Establishment of the Qatari-Palestinian Investment Fund - Sec. of State Warren Christopher; Qatar Foreign Minister Shaikh Hamad bin Jasim Al Thani; PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat - Transcript

US Department of State Dispatch, Nov 13, 1995

Foreign Minister Shaikh

Hamad bin Jasim Al Thani

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President Arafat, Mr. Secretary of State Christopher: It is our pleasure to be here to announce a new company - Al Sallam Company - which is being done with share-holders from Qatar and from Palestinian share-holders and from the other Arabs willing to come. This company has the capital of $250 million, of which $25 million is already secured. The purpose of this company - it is the belief of my company and my people in Qatar and his highness Al Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa, that this company will participate in the peace process. It will implement what we have been talking about for a few years now after the Madrid Conference. It will encourage both the Palestinians and others to gain from peace. This is part of it. As I introduce this company here, and announce it, I would like to thank all the people here, especially President Arafat and Mr. Secretary Warren Christopher, that they are here to share with us this moment, and I hope that this is the first time and not the last. Thank you very much.

Chairman Arafat

We have to thank His Excellency. Please convey to your Amir, the Shaikh of Qatar, our thanks for what he is doing, especially for the Palestinians, and not only for the Palestinians. It is a great push for the peace process and we are welcoming this very important step which will encourage others in the same line, for the sake of not only the Palestinians, but for the sake of the whole region. I am very happy that His Excellency Mr. Christopher is participating with us in this moment because we cannot forget that His Excellency President Clinton was pushing in all directions to help the Palestinians and to help the peace process. Again, we have to thank Your Excellency for what you have mentioned, and what you have declared, and also convey to my brother Sheikh Al Amir of Qatar my best wishes and regards and thanks. We hope that we will continue in this attitude on many levels by all means. I hope that what has been done by Your Excellency and by your country will be a very important signal for all of us to follow up with all our capacity - to push the peace process and to let our people feel the strong foundation and the benefit of the peace process. Again, I have to thank you from my heart to what you have mentioned and what you have declare I also thank His Excellency Mr. Secretary Christopher for insisting an accepting to participate with us in this very important moment to declare this very important declaration. Thank you again. I have to thank you not only by myself - by my name - but by the name of all our people. Please convey to His Excellency again, Sheikh Hamad, best wishes and best regards from his brother Yassir Arafat and from the Palestinian people, many thanks. May I offer this to Your Excellency, what we had prepared for investment in Palestine as a start.

Secretary Christopher

I am just delighted to be here with the Chairman and the Foreign Minister to note this extraordinary, positive occasion. Qatar has long been a very strong supporter of the peace process, especially in its support to the Palestinians. I think this event today with the establishment of this considerably sized fund is a very good indication indeed. I think it is a model of the kind of support that can be given to the Palestinians. I hope other people will see in it a model they want to emulate. The working relationship that is developing here is an ideal one. I thank them, and I really want to commend the Government of Qatar for stepping forward as well as the willingness of the Chairman for responding the way he did. The courage that he has had to move the peace process forward really deserves recognition - the kind of recognition that was given by this day's event. As a co-sponsor, I am pleased to be here and to congratulate both of them, and to congratulate the people of both of their entities for the result that has been achieved by the establishment of this very considerable fund. Congratulations and thank you for letting me participate.