His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani officially inaugurated the Qatar National Library (QNL) on Monday at Qatar Foundation's (QF) Education City at a grand ceremony and placed the one-millionth book on the shelves.
The event, held in the imposing QNL building, was attended by His Highness the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, QF chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, Turkey's Assistant Prime Minister Bakir Buzdag, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah's envoy and Minister of Emiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah al-Sabah and Princess Lalla Hasna, representative of King Mohamed VI of Morocco, were present.
Turkey's former president Abdullah Gul, France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy, Kosovo's former president Atifa Yahya Agha, and Italy's former prime minister Matteo Renzi also were present on the occasion.The ceremony was attended by a number of other dignitaries, sheikhs, ministers, heads of diplomatic missions in Qatar and guests.
His Highness the Emir commemorated the event by signing the official inauguration certificate, which will be mounted on a plaque, and by placing on the shelves QNLtarget="_blank"'>