FROM LEFT: Roddy Drummond, Head of Mission at the British Embassy, Mohammed Khater Al Khater, Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al Jaber, Acting Director of European & American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr Kim Howells, British Minister of State, officially opening the new British Embassy at West Bay yesterday. (SHAIVAL DALAL)

doha • British Minister of State Dr Kim Howells yesterday opened the country’s new embassy in Qatar at a joint ceremony with representatives of the Government of Qatar, including Ambassador Plenipotentiary Mohammed Khater Al Khater, Director Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Mohammed Al Jaber, Acting Director European and American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It is a great honour for me to be here today to open this modern ambitious building, a symbol of our dynamic expanding relationship built on a long history of friendship," said Dr Howells at the opening.

“Britain and Qatar's partnership goes back as early as the 1940s and has grown steadily in strength. This new embassy, the first I understand in the new Diplomatic Area, will allow us to offer an even better range of services, for Qataris as well as British nationals, including promoting trade and investment, enhancing our consular services for British nationals and providing even quicker, better process for visa applicants."

Addressing a reception which was attended by ambassadors accredited to Qatar and other senior officials, Dr Howells said the aim of his visit to Qatar was apart from the formal opening of the Embassy, to tour the gas facilities under construction which will be supplying LNG to UK.

He said the next stage in Qatar-UK relationship must be one that is beyond industry and commercial trade, that is about people talking to each other and trying to understand each other, because Qatar is in a part of the world that the whole world watches constantly. “It is a part of the world that is politically sensitive as is possible to imagine. So, Qatar is important to us all. There are many things to discuss with them. We want to know how Qatar feels about all the great issues."

He also said that the new embassy is a symbol of the commitment of the UK-Qatar relationship. Later, Dr Howells later told a news conference that this is his second visit to Qatar in about a year and that the development taking place in the country is quite impressive.