Medvedev, Qatari emir discuss economic, regional cooperation

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani in Moscow's Kremlin, November 3, 2010. (Getty Images / REUTERS / Ivan Sekretarev/Pool )

MOSCOW, November 3 (KATAKAMI / Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani for talks on economic cooperation and regional interaction.

“Russian-Qatari relations develop successfully. Recently they have become more dynamic and mutually advantageous,” Medvedev said on Wednesday.

The Russian president proposed to discuss “economic relations between our countries and regional interaction”. Medvedev also said the Qatari emir “had interesting meetings in Russia”. “I’m sure that your stay in Russia will be intensive and fruitful,” he added.

Al Thani stressed that Qatar “seeks to develop economic cooperation with Russia”. The Qatari emir said he “had interesting meetings with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. All meetings were positive. We also discussed cultural relations due to Russia’ s heritage. We also want to develop relations in this field”. “As for our international cooperation, it is developing. I believe that it is necessary to focus more attention to the Palestinian problem,” the Qatari emir stressed.

The talks are being held at the Grand Kremlin Palace. Russia’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko. The Qatari delegation involves Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jasem Al Thani.

(MS)

Qatari emir to pay official visit to Moscow

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

November 01, 2010 (KATAKami / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will pay an official visit to Russia on November 2-4 at the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's invitation, the Kremlin said.

Russian-Qatari high level talks are scheduled on November 3, the statement said.

Russia and Qatar are planning joint projects to develop gas deposits on the Yamal Peninsula in the Russian Arctic, the countries said in April.

Russia's largest independent gas producer, Novatek, has expressed an interest in involving Qatari partners in the Yamal LNG project, which will draw resources from the South Tambeiskoye gas condensate field with estimated gas reserves of 1.3 trillion cubic meters.

Qatar has invited Russia's Gazprom to take part in projects to extract and produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) after a moratorium is lifted on developing its North Field deposits.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia and Qatar, two of the world's largest hydrocarbon producers, should coordinate their activity on global gas and oil markets.

The two countries already have active energy contacts, including through OPEC and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). The GECF headquarters is situated in Qatar's capital Doha. In December 2009, GECF elected Russian Leonid Bokhanovsky as its secretary general.

Qatar has the third-largest natural gas reserves in the world, behind Russia and Iran, with proven reserves of approximately 25.8 trillion cubic meters, or almost 15% of the global total. Qatar's proven oil reserves stand at 15.2 billion barrels.

MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti)

Photostream : Emir of Qatar State Visit To the UK

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II bids farewell to The Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani at Windsor Castle, in England, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010. Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and his wife Sheika Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned have been on a state visit to England. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, pool)

Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, waves goodbye to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip (both not picture), as the leave on the final day of their State Visit, from Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, on October 28, 2010. AFP PHOTO / KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / POOL (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)

Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (L), takes the salute as he stands beside Commandant General Marriot at The Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, southern England on October 28, 2010. The Emir is on the final day of a state visit to Britain. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

St George's Hall is seen during a banquet held during the state visit of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned at Windsor Castle near London on October 26, 2010. (Photo : KIERAN DOHERTY/AFP/Getty Images)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth (C) toasts Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (on the Queen's R) before a banquet in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle near London October 26, 2010. British Prime Minister David Cameron (1st L) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (2ndL) , are also seen. Queen Elizabeth II formally welcomed the emir of Qatar to Britain for a trip aimed at boosting growing trade links and both countries' bids for the football World Cup. (Photo : KIERAN DOHERTY/AFP/Getty Images)

Britain's Prince Andrew (2nd R) introduces the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (3rd R) and his wife Sheikha Mozah (L) to ministers ahead of a trade meeting at Buckingham Palace in London, on October 27, 2010. (Photo : BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

(L-R) His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned wave goodbye to Prince Charles, Prince of Wales after visiting His Royal Highness Prince Charles' School of Traditional Arts at Clarence House on 27 October, 2010 in London, England. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his wife are on a three-day state visit to the UK and are due to visit the 2012 Olympics site later today. (Photo by Jane Mingay - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prime Minister David Cameron meets the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Downing St on October 26, 2010 in London, United Kingdom. The Sheikh is on a two day State visit to the UK, the first since 1985, which is seen as important in strengthening already strongly established business links with one of the Gulf States most financially powerful nations. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau - WPA Pool/Getty Images)