By M.B. Jalloh, Press Attache, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates has officially presented his original Letters of Credence to the Emir of Qatar in a colourful ceremony at the Royal Palace in the Capital, Doha last week.
Before the ceremony, the Ambassador was honoured with an official Guard of Honour and the Sierra Leone National Anthem.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Siray Alpha Timbo conveyed warm greetings and felicitations from His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, the Government and People of Sierra Leone to His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Government and People of the State of Qatar.
He also conveyed President Koroma’s best wishes of good health and happiness to His Highness the Emir and also wished the Qatari people further progress and prosperity under the Emir’s wise and dynamic leadership.
“It is a great honour for me to present to your Highness the Letters of Credence from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, accrediting me as a non-resident Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the State of Qatar,” said Ambassador Timbo.
About his appointment as his country’s non-resident Envoy to the Gulf- Rich State of Qatar, Ambassador Timbo said that it is a demonstration of the importance Sierra Leone attaches to the already existing cordial ties between the two countries and promised to serve diligently in the interest of both countries.
The Sierra Leone Envoy also promised to work towards strengthening the relationship between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the State of Qatar. He used the occasion to thank His Highness for Qatar’s support to Sierra Leone over the years especially in the area of Sierra Leone’s post-war reconstruction programmes through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Trust Fund.
In accepting the Credentials, His Highness, the Emir welcomed and congratulated H.E Siray Timbo for his appointment as Sierra Leone’s non-resident Ambassador to the State of Qatar and wished him success in the discharge of his assignment. The Qatari leader also thanked the Ambassador for his sincere wishes and the relations between Qatar and Sierra Leone further progress and prosperity.
His Highness affirmed to the Ambassador that he would receive all support from the Qatari Government and people to enable him carry out his duties as Sierra Leone’s non-resident Envoy to Qatar. The Emir and the Ambassador had fruitful discussions on bilateral and mutual relations aimed at benefitting both countries in the areas of political, social, cultural and economic development.
The Ambassadors of Kuwait, Djibouti, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, India also presented their Letters of Credence to the Emir on the same day. The Ambassador had earlier presented a working copy of his credentials to the Qatari Deputy Foreign Minister at the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs as protocols demand.
The Ambassador was accompanied by the Embassy’s Acting Head of Chancery, Mr. Allieu Badarr Mansaray and the credentials presentation ceremony was attended by senior Qatari Government officials.
