The Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdel Halim Khaddam, has completed an official visit to the Arab Gulf state of Qatar. The Minister conveyed a personal message from the Syrian President Lieut.-Gen. Hafez Assad, on conditions in the Middle East to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani. Mr. Khaddam was met on arrival at Doha airport on Wednesday (14 February) by the Qatar Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jasim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Mr. Khaddam’s official visit was one of a series he has been paying to Middle Eastern states. He has also called in at Oman and North yemen for talks. The object of the visits has been to acquaint Arab leaders with the current Syrian-Israeli border situation. There has been a spate of recent clashes between the two countries. The Syrian visitor’s main errand was a call at Government House in Qatar. There he met the Emir, Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani. Mr. Khaddam conveyed a personal message to the Emir from President Hafez Assad of Syria. The message is believed to have contained his government’s views on the current Middle East situation.
