(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Irfan Bukhari / The Peninsula
Ambassador of Germany to Qatar Hans-Udo Muzel has said that in the challenging times, Gulf region needs stability therefore Germany is calling upon all parties involved to bring the ongoing crisis to an end through diplomatic solution. 'Germany has important interest in the whole region and this region is a role model due to GCC cooperation. Now this cooperation is in trouble and Germany wants peace, cooperation and proper trade flows therefore we by supporting Kuwaiti mediation and with other partners like the UK, France and the US are giving a positive push to diplomatic solution of the crisis, Muzel said while talking to media on the occasion of celebration of Day of German Unity.
The National Day reception was attended by the Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Soltan bin Saad Al Muraikhi; Sheikha Hanadi bint Nasser Al Thani, Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Chief of Protocol, Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, and diplomats and dignitaries. The ambassador of Germany said that Gulf crisis had repercussions for everybody. 'Challenging times need stable region which is not really stable now. He said that Germany was calling upon all parties to come together and find a solution. He said that the region should remain united and peaceful. The ambassador said that Germany was a key economic partner of Qatar. 'Qatar has 30 billion euro investment in Germany both public and private sector but the major part of investments is from Qatar's sovereign fund. The ambassador further said that the volume of annual bilateral trade was around 3 billion euro.
The ambassador said that ‘Business and Investment in Qatar Forum' would be held in Germany in spring 2018. 'Next year, we will also celebrate 45-year diplomatic relations with full fervor, he said, adding that the activities of Qatar Germany Year of Culture 2017 would continue by mid January 2018.
He said that with the help of world-leading German company, Qatar had built 100 km tunnel for its metro project in the minimum time which was a world record. 'It is also the biggest tunneling project in the Gulf.
To a question, the ambassador said that Germany was supporting all initiatives taken by Qatar in fight against terrorism. 'Qatar has taken many measures at national and international levels.
He said that as many as 129 German specialized companies were working in Qatar while a number of other companies were either delivering goods or had joint ventures with Qatari counterparts.
The ambassador said that German companies at private level were executing projects in a sustainable manner. He said that Germany had provided Qatar with technology to convert gas into LNG in a sustainable manner. He said that with the help of German technology, Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTech) was producing solar panels in Qatar.
Addressing the gathering at the occasion of the 2017 National Day, the ambassador said that this year's national day event coincides with the final weeks of the exciting Qatar Germany Year of Culture 2017.
The ambassador said: 'The end of the division of Germany went hand in hand with the end of the division of Europe. The world was looking towards finally enjoying the peace dividend. Living in a rapidly changing world, we are currently seeing a large number of conflicts that are setting entire regions back many years. Also the situation in the Middle East is currently difficult in many areas. In particular, for the past six months, brother and neighbouring countries in the Arabian Peninsula have been engaged in a worrying conflict.
He said that since the beginning of the crisis, German diplomacy had been actively engaged and would continue to work on a diplomatic solution to the conflict. 'Germany's position on crisis is clear: This is a time for unity, not disarray. Especially in these challenging times, we need a united Gulf region to realize our joint potential.
The ambassador said that all parties should be guided by the principles of equality, mutual respect, dialogue, international law, and, above all, by the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
'Germany, with its bitter experience of the cold war and the separation of people, has a strong interest in this as well and therefore calls for dialogue and cooperation.
He said that Germany and Qatar were partners in multiple dimensions and the great number of official visits and meetings in the fields of politics, business and culture, that had taken place in 2017 alone were witness to that.
He said that on July 4, German Foreign Minister Gabriel visited Doha in the course of his trip to a Gulf region in crisis, meeting with Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
'H H the Emir reviewed with Chancellor Merkel on September 15 in Berlin our bilateral strategic relations, regional and international developments, and efforts being made to contain and resolve the Gulf crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means.
On November 21, the ambassador said, H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with German Foreign Minister Gabriel in Berlin - for political talks and to jointly open the Qatar Arab Cultural House 'Al Diwan in the German capital, aiming at promoting an inspiring Arab, Qatari and German cultural exchange in the framework of the Qatar-Germany Year of Culture 2017.
The ambassador said: 'We were proud and honoured to be able to partner with Qatar Museums for the 2017 Year of Culture, initiated by H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums and an internationally acclaimed cultural manager. I would like to take this opportunity to express the sincere gratitude from the German government and of the German project partners to H E Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani, and her dedicated QM team, for their crucial support, friendship and guidance that made this joint initiative a roaring success.
At the National Day reception, Qatar Solar Technologies, Qatar Museums and Firestation Art Gallery showcased the 'Solar Light Flowers, designed and engineered by the Little Sun foundation from Germany. These Solar Light Flowers will be distributed among people in need in developing countries, especially to school children in refugee camps.
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