Doha: The Speaker of the Shura Council HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud praised Tuesday the speech of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, at the opening of the 49th ordinary session of the Shura Council.
In his speech that marked the start of the new session, HE the Speaker, on behalf of the members of the Shura Council, said that it was a pleasure to extend their highest gratitude and appreciation to HH the Amir for attending the opening of the new ordinary session of the Shura Council.
His Excellency added that the Council followed the speech of HH the Amir, with great interest, on the State of Qatar's policies and positions on all the internal and foreign issues and their developments. His Excellency highlighted that in the speech, HH the Amir highlighted the milestones in the country's internal and foreign policies, as well as the continuous efforts to improve all necessary services and overcome development challenges to achieve the citizens' well-being. HE the speaker said that the council was following the great accomplishments that Qatar is being acknowledged for, thanks to the directives of HH the Amir, despite the unjust blockade that was imposed on Qatar, in addition to the refusal to hear the voice of wisdom.
His Excellency recalled the strenuous efforts made by HH the late Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to heal the rift and reunite, and his sincere intentions to bring security and stability to the Gulf states and their people, noting that the efforts of HH the late Amir will always be present in the Qatari minds.
The speaker noted that the development in the State of Qatar continues to take shape in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030, despite the exceptional circumstances of the blockade and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. His Excellency noted that the loyal people of Qatar will remember His Highness' brave and wise stance upon facing the blockade and limiting its effects, as well as His Highness' rapid directives in taking effective precautionary measures at the beginning of the outbreak of the virus, in addition to providing free medical supplies for citizens and residents, which had a great impact on successfully limiting the spread of the virus.
His Excellency added that the people of Qatar will also remember the rapid directives of HH the Amir during the COVID-19 outbreak, which made Qatar one of the countries with the lowest mortality rate due to the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which hailed the country for its distinguished performance in combating the virus, in addition to the financial assistance to reduce the effects of the pandemic in the country, as well as providing humanitarian aid to combat the pandemic in many countries of the world, and contributing to support multilateral health care institutions to develop vaccines.
The Speaker of the Shura Council expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the efforts made by the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to contain the pandemic, while also extending his gratitude and appreciation to the medical and health personnel for their exceptional efforts and undeniable human sacrifices. His Excellency also expressed his pride in the values of solidarity and the spirit of volunteering shown by various components of the society to combat the pandemic.
The Speaker said that the Council supports the State's position on the various regional issues and commends its firm stances towards the issues of the State and just regional and international issues.
He also said that the Council commends HH the Amir's call for lifting the siege of Gaza, restarting peace negotiations, ending occupation, and establishing an independent state of Palestine based on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
His Excellency indicated that freedom of expression doesn't mean offending others in their religion and belief and dealing with double standards in this regard, adding that it's unreasonable and illogical to link religion with terrorism and to link anyones crime to their religion. He said the Council condemns and rejects insulting the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and Islam, the religion of peace and harmony.
He added that the Council condemns any terrorist act, whatever its form and source, stating that terrorism is not associated with color, religion, or ethnicity. His Excellency pointed out that Qatar called on the UN and other world leaders to put in place laws, procedures and controls that prevent insulting religions under any pretext for the sake of a world where peace, understanding and cooperation prevail among its states and peoples.
The Speaker noted HH the Amir's mention of the Councils efforts and activities is a testimony of which they are proud of, which wouldn't have been possible without Allah's grace and HH the Amir's care.
The Speaker of the Shura Council briefly touched upon some of what the Council did during the last session, which was cooperating with the esteemed government to complete all draft laws and decrees, which exceeded 20 draft laws and decrees covering the field of economy, providing the legislative environment for internal and external investment, food security, health, transportation, organizing press and media work and others, in addition to public issues which concerned citizens, some of which were discussed by the Council in the presence of a number of ministers according to their competences.
His Excellency sincerely thanked the esteemed government for its positive cooperation and interaction regarding the handling of the Councils proposals and recommendations, pointing out that the Council has continued its efforts in the parliamentary diplomacy field to publicize the State of Qatar's policy and achievements and to address in many regional and international parliamentary activities the attempts of the blockading countries to undermine Qatar's reputation and position.
With the support of HH the Amir, the Council also achieved a number of important international success, including what HH the Amir referred to in his speech in the establishment of the Office of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism for Parliamentarians to be based in Doha, His Excellency pointed out.
His Excellency added that the establishment of this office comes as an affirmation of the international community's confidence in Qatar, as well as in appreciation of HH the Amir's efforts, in combating terrorism and addressing its roots and causes, resulting in the unanimous election of the State of Qatar, represented by Chairman of the Shura Council, Chairman of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption and transferred its secretariat to Doha, at the organizations seventh meeting held in Doha in Dec. 2020 coincided with the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award winners HH the Amir allocated for excellence in fighting corruption at the organization's fourth meeting held in Kigali.
This is in addition to the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding for parliamentary cooperation with regional and international parliamentary organizations and parliaments of a number of friendly countries, as well as in addition to the Inter-Parliamentary Union recently selected the Shura Council in Doha as the location from which it launched its 130-year-old book, HE noted.
Concluding his speech, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council said that the Council looks forward to being able to achieve an additional and greater momentum to contribute to the State's issues and concerns and extended his thanks and appreciation to the members of the Council for their efforts.