HE the Minister of State for Defence Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah at the conference yesterday. (RIGHT) Staff Major General (Pilot) Nasser bin Mohamed al-Ali addressing the opening session on behalf of HE the Minister of State for Defence.
The 11th annual conference of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) on the control and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was inaugurated yesterday in Doha.
HE the Minister of State for Defence Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah inaugurated the conference, while Staff Major General (Pilot) Nasser bin Mohamed al-Ali, chairman of the Qatar National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons, addressed the opening session on behalf of HE the Minister.
The two-day conference is chaired by ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Nato assistant secretary-general for emerging security challenges. Ducaru highly appreciated the positive co-operation of Qatar with Nato.
Alexander Vershbow, Nato deputy secretary-general, said this is the first time the conference is being held outside Europe. The fact that it is being hosted in Qatar reflects the good co-operation between Doha and Nato. He further talked about the various implications of the political and security situation in Asia, Africa and Europe and the role of Nato in these.
“This conference is being held in the GCC region, which sees increasing interest from Nato since the region and the entire Middle East is witnessing fast changes. This requires more collective co-operation of international efforts and constant communication to attain the ultimate target of making the Middle East an area free from weapons of mass destruction,” said Staff Major General (Pilot) al-Ali on behalf of HE Major General al-Attiyah.
He recalled that Qatar hosted a Nato workshop on radiation in November 2008 and is an active member of the Istanbul Co-operation Initiative.
Further, he said this initiative, launched in 2004 to contribute to long-term global and regional security by offering countries of the broader Middle East region practical bilateral security co-operation with Nato, reflects the interest of Nato to maintain security and stability in the region.
Staff Major General (Pilot) al-Ali stressed that Qatar has adopted a steadfast policy of promoting world peace and it was among the first countries in the world to join international conventions regarding the banning of weapons and the protection of human rights.
He described the conference as a good opportunity for discussions among senior Nato officials and their partners on one side and the GCC and Middle East countries on the other, aiming at producing practical and effective outcomes on the control over armament, WMD disarmament and curbing the spread of arms.
“Let your decisions be a way for spreading peace among world countries and a support for the region’s peoples seeking freedom and honourable living. Let us provide them with the adequate protection through the drying up and eradication of the origins of terrorism and make the Middle East an area free of the weapons of mass destruction,” he concluded.
The participants at the conference include representatives from the member-countries of Nato, the Mediterranean Dialogue Forum, Istanbul Co-operation Initiative and the GCC. The conference was launched in 2004, aiming to boost stability and security in the GCC and Middle East region through effective military and security co-operation and co-ordination among the friendly countries.
Qatar was among the first countries to join the treaties regarding the banning of WMD, signing related agreement since 1975.
