DOHA: The relations between Qatar and France have become stronger during the past four years especially since June 2017 after the beginning of the blockade which “France demands to be lifted”, said French Ambassador to Doha, Eric Chevallier, yesterday.

“This is the fourth time that I address you on the occasion of our National Day and I am doing it with a particular emotion tonight as this is my last speech in Doha. This is how diplomatic life goes,” he said in his speech on the occasion of celebrating the National Day of France. He said that his tenure as an ambassador to Qatar was set to end in next few days.

The National Day celebration was held at Ritz Carlton Hotel yesterday and attended by Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti among other dignitaries and diplomats.

“In a region under extreme tensions, our bilateral relations have deepened. First, at the political level with the visits of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Paris, in September 2017 and another one a few days ago as well as the visit of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron to Doha in December last year,” he said.

The Ambassador further said: “Our relations have also been enriched in many other areas like in security, justice and defence sectors. Our collaborations in the fight against terrorism, its financing, as well as the fight against radicalisation have gained new dynamics since the visit of the French President last December in Doha.”

In four years, he said, many major contracts were matured between the two countries. “They will contribute to the sustainable structuring of our bilateral relations. I have particularly in mind the Rafale aircraft, the partnership between Qatar Petroleum and Total for Al Shaheen field, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Doha Metro and the tram way in Lusail. And I welcome, from a European perspective, the consolidation of the relationship between Airbus and Qatar Airways.”

He said that French-Qatar current commercial relations had also developed significantly and the number of French companies present in Doha had increased.

Our cultural exchanges, the ambassador said, have also continued to develop with Qatari institutions, notably with Qatar Museums and Katara but also with the Doha Film Institute which has again recently shined at the Cannes Festival, or Qatar National Library for its partnership with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

“I am also very pleased that we were able to move forward with our Qatari partners in setting up an ambitious programme for France-Qatar cultural year 2020,” he said.

Regarding the issue of sports, he said that in the field of sports, the past four years were thrilling. “In 2015, they were marked by the final between France and Qatar in Doha for the World Handball Championship, then, year after year, by many other international competitions that show the growing expertise and capacity of Qatar when it comes to organizing major sports events.”

“Relations between the two countries are not only built by the institutions but also, and mainly, by the people,” he noted.