QNA/Washington

Qatar’s Ambassador to the United States Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad all-Thani said that mediation efforts by Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to heal the Gulf rift have not stopped.

He said the US too is continuing its efforts to help end the crisis sparked by false allegations after the hacking of Qatar News Agency website, as the blockade countries continued to attack Qatar politically and economically based on these allegations.

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In an interview with the Monitor Podcast programme, Sheikh Meshal said the last attempt made by Kuwait and the diplomatic action accompanying it represented in the visit of Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr

Ahmed Nasser al-Mohamed al-Sabah to Qatar and the visit of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to Kuwait in addition to the US efforts, was unfortunately met with rejection from the blockading countries.

He hoped these countries would return to their senses and acknowledge that the only solution is through dialogue based on respect for all parties.

The ambassador said the economy of Qatar today is stronger than it was three years ago.

The evidence is the report of the World Bank, he said, adding the Qatari economy is growing and will continue to grow unlike the economy of the blockading countries.

Qatar today is more independent and its food security is better, he said.

Sheikh Meshal said with when then-new US administration took office, the blockading countries tried to mislead it by sharing false information about Qatar’s activities, but only weeks later Americans realized that something was wrong and that what these countries claimed were not true.

After that, the US started pushing towards reconciliation and dialogue between Qatar and the blockading countries, but those efforts met with rejection, while the Qatari-US relations continued to develop and witnessed many initiatives on the political and economic levels.

“I believe that one of the most important successes achieved is the strategic dialogue between the two countries held in 2018, which shows the strength of the Qatari-US relations.”

He appreciated “the role that US plays to maintain stability in our region, and we will continue to work with it”, pointing to strong relations between His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and US President Donald Trump.

They consult regularly on many issues and President Trump appreciates the role played by the Amir and Qatar in signing the peace agreement in Afghanistan, then ambassador added.

On the fight against the coronavirus and the low number of deaths compared to the number of infections, the ambassador said the rapid response of the Qatari government and the capacity of the health system enabled the country to achieve this feat along with extensive and free testing and provision of health conditions in the workplace, in addition to the government’s quick step by closing schools, universities and public places, stressing that this integrated mix of procedures enabled Qatar to reduce mortality.

Sheikh Meshal affirmed that a large number of projects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been completed and delivered.

He also confirmed that Qatar will organize an amazing edition of the World Cup that all fans of the game will enjoy, adding that “sport builds bridges between people and we want the world to view the Middle East not only as a place of conflict.”

Regarding the situation of Asian workers in Qatar, Sheikh Meshal stressed that Qataris respect and value everyone who works with them to develop their country, adding that Qatar has done a great job when it put in place many regulations and instructions for companies that work and invest in infrastructure for the World Cup.

“We will continue to develop the relevant legislation, and we feel confident that we are able to address any issue we face.”

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