Vice President Biden and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon met with Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani of Qatar today at the White House.  They underscored the importance of the strong relationship between the United States and Qatar and discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues.  In particular, they condemned the ongoing violence in Syria perpetrated by the Assad regime and noted the significance of the Arab League observer mission’s final report due on January 19.  The Vice President and Mr. Donilon also reaffirmed the longstanding commitment of the United States to the security of our partners and allies, and agreed with the Prime Minister on the need to maintain stability in the region.