HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani met with French Minister of Defence Florence Parly at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base on Thursday as part of his official visit to the country.

They discussed military and defence cooperation ties between Qatar and France and the means to enhance them. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments.

HH the Emir accompanied by the French Defense Minister also visited the building of the Qatari Rafale Squadron in the Mont-de-Marsan airbase. His Highness was briefed on the nature of joint-defence work and the training programme for the Emiri Air Force as part of the QRS project in France.

HH the Emir listened to a briefing from Brigadier General (Pilot) Salem Abdullah al Dosari on the most prominent operations and fighting capabilities of the squadron and the joint training programme.
The briefing also touched on what was achieved in 2015 as well as the future plans.

HH the Emir was also briefed on the Qatari Rafale plan, and witnessed a presentation on how to fly and maintain it by officers in the Qatari Armed Forces. HH the Amir met with Qatari Armed Forces officers who are part of the Rafale squadron, currently receiving training on piloting and maintaining the planes in cooperation with the French Air Force. His Highness also visited the operations centres.

HH Sheikh Tamim was accompanied on the visit by an official delegation and a number of Qatari military leaders of the military attache from the Qatari embassy in Paris.

HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation were received at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base by French Defence Minister Florence Parly; mayor of Landes; French Air Force General Philippe Adam; Commander of Centre D'expertise Aerienne Militaire (CEAM) Matthieu Pellissier; Mont-de-Marsan Air Base Commander, Colonel Cedric Gaudilliere.

HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation were also received by Qatar's Ambassador to France HE Khalid bin Rashid al Mansouri, Ambassador of France to Qatar HE Eric Chevallier, a number of Qatari senior officers of the air base and members of the military attache at the Qatari embassy in France.
Later in the evening, HH the Emir arrived in Paris.

Source: Qatar News Agency