Washington                                                                                                                                                                           11 April 2018                                                                                                                                                                         (QNA)

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Emir of State of Qatar has stressed that Qatar doesn’t and will not tolerate those who support and fund terrorism.

In statements to the media at the beginning of his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, the Emir said Qatar is cooperating with the US to stop the financing of terrorism in the region and the military cooperation between the two countries is very strong.

“We’ve been cooperating with the US to stop terror funding around the region. We do not tolerate people who support and fund terrorism. Our military cooperation is very solid, very strong,” the Emir said.

The Emir reaffirmed that Al Udeid Air Base is at the heart of operations in the fight against terrorism.”The operation has been a very successful campaign against the terrorist groups in the region,” he noted.

He said Qatari-US relations are strong and well-established.”The relationship between Qatar and the US has been more than 45 years old. It’s a very strong and solid relationship. Our economic partnership involves more than $125 billion, and our aim is to double it in the coming years.”

The Emir regarded his visit to headquarters of US Central Command in Tampa as important and successful, where he met US military leaders.  He said the visit showed strong cooperation between the two countries in the military and security fields.

On the Gulf crisis, Emir of Qatar thanked Trump for his personal efforts and important role in finding a solution to the crisis.

“I would like to thank the President for him being involved personally in solving the GCC crisis. He’s been very helpful. He’s been supporting us during this blockade. I would like to also thank the American people for being very supportive. The President’s role is very vital to end this crisis in our region,” the Emir said.

On the Syrian issue, he said Qatar and the US are working together to immediately end the suffering of the Syrian people.

“This must be stopped immediately,” the Emir said, adding that the two countries will not allow cooperation with a war criminal who killed more than half a million of his own people, so this matter should end immediately.

US President hailed his country’s ties with Qatar as he welcomed the Emir to the White House. Trump stressed the strength of the personal relationship between him and the Emir even before the US president entered the world of politics.

He said the US and Qatar”have been great friends in so many ways” and “are working very well together”.

“The Emir of Qatar is very popular in his country and his people love him,” Trump said, adding that “He’s a friend of mine. He’s a great gentleman.”

Trump said he has been working with the Emir for many years before the start of counter-terrorism operations.

He pointed out that it is important to stop the financing of terrorism in the region, especially by the countries related to the US. “We’re working on unity in that part of the Middle East, and I think it’s working out very well,” Trump added.

During the meeting, they discussed strategic relations between the two countries and ways of developing them in various fields, especially in the economic, investment, military and defence.

The meeting also dealt with a number of current regional and international issues.