The Saudi Foreign Ministry yesterday issued the following press release:

"The Saudi Foreign Ministry yesterday issued the following press release. Within the framework of fraternal and close ties binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the sisterly State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani, the Qatari Foreign Minister, began an official visit to the Kingdom on Sunday April 7, 1996.   In the course of his visit, he met His Royal Highness Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and presented to him a letter from his brother, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.   In consolidation of historic relations between the two sisterly countries, it has been agreed to complete the demarcation of borders between the two states and resume within two weeks the work of the Joint Technical Committee, to select an international survey company and draw up the technical specifications for surveying and marking border points."

The meeting in Riyadh was attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Adviser at the Crown Prince’s Court Abdulmohsen Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Tuweijri, and the Qatari Ambassador to the Kingdom Ali Abdullah Al-Mahmood.

On arrival in Riyadh, Sheikh Hamad praised the depth of the ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and stressed that his visit comes within the context of close relations between the two Arab Gulf states under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council.   He said all issues of interest to both countries would be probed during his talks with Saudi officials.

Today, GCC Secretary General Jamil Ibrahim Al-Hujeilan expressed satisfaction at the joint communiqué issued last night by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar concerning their agreement to complete procedures for demarcation of their mutual border.   He stated that this agreement confirms the concern of the leaders of the two countries to further enhance existing bilateral relations, and that it reflects the attention given by the GCC to realization of its noble goals to unify the Gulf nations and ensure their security, stability and prosperity.

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