the Forum, the scene was set for continued successful cooperation between Germany and Qatar. Foreign investment plays a crucial part in Qatar’s further growth. It is helping develop the country, especially in the field of infrastructure and in projects that are preparing the country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.