Doha, 14 July 2021 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Ambassador of France to Qatar Franck Gellet has concongratulated the French community members in Qatar and friends of France on the occasion of the
231st National Day celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, the French envoy said, “Once again, the 14th of July comes with a specific characteristic because of the health situation that forces us to
be cautious. However, the effective measures taken by Qatar and France hopefully will be followed by a near victory over the disease.

“From June 9, we have been able to welcome to France our Qatari friends and Qatar residents who have completed the full cycle of vaccination and who produce a negative PCR test of no less than 72 hours at the time of departure.”  He added that Capago’s services have resumed recently to welcome Qatari nationals and Qatar residents who wish to travel to France, adding that, on the other hand, as of July 12, French nationals wishing to visit Qatar can come to Doha provided that they abide by the conditions set by the Qatari authorities.

He thanked the Qatari authorities for the confidence they have placed in the French industrial engineering to execute development projects in Qatari economy.
“Based on this, an important name from the French industry was selected this year to engineer one of the most complex gas installations, which at the same time, is the most strategic for Qatar,” he said.

“As we are less than 500 days to the FIFA World Cup, France is determined to be at the side of Qatar in organising the global event andensuring its security. Furthermore, I would like to congratulate the Qatari authorities on their preparations that have now reached a significantly advanced stage,” the envoy said.

He said bilateral relationship between the two countries is also based on an ongoing cultural exchange. He said, “The cross-culture year, which has unfortunately
been hit by the occurrence of the pandemic in 2020, will continue this year with major events. I am thinking of the exhibitions ‘Paris Moderne’ and ‘Dior’ or even the ‘Night of the Poetry’ that will be included in Qatar’s cultural agenda next autumn.”

On behalf of French residents in Qatar and on his behalf, the envoy thanked the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatari authorities for their hospitality, notably at the height of the health crisis.