Joint Communique Between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey

Joint Communique Between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey

Doha/Information Office/ 02 December 2015/ Proceeding from the distinguished brotherly relations between the two brotherly countries and the desire of both to promote and upgrade them to the level of shared political will, And according to the agreement on establishing the Supreme Strategic Committee between the two countries, signed on December 19, 2014, The first session of the Qatari-Turkish Supreme Strategic Committee has convened in the city of Doha on 02/12/2015 . The Qatari side was presided over by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and The Turkish side was chaired by President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the outset of the meeting, the two chairmen of the session expressed through their speeches their satisfaction with the outstanding level reached by the bilateral relations in all fields and the continuous consultation and coordination between them. In an atmosphere of friendliness and brotherhood in the two sides discussed various regional and international issues of common interest and took note of the results of the preparatory committee meetings held on 09.05.2015 and 15.09.2015 and agreed as follows: 1st: in the field of politics and diplomacy: - The two sides held comprehensive talks onthe bilateral relations between the two countries, and stressed the importance of developing and activating them, in addition to the international and regional issues of common concern, and exchanged views on them in light of the international variables , the Committee expressed the importance of continuing consultation and coordination in this regard. - The Committee also welcomed the results of the preparatory committee meeting at the ministerial level, which was held in the Turkish city of Antalya on 09/05/2015 , under the chairmanship of the two foreign ministers. 2nd: in the Field of security: The Committee has welcomed the signing of: - The Cooperation Protocol between the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), in the State of Qatar and the national gendarmerieforce, in the Republic of Turkey. - Cooperation Protocol in the field of training and education between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. 3rd: in the Field of Finance: The Committee has welcomed the signing of: - Cooperation agreement in the field of developing public finance management between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. - The two sides stressed the need to continue the negotiation on Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion Agreement, while taking into account the developments in this matter. 4th: in the Field of Education: - The committee welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of education between the State of Qatar and the Turkish Republic. - The Committee has also welcomed the study of the following projects: - Cooperation agreement in the field of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research. - Memorandum for the establishment of the Qatari - Turkish joint university. 5th: in the Field of Universities: - The two sides agreed to continue consultation on the cooperation protocol on the technology project between Qatar University and the Yunus Emre Institute. 6th: in the Field of Energy and Industry: - The Committee has welcomed the signing of the cooperation agreement in the natural gas sector between Qatar Petroleum and Turkish Botas for supplying gas. - The two sides stressed the need to discuss ways to develop trade and investment relations in the field of energy. 7th: in the area of banks:- The Committee has welcomed the signing of the following memorandums of understanding: 1. Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar Development Bank and the Bank of Export and Import of Turkey . 2. Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar Development Bank and the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey. 3. Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of mutual business between Qatar Development Bank and the Turk Eximbank. - The Committee also welcomed the signing of the agreement on medium and small enterprises. 8th: in the field of transport and communications: - The Committee has welcomed the signing of: 1. Maritime Transport Draft Agreement. 2. Memorandum of Understanding on mutual recognition of mariners certificates of eligibility between the Government of State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. 9th: in the Field of Journalism and Media: - The Committee has welcomed the signing of the cooperation protocol in the field of press and media between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. 10th: in the Field of Health: - The two sides agreed to continue consultations with a view to complete the examination of the draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of health and medical science, and preparing it to be signed during the second session of the Committee . 11th: in the Field of Customs: - The two sides stressed the intensification of efforts to reach out to consultation on the draft version of cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters agreement between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey, to prepare it for signature during the second session of the Commission. 12th : in the field of culture: - The Committee thanked the concerned authorities in the two countries for their efforts in holding the Qatari-Turkish cultural events in 2015, and urged the two sides to continue cooperation. - The Committee recommended the pursuit of consultation on the draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field, to prepare it for signature during the second session of the Committee. 13th : in the field of youth and sports: - The two sides expressed their desire to consolidate their cooperation in this area, through discussing the signing of: 1. Cooperation agreement in the field of youth and sports between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey . 2. The first executive draft program for the cooperation agreement in the field of youth and sports. The Qatari side has promised to complete its study on each of the two drafts mentioned above. 14th : in the field of Archive: - The Committee has welcomed the signing of the cooperation agreement in the field of archives between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey . 15th : in the field of law and the judiciary: - The Committee has confirmed continuing consultations to complete the examination of the draft agreement on cooperation in the judicial field. 16th : in the field of environment and agriculture: - The Committee has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of agriculture between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. - The two sides urged the concerned authorities in the two countries to continue consultations in order to complete the examination of the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the field of environment. 17th : in the field of municipalities and urban planning: - The two sides confirmed their willingness to cooperate and coordinate in the field of Municipality and Urban Planning. 18th : in the field of tourism: - The two sides called for the intensification of cooperation in this area, through: - The exchange of visits between officials and those interested in the tourism sector, to getacquainted with the qualifications abound in the two countries. -The Turkish side has handed to his Qatari counterpart a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of organizing exhibitions between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Turkey. 19th : in the field of communications and information technology: - The Committee has welcomed the draft cooperation protocol in the field of science and technology between the Qatar Foundation and the Council of Scientific and technological Research in the Republic of Turkey. - The two sides agreed to complete their study on the draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of communications and information technology between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey. 20: In the area of investment: - The two sides have reaffirmed the importance of investments in consolidating economic cooperation between the two countries, and recommended that the two parties complete their study on Afshin al-Bustan project. 21st: in the field of economy and trade: - The two sides reviewed various areas of bilateral cooperation, and stressed the need to provide new mechanisms for cooperation in line with the positive developments in the cooperation between the two countries, and the current economic conditions. - The Committee also recommended that the two sides complete their study on the draft trade and economic partnership agreement, and in this context, the two sides agreed to hold a new round of negotiations during 2016. 22nd : Follow-up Committee: The two sides agreed to continue the work of the follow-up committee to implement the recommendations and decisions of the Joint Committee, and submit a report about its work to the two countries. The two sides agreed to hold meetings of the second session of the Qatari - Turkish Supreme Committee in the Republic of Turkey in 2016 on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels. The two sides have commended the sincere spirit of brotherhood and common will that prevailed during the deliberations of the session and which reflect the depth andstrength of the distinguished relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples . His Excellency President Recep TayyipErdogan has expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to his brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, for the warm and cordial reception and generous hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation during their stay in their second country, Qatar.