Doha / Information Office/ May 20 The following statement was issued today by Sheikh Saif Al Thani, the Director of the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar: In the run-up to President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, an orchestrated barrage of opinion pieces by anti-Qatar organizations in a variety of mainstream and on-line publications has alleged that Qatar is sympathetic to, or turns a blind eye toward, the actions of terrorist groups in the Middle East. This is absolutely and unequivocally false. In fact, as the authors of these articles must know, the government of the State of Qatar – like all of its neighbors in the Middle East – is a target for these terrorist groups. They threaten the peace and stability of our region and they put our national sovereignty at risk. Which is why it is absurd to suggest that Qatar would either aid and abet those seeking to finance these extremist groups or harbor an Al Qaeda mastermind, as the anti-Qatar campaigners have recently alleged. Qatar's determined efforts to defeat terrorism have been acknowledged and appreciated by the security and intelligence services of the United States and its allies, who value Qatar's substantial contributions to the battle against violent extremism. These efforts are long-standing and on going, and will continue until the scourge of terrorism is eliminated in the Middle East and around the world. Our approach to countering the terrorist threat is both tactical and strategic. On the tactical level, Qatar is an active member of the US-led coalition to defeat ISIS and proudly hosts America's Combined Air and Operations Center at Al-Udeid air base. Qatar is also battling terrorism at the strategic level through our support for education, reconstruction and economic development programs throughout the Middle East. We have provided educational opportunities for more than 7 million children and we have created more than 300,000 jobs, offering hope for a better future to those most at risk of terrorist recruitment. To cite a relevant example, Qatar was instrumental in securing the passage of the so-called Doha Declaration at the 13th. UN Crime Congress in 2015, which authorized the creation of a comprehensive program to counter violent extremism through prisoner rehabilitation, social integration and youth education initiatives. Our USD 49 million contribution will help ensure that the UN's good intentions are followed by concrete actions to address the terrorist threat. None of this is to suggest that Qatar has a magical solution to the problem of radical extremism and global terrorism. We do not. But we are absolutely sincere in our commitment to battle and defeat this scourge, and to suggest otherwise is deceitful and disingenuous. We can assume that at some point in the future the identities of the sponsors of the anti-Qatar campaign will be revealed. When that happens we will, perhaps, learn the true motive behind their efforts to damage Qatar's good name. Until then, there is one thing we know for certain: their allegation that Qatar supports terrorism is a lie.

On April 6, 2017, the Embassy partnered with the Boys and Girls Club Foundation of Greater Washington and of the Gulf Coast for the inaugural dual-event, Qatar Spring Festival 2017. The event in Washington, DC drew the participation of hundreds of DC area youths, as well as Embassy staff and a team from the Qatar Foundation International. The event celebrated Qatari arts, culture and food featuring painting stations, egg races, photo booth, Arabic language lessons and more at their center.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, participated in the Ministerial Plenary for the Global Coalition Working to Defeat ISIS on March 22, hosted by the Honorable Rex Tillerson, US Secretary of State. The meeting covered the latest developments of Syria and Iraq. The participants also exchanged views on ways to permanently defeat ISIS through stabilization, humanitarian and economic assistance. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE the Foreign Minister said that international counter-terrorism efforts, including efforts specifically targeting ISIS, cannot succeed unless the main reasons for extremism are addressed. His Excellency said that the political, economic, and social conditions, as well as the shocking violations of human right, nurtured the suitable environment to grow terrorism. The Wednesday meeting was the first since December 2014 that all 68 members of the coalition took part.

The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington D.C. held, on Tuesday December 6, 2016, a reception, in celebration of National Day, at the National Portrait Gallery. Mr. Ali Al-Hajri, Charge d’Affaires and members of the Embassy welcomed over 1000 guests to the reception. Ambassadors and diplomatic corps members, as well as congressional representatives- such as Congressman Andre Carson, Congressman Ralph Abraham, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Ted Yoho, and Congressman Steve Cohen- and other distinguished guests, attended the event. In his opening remarks, Mr. Al-Hajri asserted that Qatar is strongly committed to working with the United States to build and sustain peace and prosperity in the Middle East. Mr. Al-Hajri emphasized the importance of education and empowering the youth in Qatar as well as others in the region. He pointed out Doha’s Education City, which is composed of six American Universities educating thousands of students across a range of disciplines.

On December 6, 2016 the Embassy of the State of Qatar will be hosting an event celebrating Qatar’s National Day. National Day is a holiday we celebrate each year, on the anniversary of December 18, 1878, when Sheikh Jasim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the founder of the State of Qatar, succeeded his father, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Thani, as the ruler and led the country towards unity. This is an important day to us; it honors our identity and heritage, but also commemorates our principles and efforts to help create understanding between different cultures. This year we have the pleasure to celebrate it at the National Portrait Gallery’s Kogod Yard. We look forward to seeing many of you at the event.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani met today with the President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly Peter Thompson, at the UN headquarters in New York City. Discussions during the meeting dealt with the latest regional and international developments. HH the Emir congratulated Mr. Thomson on assuming the presidency of the current session of the UN General Assembly, and wished him success in his duties. For his part, the President of the UN General Assembly expressed his thanks to HH the Emir for the cooperation of the State of Qatar with the UN and the efforts being made by Qatar in providing aid and humanitarian relief to stricken areas around the world and its support for development projects in needy countries. He also commended Qatar's diplomatic efforts in resolving conflicts, particularly in Darfur. A number of topics on the agenda of the UN General Assembly session were also reviewed. The meeting was attended by a number of their excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended a reception ceremony hosted by Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, at Getty House in Los Angeles, California. The reception ceremony in which a number of Qatari institutions and agencies took part, was attended by an elite of U.S. figures including heads of companies and businessmen. Talks during the reception ceremony dealt with areas of cooperation and means of promoting and developing them as to open wider horizons of ties in future. Following the reception ceremony, HH the Emir attended a dinner banquet hosted by the Mayor of Los Angeles in honor of His Highness and the accompanying delegation. The banquet was attended by senior officials and businessmen in California.

The State of Qatar has provided nearly $ 1.6 billion in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people inside and outside Syria, through international humanitarian organizations and donor conferences, said HE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

On Tuesday, 20 September, His Highness the Emir of Qatar participated in the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. During his address, HH the Emir urged that the fight against terrorism must not be confined to the security dimension, but must also go far beyond that to promote the values of tolerance, and the culture of plurality and dialogue, while taking into account the right of people to resist occupation. Click to read the full speech.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani met here today with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, at the UN headquarters. During the meeting, HH the Emir and the UN Chief discussed a number of regional and international issues including the situation in the Middle East,especially in Syria, Libya and Yemen. They also reviewed the cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United Nations. Discussions also dealt with the most important topics on the agenda of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was attended by a number of their excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir.