RUSSIAN-QATARI RELATIONSHIP
(Brief summery)

Diplomatic relationship between the USSR and Qatar was established on August 1, 1988. The Embassies in Doha and Moscow were opened in 1989. On December 6, 1991 Qatar officially recognized Russia and other CIS countries.

The main interactions of the parties for the previous years include: visit to Doha of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia in April 1992.

The Emir of the State of Qatar H.H. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, paid official visit to the Russian Federation in December 2001.

Nowadays political dialogue has become more intense. The President of Russia Vladimir V. Putin has paid return visit to Qatar in February 2007. During 2007–2008 Doha was visited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey V. Lavrov, Minister of Industry and Energy Viktor B. Khristenko (twice), Head of RosEnergo Sergey A. Oganesyan, Chairman of the Committee of the Federal Council for Foreign Affairs Mikhail V. Margelov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Evgeny M. Primakov, Deputy Ministers  of Foreign Affairs Andrey I. Denisov and Alexander V. Saltanov and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the JSC “Gazprom” Alexey B. Miller and others.

The Prime-Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani visited Russia in 2007 and Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdulla Al-Attiyah in 2007 and 2008. Previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani visited Moscow in 1993, 1998 and 2000, 2001 and 2006.

In accordance with the Inter-Ministerial Protocol (1998) regular consultations are being held and close relationship between representative offices of the two countries in New-York has been established.

Overall Russian-Qatari political relations are characterized by closeness of stands of the two countries on many actual problems of the international and regional life as well as good level of mutual understanding and trust.

Constructive cooperation is being fulfilled in the frames of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and “The Big Gas Troika” (Russia, Qatar and Iran) established in 2008.

Trade, economical and investment cooperation has been developing. Commodity turnover in 2008 was estimated at 25 million US dollars (risen 3 times more in comparison with 2007). 98 % of its structure is represented by Russian export (organic chemistry products, plastic and equipment).

A number of agreements with “GazProm” and “Lukoil” have been reached in the oil and gas sphere. More and more Russian companies come to the Qatari market in the field of construction, equipment, services etc. Some Qatari companies show interest in investment projects in Russia.

Roscosmos, Rosatom and Rosoboronexport are looking into practical opportunities for collaboration in Qatar.

The Russian side supplied 500 KAMAZ trucks for Military Forces of Qatar in 2005 in the framework of military and technical cooperation establishing.

Russian-Qatari Business Council was established in 2007. The First Business Forum was held in Doha in February 2007. It is expected that Qatari companies will actively participate in the upcoming 2^nd “Arabia EXPO” Exhibition in Moscow (April 2010).

Legal base is represented by the following inert-governmental Agreements: on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation (1990); on Direct Air Communication (1998), on Military Cooperation (1999); on Avoidance of Double Taxation (1998); on Mutual Protection and Support of Investments (2007, has not been ratified yet by the Russian Side); and the following Inter-Institutional Agreements: on Cooperation in the Sphere of Physical Education and Sport (1997); on Collaboration in the Youth Affairs (1997); on Collaboration between Chambers of Commerce on Industry (2001); on Exchange of Information between ITAR-TASS and QNA (1999); on Establishment of Russian – Qatari Business Council (2007).

In January 2007 first consular consultations were held in Doha. Memorandum on Consular Cooperation was signed at the level of Ministers of the Foreign Affairs in February 2007.

At the present time The Sides are in the process of negotiating draft agreements on Visa-free Travel for Holders of Diplomatic passports, collaboration in the cultural sphere, on cooperation in combating illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, Twinning agreement between St.Petersburg government and Doha Municipality, on cooperation between State Hermitage and Qatar Museums Authority and memorandum on collaboration between Public Prosecutions.

Every year Russian dance and circus artists participate in Doha festivals. Tourism exchange is on the rise.

Russian community in Qatar approximates to 700 people, the majority of them work by contract in various spheres (sport coaches and instructors, doctors, engineers etc.) Daily Moscow–Doha flights by Qatar Airways brought the number of our citizens making transit stopovers in Doha on their way to other countries up to 60,000 per year.

There is Russian-Qatari Friendship Society in Russia (headed by former Ambassador of Russia to Qatar Nikolay K. Tikhomirov).