By Ayman Adly

Staff Reporter

 

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani inaugurated the fourth Civil Defence Exhibition and Conference at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday.

The three-day conference is attended by a number of civil defence experts. The exhibition features the latest technologies from around the world.

The opening ceremony was attended by HE the Minister of State for Defence Affairs Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, HE the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Minister of Sports and Youth Salah bin Ghanim al-Ali, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Saif al-Sulaiti and HE the director general of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi.

Belarus Minister of Emergency Vladimir Vashchenko,  Council of Arab Interior Ministers secretary general  Dr Mohamed bin Ali Kooman,   International Civil Defence Organisation secretary general  Dr Vladimir Kuvshinov, representative of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group Terry Scavdal and directors of Civil Defence departments from other GCC countries were among the foreign dignitaries present.

“The exhibition and the conference will be a new experience for all participants as it includes a number of activities through which we try to strengthen the mechanism of co-ordination between civil defence and search and rescue teams in the field of disaster and calamities response regionally and internationally,” said the director general of the General Directorate of the Civil Defence (GDCD), Staff Brigadier General Abdullah Mohamed al-Suwaidi, in his opening address.

He hoped that the conference would bring out effective recommendations that would enhance the developing of capabilities of civil defence and search and rescue teams in addressing various disasters and risks.

Describing the conference as “one of the most important in the field of civil defence and the protection of life and property”, Dr Kuvshinov  said: “Today the civil defence of Qatar has become an example for all nations that really care for protection of people from natural and man-made disasters.”

He urged Qatar to transfer the expertise it possessed in this field to other countries that were in need of assistance.

Dr Kuvshinov observed that the inauguration of Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College (RLESC) as an important contribution of Qatar to enhance joint efforts in the field of strengthening civil defence in all levels. He hoped that RLESC would hold advanced courses for those working in civil protection  from all over the world.

Skavdal emphasised the importance of training civil defence personnel to develop their performance in case of large earthquakes and other major disasters to help victims in an effective and timely manner.

After inaugurating , HE Sheikh Abdullah toured the exhibition, accompanied by the other dignitaries.
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