QNA
Doha: Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar H E Franck Gellet stressed the importance of French-Qatari ties, saying Qatar has been a good host of the French expat community residing here.
The ambassador spoke to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the Qatar National Day, extending his congratulations to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government, and people of the State of Qatar.
He added that 2020 saw strong momentum in bilateral ties, particularly as the two sides celebrated the France-Qatar year of culture. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic requires a re-think on how to satisfy people’s demand for culture, and how the Qatari and French citizens can get to know about each other’s culture.
The Ambassador said that the Picasso exhibition held in Qatar from July to November reflected the people's continued interest in culture despite the precautionary measures that were in place.
On bilateral ties, the Ambassador referenced the recent visit by the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, just days before the national day.
The ambassador also thanked the authorities and healthcare workers for their unwavering commitment to the prosperity of citizens and residents, saying that the measures taken by the State of Qatar were very effective in containing the spread of the virus. He expressed his appreciation to the help provided by Qatar Airways in repatriating thousands of French citizens from Europe and Asia during the peak of the pandemic.
