TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors during the Third Japan-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Doha on Tuesday.
According to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, the ministers acknowledged increasing collaboration in energy, the economy, defense, international initiatives, and cultural and academic exchanges.
Additionally, they expressed mutual support for their national teams’ participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
During their 100-minute meeting, the ministers underscored the importance of liquefied natural gas in strengthening bilateral relations.
Minister Motegi conveyed appreciation for Qatar’s consistent energy supply, while Minister Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s commitment to ensuring stable energy provision to Japan.
Minister Motegi further expressed appreciation for Qatar’s sustained investments in Japan.
The ministers highlighted ongoing progress in defense cooperation, referencing the initiation of defense consultations in 2023, the first visit by a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel to Qatar in 12 years, and the inaugural visit by the Chief of the Joint Staff. They committed to further strengthening these exchanges.
The ministers agreed to broaden development assistance and humanitarian support by leveraging the respective strengths of both nations.
Qatar was the first country to confirm participation in the forthcoming GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, for which Minister Motegi expressed gratitude. He also welcomed ongoing academic exchanges between universities and institutions.
During discussions regarding Gaza, Minister Motegi commended Qatar for its role in facilitating the ceasefire and the release of hostages. He stated that, following his recent visit to Israel and Palestine, Japan intends to actively contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East, including the reconstruction of Gaza.
Minister Mohammed welcomed Japan’s initiatives for regional stability and expressed a desire for continued bilateral cooperation.
The ministers also addressed the situation concerning Iran and their respective policies on North Korea, including nuclear and missile issues, abductions, and recent developments in East Asia. They agreed to maintain close cooperation on these matters, according to the Ministry, which did not provide further details.
Japan, Qatar reaffirm commitment to ongoing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors
https://arab.news/57hqf
Japan, Qatar reaffirm commitment to ongoing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors
- The ministers acknowledged increasing collaboration in energy, economy, defense and international initiatives
- Minister MOTEGI further expressed appreciation for Qatar’s sustained investments in Japan
Gazan family takes legal action against UK govt for preventing them settling in Britain
- Family members trying to reunite with their father but have been refused key travel documents
- Gaza currently has no facilities to collect biometric data that UK requires
LONDON: A Palestinian family is taking legal action against the British government over a decision to bar them from settling in the UK.
The six family members, ranging in age from 14 to 23 years old, are seeking to leave Gaza and reunite with their father, but have been denied entry for security reasons.
UK government lawyers said it is official policy not to allow access to the country without biometric data, which is currently impossible to obtain or submit in Gaza.
In order to gather the relevant data, the family would need to exit Gaza via Jordan, which would require the provision of onward travel assurances by the UK government, which have not been granted.
At a court hearing on Monday, government lawyer Rory Dunlop said via written submission that giving the OTAs would be a “step too far” from current policy.
“An OTA is an exception to that policy because it requires the Secretary of State for the Home Department to guarantee entry before biometrics have been checked,” he said.
“Every exception to Her (His) Majesty’s Government biometric policy carries risks to national and border security because the individual may pose a risk that can only be identified by their biometrics.
“That is particularly so in a case, as here, where some of the claimants seeking an OTA are adults living in an area where there has been significant terrorist activity.”
The family say the decision to reject their applications is a breach of their human rights. Lawyer Charlotte Kilroy, acting on behalf of the family, said each member could prove their identity via their passports, and Israeli authorities had already approved their application to transit through the country to Jordan.
“Israel uses tools of mass-surveillance in Gaza, meaning any risks they posed related to terrorism activity in the region would have been identified,” Kilroy said.
“The claimants have never left Gaza, meaning there is no real prospect of their data being held or showing risk to the public interest in UK biometric checks.”
At an earlier hearing in December, when the decision was taken to reject the applications, Kilroy noted that the family’s father was taking medication to improve his mental health as the situation had left him worried over the safety of his relatives.
Earlier, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood won the right to restrict migrants using the European Convention on Human Rights to settle in the UK, after the Court of Appeal agreed with her that a scheme opened for Ukrainian refugees could not be used by others, following a Palestinian family’s attempts to use it to justify coming to Britain.
