New French media reports that the Al Hamdeen Organization in Qatar has financed a project to set up six fountains in the capital, Paris, at a cost of four million euros of the total project value estimated at 6.3 million euros.
The Qatari finance raised widespread domestic criticism, especially from the French opposition, which saw it as an insult to the people of the country, and a prelude to the incursion of the country, according to the site «Mediapart» local.
According to the website, Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo opened last Thursday the new six fountains at the Rhone-Bouillon in Champs-Elysées at a cost of 6.3 million euros, more than 60 percent of which were financed by Doha.
The documents published on the website revealed the financing of the Qatari sovereign fund for projects in Paris, criticizing that the organization of Hamdine be allowed to penetrate French territory and sponsor national projects, while being accused of terrorist activities.
According to the investigative website, € 4 million was paid in full from the Qatar Investment Fund (Sovereign Fund).
He pointed out that it was not random, but rather a national attempt to wash its bad reputation with the financing of terrorism to boast of financing glamorous tourist attractions in the capital of light. The fountains were required to be placed in tourist attractions in the Champs-Elysées, between Concord Square and the Arc de Triomphe.
These fountains, designed by the duo Erwan and Ronan Boroulec, are adorned with 3060 pieces of crystal and 258 pieces of pearls, 13 meters long, all of which is the high cost of the Qatari portfolio that finances tourist facilities in Paris for the purpose of boasting and excluding terrorism.
The money raised the anger of French right-wing and left-wing dissidents, especially from a controversial state and an affront to the funding of public spaces in Paris, asking: "How do vital French public spaces be funded with foreign funding?"
Three years ago, the Paris Municipality announced its intention to launch the project with a value of 4.2 million euros, financed by 3.9 million euros from the Paris Fund for Grants, established by Hydalego, to raise funds from donors who wish to finance the project. Cultural and charitable projects in the capital.
In addition, € 200,000 from the Paris Water Authority, and the rest is the city's responsibility, Le Parisien reported in a report in 2016.
French investors, as usual, were supposed to provide grants to the Paris Fund for Grants with the care system created by the Mayor of Paris, with the financiers being represented as directors of the funded project.
But in 2017, everyone was surprised by the presence of a foreign partner in the financing of the Paris Fund for Donors, the Qatari Investment Fund, managed by Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El Sayed.
The site pointed out that Ahmed Al-Sayed owns in Paris hotels and real estate several and the building theater «Lido» in the Champs-Elysées, and others.
According to the accounting documents of the Paris Fund, which the site has seen, it has been conclusively demonstrated that this sovereign fund has contributed to the financing of sensitive vital areas in Paris, allowing them to be treated as sponsors and board members of these projects.
The website criticized the Qatari regime for incursions into its territory and sponsoring national projects, while accusing it of sponsoring terrorism.
He said caution should have been taken before this step, wondering whether the reason for this Qatari generosity was the desire to "have the honor of reaching prestigious places in Paris to improve the bad image of Doha?"
This foreign funding contrasts with the administrative law of the Paris Fund, which is responsible for funding the more symbolic areas of the capital, which is supposed to receive support only from French nationals and not foreigners, according to the site.
This funding did not stop at fountains, but included other more sensitive projects financed by the Paris Fund, including the tulip basin in the capital, the renewal of lights at the Arc de Triomphe and other projects.
In a tweet via Twitter, Hidalgo thanked the "private sponsors who financed these new fountains," without naming the financier.
However, the website noted that Hidalgo could confirm that the funding from the Dassault and Qatar group, but did not do so. How could a foreign sovereign fund fund public facilities in Paris?
• Qatari funding has not stopped at fountains, but has involved other more sensitive projects funded by the Paris Fund, including the tulip basin in the capital, the renewal of lights in the Arc de Triomphe, and other projects.