Qatar Emir Names New Foreign Minister in Cabinet Reshuffle
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Qatar’s emir issued a decree on Wednesday replacing the foreign minister and merging some portfolios, in what was seen as a move to cut costs after the sharp drop in oil prices.
The new foreign minister was named as Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The outgoing foreign minister, Khalid Al Attiyah, will become state minister for defence affairs.
The emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who took over in 2013 after his father stepped down, also holds the post of defense minister.
Qatar, the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas exporter, is one of the Persian Gulf’s richest countries, although the value of its energy exports almost halved last year.
A western diplomat in Doha said cost-cutting was one reason for the cabinet reshuffle, following the sharp decline in oil prices, Reuters reported.
The decree also merged several ministries, including communication and transport and culture, youth and sports. The public health minister was also replaced.
The ministers of energy and finance were unchanged.
