Qatar insists investments in France not driven by 'politics'

Qatar defended its continuing investments in France on Monday, claiming they were not motivated by "political ambitions". The Gulf state has sparked fears in some quarters that its financial ventures are inspired by a desire to promote Islamism.

Qatar insisted on Monday that there was nothing sinister behind its multi-billion euro investments in France.
The Gulf state’s Prime Minister Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani said there was no cause to be suspicious over the motivation for his country’s purchase of stakes in French companies, insisting it had nothing to do with politics.

"Qatar is not a country with great political ambitions ... and it wants no political role from its investments in France," Sheikh Hamad said at a press conference in Doha. "We don't do anything without coordinating with the French side," he added.

France has proved attractive to Qatari investors, who have bought Paris Saint-Germain football club and acquired three percent of energy giant Total as well as stakes in building firm Vinci and in media group Lagardere. (continue reading...)