Qatar Recent History
This state of Eastern Arabia was linked to Great Britain with a treaty since 1916. In the 1930s important oil fields were discovered on the territory, the exploitation of which began only in 1949.
In April 1970 a provisional Constitution was promulgated with which the union with the Federation of the United Arab Emirates was foreseen, but when the treaty expired in September 1971, however, the independence of the country was proclaimed which was recognized both by the Arab League that from the United Nations.
According to Abbreviationfinder, an acronym site which also features history of Qatar, the title of “Emir” went to Sheikh Ahmad b Alì Al Thani; since, however, he did not show even the slightest interest in the affairs of the country, both domestic and foreign, in February 1972 he was deposed by his cousin Kalifah B Hamad Al Thani.
This provoked unrest and manifestations to the contrary, therefore, in compliance with what was established by the Constitution itself, a 20-member Advisory Council was established, which in 1975 became thirty, and they were responsible for approving, or not, all legislative provisions. decided by the Council of Ministers. The mandate of this Council in May 1975 was extended for three years.
Since oil was the country’s greatest wealth, Qatar had to cope with the ups and downs of production and sales all over the world and, having been territorially on the Arabian Gulf since 1980, with the beginning of hostilities between Iraq and Iran, he found amid the echoes of the conflict, with lively concern.
1986 was a negative year for Qatar for two main reasons: first the drop in the world oil price; secondly because he found himself almost at a test of military strength with the neighboring emirate of Bahrain, who had attempted to occupy and fortify the island of Fasth Al-Dibal.
With the mediation of Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the dispute was settled and the country was able to return to the construction of large public works, with the agreements entered into with French and American companies.
Then he signed two agreements with France: the first in 1987 to be supplied with weapons and the second in 1991 for the exploitation of new oil basins.
Qatar worked hard to restore balance and freedom in Kuwait after the war with Iraq; he was very active in the Council for cooperation in the Gulf, and has always worked in harmony with Saudi Arabia for the development of the national territory, providing highly skilled businessmen and industrialists. Precisely because of their precious work, Qatar has been able to build not only luxury residential tourist centers, but also agricultural and livestock systems.
Its rapid economic rise, as well as that of other countries in the Gulf area, was made possible by the proceeds of the abundant production of oil and, for this reason, it is in continuous progress.
In 1995 sheikh Sayh Halifa ibn Hamad Al Tani ended his government work voluntarily as he was deposed with a coup, wanted and headed by his son, heir to the throne, Sayh Hamad ibn Halifa Al Tani.
The latter, as President of the Supreme Planning Council, had done a meritorious job, since the mid-1980s, to diversify productivity, so that the economic situation did not depend exclusively on oil.
He also wanted to modernize Qatari politics and to this end in July 1999 he set up a commission capable of changing the Constitution, so that the powers of the absolute monarchy would be revisited and diminished.
In foreign policy, Qatar entered into defensive agreements between the 1992 and 1994 with the United States, Great Britain and France, while reiterating its independence from Saudi Arabia.
Indeed, relations with the latter state worsened due to different opinions on the border issue. This contrast was later eliminated by a treaty stipulated in April 1996.
There was also a dispute over maritime borders with Bahrain. But to remedy this controversy, a negotiation plan was decreed only starting from the first months of 1997.