Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani left Cairo on Monday evening following a surprise visit lasting two hours that came less than a week following Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s visit to Doha.
Sources at Cairo International Airport described Al Thani’s visit as a "private” affair. The sources also revealed that Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Minister of Trade and Industry and Acting Minister of Investment, was present at Cairo International Airport to bid the emir farewell along with cohort.
The emir’s most recent visit to Cairo in 2007 precipitated a souring of relations between Cairo and Doha that erupted from political differences including Egyptian complaints against satellite news network Al-Jazeera.
In March, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit stated that “Al-Jazeera’s policy of searching for anything to upset Egypt” were behind the differences between the two countries.
He blamed the network’s management. “We are well aware of who runs the channel and of his directions and his desire that no good comes to Egypt,” he said.
Observers say that Mubarak's UAE visit is part of a week-long Gulf tour marking improved relations between the two nations.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
