In Stockholm, the Foreign Ministries of Qatar and Sweden convened their third round of political consultations on Thursday, affirming their dedication to advancing bilateral ties.
Led by Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary-General of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Jan Knutsson, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, the discussions underscored mutual efforts to strengthen cooperation.
According to a statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the talks centered on enhancing existing bilateral relations and identifying new avenues for collaboration.
“During the round of political consultations, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen and support them,” the Ministry stated.
The high-level political consultation also saw the participation of Qatar’s Ambassador to Sweden, Nadia bint Ahmad Al Sheebi, and Saoud bin Abdulla Zaid Al Mahmoud, Director of Qatar’s European Affairs Department.
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of challenges in bilateral relations, notably concerning repeated attacks on the Quran in Sweden. Earlier in 2023, Qatar strongly condemned the repeated attacks on the Quran in Sweden, criticizing the authorities’ failure to address these practices of hatred and religious discrimination. Qatar said, despite condemnations from various quarters, including Arab and Islamic nations, and a Human Rights Council resolution against religious hatred, such attacks persist.
Moreover, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier also summoned Sweden’s Ambassador to convey an official objection memo, urging Swedish authorities to take decisive action against these discriminatory practices.
