Putin hosts Qatar’s Emir for Syria-focused talks
Leaders say they will strive for stability in the energy market
Russia’s president is hosting the Emir of Qatar for talks set to focus on the Syrian crisis.
Vladimir Putin welcomed Qatar’s Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at the start of yesterday’s talks in the Kremlin by hailing Qatar’s role in regional affairs. He voiced hope that they would be able to “search for ways of settlement of the most difficult issues”.
“We hope ... to seek solutions to, and settlement of the most complicated, problematic issues,” Putin said in remarks at the start of the two men’s meeting, clearly referring to regional conflicts including the war in Syria.
Shaikh Tamim emphasised a key role Russia could play in stabilising the region, adding that Qatar wants to find a solution for problems “concerning stability of some of the countries of the region”.
Yesterday, Russia’s Sputnik news agency cited Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Al Attiyah as saying that Doha and Moscow will strive for the energy market.
“Both sides have a real desire to strengthen cooperation and achieve stability in the energy market,” Al Attiyah said following a meeting between Putin and Shaikh Tamim.
Neither leader mentioned Syria in their opening remarks, but the Syrian crisis was looming over the talks. Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar Al Assad throughout the nearly five-year conflict, while Qatar
stability in has supported the opposition.
Qatar also maintains close ties to Turkey, whose own ties with Russia have deteriorated significantly in recent months following the Turkish downing of a Russian fighter jet above the Syria-Turkey border.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced during a recent visit to Doha plans to open a military base in the country, Ankara’s first the region in modern times.