H.H the Emir listening to explanations

 

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar met on Wednesday May 18, 2005 with the mayor of Chicago Richard Daley and discussed bilateral relations and means of promoting andenhancing them in various domains.

He also attended a dinner banquet hosted in his honour at Chicago club, where he said that the state of Qatar had the incentives that helped in signing a number of agreements with distinguished American and international companies to invest in industries linked to natural gas , adding that Qatar opens the door for more projects in other fields.

 

During the banquet Daley , president and CEO of Boeing company Louis Platt and president and CEO of Motorola company Edward Zander delivered speeches in which they welcomed H.H the Emir in Chicago and expressed eagerness for more cooperation with Qatar.

 

The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, currently on a visit to the United States, visited on Tuesday May 17, 2005 Springfield , the capital of Illinois.

 

At the outset of the visit, H.H the Emir saw Lincoln museum, where he listened to a presentation about former US president Abraham Lincoln and the civil war in the United States. He also toured the museum's various sections and was briefed on the displays and photos depicting the life story of president Lincoln.

Meanwhile, H.H the Emir attended the dinner banquet hosted in his honour and the accompanying delegation, by governor of state of Illinois Rod Blagojevich.

H.H the Emir touring the museum

While addressing the banquet, H.H the Emir expressed thanks for the warm reception, welcome and hospitality accorded to him on part of the governor of the state of Illinois and asserted that the state of Qatar and the United States are equally shared obligation towards
peace and stability in the world.

H.H the Emir also lauded the spirit of friendship existing between the two countries and which is based on common values , reciprocal respect and confidence and voiced hope for further enhancing ties of via boosting joint cooperation especially in the fields of trade and investment.

For his part, the governor of Illinois gave an address welcoming H.H the Emir and the accompanying delegation and praised the prominent accomplishments achieved in Qatar under his leadership.

The governor of state of Illinois Rod Blagojevich highlighted the wisdom and far-fightednss of H.H the Emir, the matter which highly contributed to updating and advancing numerous aspects of development in Qatar.

After this visit, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani left Springfield city for Chicago.

On Saturday May 21, 2005 His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar and his consort H.H Sheikha Mouzah bint Nasser Al-Misnad attended the graduation ceremony of H.E Sheikha Hussah bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani that was held in Saratoga University in the United States.

 

H.H the Emir & Raymond Kelly during the meeting

 

His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, currently in a visit to the Uninted States, said: "We do not want to see nuclear weapons in the Gulf. We hope the involved parties would find a solution to the question of nuclear weapons and Iran".

 

His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani was talking to senior police officers during a meeting with the police commissioner, Raymond Kelly at New York police headquarters.

 

H.H the Emir also discussed with them a host of issues including those of interest to the two countries.

 

On US efforts to spread democracy in the region, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani said it would help in solving several problems.

 

Attendees during the gathering

Replying on a question about the recent criminal attack in the State of Qatar, H.H the Emir said: "It is not yet clear whether it was an individual or group attack and information collected up to now suggest it was an individual attack".

"We know that what happens here or there in the world could happen to us, but in Qatar we try to embrace and promote democracy and develop our educational system and provide the people with all they need to enjoy their full rights", he added.

As regard to the current events in Iraq, H.H the Emir said that once Iraq has managed to achieve democracy, this will surely serve the entire region. Failing to do so, violence will continue.

H.H the Emir with President of Chilean Republic, Ricardo Lagos

His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar was also asked about the impact of the regional events on the state of Qatar and replied: "The State of Qatar had passed through and witnessed other events, such as the Iraq-Iran war and the invasion of Kuwait, yet the country -Qatar- has not been affected". "We have to be more cautious", he added.

 H.H the Emir conferred at the city hall with the mayor of the New York Michael Bloomberg and discussed with him a number of issues pertaining to bilateral relations.

H.H the Emir poses for a  photo with his daughter after the ceremony

The graduation ceremony, held at Duke university, North Carolina, was attended by H.H Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al Thani, H.E Sheikha Hussa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and H.E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister H.E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani , chief of the Emiri Diwan H.E Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Saud Al Thani, and president of Qatar university H.E Dr. Sheikha Abdullah Al-misned.

Their Highnesses also confered with President of Chilean Republic, Ricardo Lagos and discussed with him bilateral relations and means of boosting them in the future.

His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani has also attended in New York the signing of an agreement to set up a branch of Georgetown University's Edmond college for foreign affairs in the Education city in Doha.

The agreement was signed by Her Highness Sheikh Mouzah bint Nasser Al-Misnad, Consort of H.H the Emir, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and Community Development and the  president of Georgetown University John J. DeGioia.