State of Qatar

Qatar gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 3 September 1971. The country occupies a peninsula surrounded by the Persian Gulf and bordering on Saudi Arabia to the south. It is the largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Per capital income came to $67,000 in 2007, making Qatar the richest state in the world, along with Luxembourg. Nevertheless, a major effort has been initiated to reduce the Qatari economy's dependence on petroleum products.

In recent years, Qatar has increased its activities on the international political level. The country's leadership plays a prominent role in the Arab world in promoting democratic values, good governance, the rule of law, popular participation in political processes and, more broadly, in reforms on a political, economic and social level.

Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sheikh Al Thani succeeded, through arduous efforts, in mediating between the rival Lebanese factions, averting the country's lapsing into civil war. The climax of his mediating efforts came with the 21 May 2008 Doha Agreement, which to this day regulates the relations between the sides comprising the religious/political mosaic of Lebanon. Qatar has also undertaken mediating efforts in the Darfur crisis and in Yemen.

I.POLITICAL RELATIONS

Greece maintains very friendly relations with Qatar, with which it officially established relations in 1973. In recent years, the bilateral relations between the two countries have been intensified, as evidenced by Qatar's opening an embassy in Athens in January 2008, following Greece's establishing an embassy in Doha in September 2007.

Significant momentum was lent to the development of Greek-Qatari bilateral relations by the May 2006 state visit to Doha of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, who was accompanied by a large ministerial and business delegation. This was the first visit of a Greek President to Qatar, and laid the groundwork for further development of economic relations while revealing the Emir of Qatar's fondness of Greece.

The Emir of Qatar carried out an official visit to Athens from 19 to 21 June 2007, holding talks with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, former Speaker of Parliament Ms. Anna Psarouda-Benaki and the Mayor of Athens. The visit the principle aim of which was to enhance bilateral relations, with emphasis on the economic sector saw the signing of two Memoranda of Cooperation: one between the Athens and Doha Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and a second between the Hellenic Centre for Investment (ELKE) and the corresponding Qatari agency.

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Evripidis Stylianidis visited Qatar from 29 to 31 May 2007, with the aim of promoting economic relations. During this visit, discussions focussed on the potential for economic cooperation in several sectors, including energy, tourism, construction and telecommunications.

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani carried out a visit to Greece on 14-16 March 2007, meeting with the President of the Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Karamanlis, Foreign Minister Bakoyannis and other Government Ministers. A Framework Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation was signed during this visit.

In addition to the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Qatar, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Sioufas, has also been officially invited to visit Doha. The Greek side has extended similar invitations to the wife of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, and the Heir Apparent of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

II.ECONOMIC RELATIONS

III.GREEK PRESENCE

In recent years, a number of Greeks have taken up residence in Qatar, mainly for employment with Greek multinational construction companies. There is also a Greek Orthodox parish of Saint Isaac and Saint George, which comes under the Jerusalem Patriarchate. The congregation consists of Arab-speaking parishioners, Greeks, Greek Cypriots, Romanians, Serbs, Russians and Bulgarians, and a Greek Orthodox church is slated for construction on a plot of land donated by the State of Qatar.

Embassy Details

Last Modified: December 2008