Australia’s ambassador to the UAE and Qatar, Pablo Kang, delivered a lecture titled “Multilateral Diplomacy: Australia’s 2013-2014 Term on the United Nations Security Council,” at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) as  part of the university’s Ambassadorial Lecture Series.

Kang explained Australia’s campaign strategy to win one of the 10 non-permanent member seats elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly in 2012. He also detailed the country’s approach to multilateral negotiations, and highlighted the key challenges and successes of its tenure, such as promoting national and international interests, and galvanising international action in unforeseen crises.

“Australia’s campaign for current UNSC membership was a long process that started with Kevin Rudd,  former prime minister  in March of 2008, and included an intensive strategy for each phase of the campaign,” said Kang. He highlighted one of the main themes that drove Australia’s bid for membership as the focus of making a difference for small and medium countries of the world, as well as arms control, disarmament, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and increasing effectiveness and transparency to enhance the credibility of the Council’s work.

“We are the 12th largest contributor to the UN and peacekeeping budget, which makes sense since we are the 12th largest economy,” said the ambassador. “More than 65,000 Australians have served in over 50 United Nations and other multilateral peace operations in Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. In Cypress alone, we have had a presence for over 50 years.”

 

Culture Minister meets Turkish ambassador

HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari met the Turkish Ambassador to Qatar Ahmet Demirok and a delegation from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Doha yesterday.

The two sides discussed preparations for the Cultural Year Qatar-Turkey 2015 and studied the proposed agenda of activities.

The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage represented by Qatar Museums Authority and official cultural organisations in Turkey are co-ordinating the event.

Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik will visit Qatar next month. He will be accompanied by a Turkish artistic troupe to launch cultural activities.

 

Qatar to take part in Qur’an recitation competition

Qatar will participate  in the 10th competition of King Mohamed VI International Award for Recitation of the Holy Qur’an, due to start in Casablanca tomorrow.

Qatar will be represented at the contest by Youssuf Ahmed Youssuf Asheer alongside representatives of 30 countries.

The two-day contest is composed of two categories - the full memorisation of the Holy Qur’an with recitation and  interpretation, and Tajweed (rules governing pronunciation during recitation of the Qur’an) and the memorisation of two-and-a-half parts of the Qur’an.

 

Bangladesh farm minister meets Qatar’s envoy

Minister of Agriculture of Bangladesh Matia Chowdhury has met Qatar’s Ambassador Abdulaziz Mohamed al-Mana in Dhaka.

They discussed aspects of co-operation between the two countries and ways of boosting them.