French military academy in Doha to train Qataris

Doha: French Defence Minister Herve Morin announced here yesterday the creation of a French military academy in Doha to train aspiring Qataris.

Morin and Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah signed a letter of intent to establish the Qatari branch of the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, France's foremost French military academy.

"The academy will form the future elite of Qatari officers by providing the best available military training," Morin told reporters in Doha following meetings with Qatar's higher authorities.

France will send teachers and trainers to Qatar's branch of Saint-Cyr and the institute will offer the same study programme of the French headquarters, the minister said.