Qatari embassy officially opened on national day

Political and economic relations between Cyprus and Qatar have witnessed significant development and continue to grow, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Monday at the inauguration of the new building of the Gulf country’s embassy in Nicosia.

The inauguration ceremony took place on Qatar’s National Day, which Anastasiades said, celebrates the rise of Sheikh Jassem as the father and founder of the state of Qatar.

He referred to his visit to Qatar in 2014 and the bilateral agreements the two countries signed at the time. “The magnitude of the investment in the new impressive premises of the embassy of the state of Qatar, which we are officially opening today, is a testament of the deepening and widening of our partnership ever since the said visit,” he added.

The president also referred to the participation of Qatar Petroleum in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and in offshore Block 10 in the consortium with ExxonMobil that is to resume its drilling programme in a few days. He said this was proof of the synergies which can be forged.

“Further, the recent licensing to the consortium in Block 5 constitutes yet another very important development and a vote of confidence to Cyprus’ energy strategy.”

He said over the past years, political and economic relations between Cyprus and Qatar have witnessed significant development and continue to grow.

Cyprus, he added, “is a devoted proponent” of deepening EU-Qatar relations, as well as between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatar’s ambassador, Αli Yousef Abdulrahman al Μulla, said the opening of the premises of the new embassy, Anastasiades’ presence at the ceremony, as well as the renaming of the street on which the embassy is located to Qatar Street, and the adjacent park to Doha Park, was a clear translation of the strong level of relations between the two countries.

He also expressed his country’s desire and will to promote and elevate these relations to the highest level.