Qatar and the UK stand together in the fight against terrorism

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/28/qatar-uk-fight-against-terrorism

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This week the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is in London. In his meetings with the prime minister and others, he will be seeking to reinforce the strength of our countries’ relationship.

We share common goals and an intertwined history but today the UK and Qatar also share a common enemy. The shadow of international terrorism looms large, and not just over Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East. It is a threat to our region and the world. The state of Qatar joins the United Kingdom in rejecting utterly the vision, the views and the methods of these abhorrent organisations. Their members purport to represent Islam, though they do nothing of the sort.

But this week, even as we meet to strengthen our friendship with the UK, there are those who would seek to drive a wedge between our two countries, who suggest that the state of Qatar has somehow turned a blind eye to terrorism. It is a serious allegation and it is one we refute completely. Let me be clear, for the avoidance of doubt, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the Middle East and around the world to face down the terrorist threat.

Alongside our British allies, Qatar has joined the US-led military coalition to take action against extremist groups. We are a member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. We coordinate counter-terrorism initiatives with 28 other member countries, including the UK. Our ministry of finance and central bank work to counter the financing of terrorism. We strive to be effective, vital and honest partners in the fight against terrorism, and we will be.

We have reinforced our commitment to these initiatives with two new counter-terrorism laws introduced this year. The first, focused on cybercrime, gives our government new powers to monitor and stop terrorist groups from promoting their activities or recruiting for their causes online. The second expands our ability to closely monitor the transactions of charities based in, or with links to, Qatar. Through this, we will be better able to identify individuals who may be trying to channel funds to terrorist groups. We will continue to take all steps necessary to counter terrorism in all its forms and methods.

The emir will also talk about how our economic relationship with Britain can be strengthened. For almost a century, the UK and Qatar have had strong bonds.

It was in 1916 that we first bound together our two countries in a treaty of friendship. Those ties have become stronger, with increasingly important trade and political links. Today we regard the UK as among our most steadfast friends and allies.

Bilateral trade between Qatar and the UK is today worth £4bn. Qatar is one of the UK’s biggest export markets in the Middle East – up more than fourfold since 2005.

We have long invested in British commerce and creativity. Our interests, in companies as diverse as Barclays and Sainsbury’s, Heathrow airport, Harrods and Canary Wharf, total more than £23bn. These are not short-term investments. It is clear that both our countries benefit hugely from them. Our investment in the Shard, for example, should be seen as a vote of confidence in the extraordinary economic powerhouse of London.

Qatar is also a country with strong traditions that is embracing rapid change. We seek to transform Qatar into an advanced country, capable of sustaining its own development and providing for a high standard of living for all of its people for generations to come.

And so, as his highness the emir and my colleagues visit London, they will demonstrate a commitment not just to the economic ties that bind us, but to our intrinsic values – shared and historic – that run deeper still.