AT: U.S. Qatari Relations

AT: U.S. Qatari Relations

The Emir, H H Sheikh Hambad bin Khalifa Al Thani, addressing the guests at a banquet hosted by US oil companies in Houston. Partnership between the two countries meets all the requirements of success, because it hinged on a broad base of mutual interests, the Emir said. The process of development launched by Qatar has not slackened down. Its pace of progress has accelerated even further, the Emir said. In 2003 alone, Qatar signed preliminary agreements with foreign companies to launch mammoth ventures with investments totalling over $40bn, the Emir said, adding that US companies have had the largest share of the stakes set for foreign partners. "The agreements in the fields of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Gas-To-Liquid (GTL) and petrochemical sectors, and the implementation of these ventures would turn Qatar into a major hub for the world's GTL industry, through which we would be able to co-supply the world with another source of clean energy," the Emir said. The Emir attributed the confidence placed in Qatar by world-class, especially US corporations to the multiple factors of strength enjoyed by the Qatari economy, the sound financial and economic policies pursued by the state, the manner of treatment based on transparency, objectivity and credibility foreign investors receive in Qatar, as well as the political stability enjoyed by the country. "Keen enough to maintain all elements of strength (in our national economy), we would earnestly endeavour to improve the investment climate yet further by the constant build up of infrastructures, the setting up of industrial zones and the development of investment-conducive legislations," the Emir said. Concluding his address, the Emir expressed hope that cooperation between Qatar and the US would be further developed to attain yet greater and better results that would be added to the considerable accomplishments already attained. The Secretary of State of Texas Geoffrey Connor, in his address, hailed the strong relations maintained between Qatar and the state of Texas and expressed appreciation for the mutual cooperation between the two sides in the energy sector. There are mutual interests bringing the two sides together, he said, citing the existing cooperation between Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development on the one hand and Texas University A&M, a branch of which was inaugurated in Qatar. He expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would be further developed, especially in economic and trading domains.

U.S.-QATARI RELATIONS Bilateral relations are strong and expanding. The U.S. embassy was opened in March 1973. The first resident U.S. ambassador arrived in July 1974. Ties between the U.S. and Qatar are excellent. Amir Hamad last visited Washington in 2004, and President Bush visited Qatar in 2003. Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on regional diplomatic initiatives, cooperate to increase security in the Gulf, and enjoy extensive economic links, especially in the hydrocarbons sector. Qatar sees the development of a world-class educational system as key to its continued success. As a result, hundreds of Qataris study in the United States. Cornell University has established a degree-granting branch medical school campus in Doha, and other universities including Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon University, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Design, the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, and Northwestern also have branch campuses in Qatar's "Education City" complex.