‘Qatar among the world’s safest countries’

HE the Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi said Qatar holds a high ranking on the list of safest countries in the world and its successful development is a reflection to the stability, safety and peace in the state, despite all challenges and crises in the region.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE al-Khulaifi touched on many topics related to the  Ministry of Interior’s efforts and its success in security and services as well as its preparations for the future including securing the 2022 FIFA World Cup.He said the factors of success and growth seen in the country are a normal reflection for the success in security, amidst the crises and terrorist attacks taking place in the region.This is an indication to the strength of the security structure in Qatar which has been confirmed by the international indicators which is completely neutral, where the state has assumed an advanced position among the countries of the world, he said.HE al-Khulaifi said these successes come despite the unjust siege imposed on the state, where Qatar has struck a great example for resilience facing regional and global challenges with tact and professionalism and continued to move towards achieving goals with determination.He said the wise directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani followed up by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has made Qatar in the region’s lead for peace, safety and stability.HE al-Khulaifi said in 2016 and 2017, Qatar ranked first among the GCC and Arab countries and the 30th out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index.This is due to the low crime rates especially those of murder and violence, the low number of prisoners, the absence of terrorism and the stability of the political situation, he added.The Director General of Public Security said Qatar ranked first globally between 2014 and 2017 in the business costs of crime and violence index of the Global Competitiveness Report.In addition, it was ranked sixth in combating organised crime, ninth in public confidence index in services provided to the public, he said.HE al-Khulaifi said these rankings indicate the amount of efforts exerted in maintaining peace and security on a local and external scale and refutes the suspicions, allegations and fabrications that the siege have to prove which is that Qatar supports terrorism.He said in light of these achievements, Qatar was able counter all malicious attempts by the siege countries to undermine their security and deprive its decision and sovereignty and make it dependent through false claims, according to the global community.He said the siege countries sought to distort Qatar’s image through terrorism and destabilise the region.They also tried to weaken the state whether through an economic siege or other tactics but they failed greatly and Qatar remained strong in its security, economy, sovereignty, diplomacy and international presence, he said.He highlighted Qatar’s clear and firm stance since the beginning of the crises, which is that dialogue is the only way to resolve the issue, provided that the country’s sovereignty or interference in its internal affairs is not affected.HE al-Khulaifi expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah for the efforts made to resolve the crisis.He also praised the role of all the brotherly and friendly countries that supported Kuwait’s mediation to resolve it, reiterating that the solution will only come through dialogue.HE the Director General of Public Security praised the state’s success in managing the crisis and overcoming it with tact and great wisdom.He added that with great planning, the state was able to face the challenges of the siege, leading to its failure, by strengthening the internal front, boosting national potential, continuing the implementation of development and production increase projects, which proves that Qatar was able to overcome the repercussions of the siege.In response to a question on the Ministry of Interior’s most important achievements in the security and service fields in the light of its past strategy (2011-2016), HE al-Khulaifi confirmed that the ministry has made clear and tangible achievements during the past period, through the implementation of the strategies on the ground, in accordance with the development and modernisation plans based on the provision of human and material capabilities and the provision of equipment and devices, considering the importance of excellence and leadership in the security and service.HE al-Khulaifi said that the Ministry of Interior applies the highest international standards of community safety and security, in order to preserve lives and properties, in line with the global indicators for measuring the state of peace and security in the world.HE al-Khulaifi said that Qatar has a comprehensive vision for fighting terrorism, organised crime and drugs, adding that Doha’s efforts to achieve international peace and security have become clear and visible to the whole world.About the most sensitive security systems, he said that the Ministry of Interior has an electronic security system equipped with advanced appliances and trained qualified personnel to protect all state institutions in light of the many hacking attempts, in addition to combating cyber crime, stressing the importance of this system and its role in protecting and securing the World Cup in Qatar 2022.He pointed out that all these systems, strategies and committees have enabled the Ministry of Interior to achieve various successes and maintain Qatar’s status in the list of the safest countries in the world.On the role played by the Ministry of Interior in the preparations for the World Cup Qatar 2022 and its training programmes in this regard, HE al-Khulaifi explained that the Ministry of Interior is part of the international event, pointing to the terms of reference of the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), which oversees and takes responsibility for the security aspects of the 2022 World Cup.He said: “The security committee handles all security tasks related to securing competitive and non-competitive facilities, in addition to securing buildings and other procedures related to securing the flow of traffic, entry and exit from stadiums and various sports facilities.”He explained that the Ministry of Interior’s Strategy 2018-2022 has put securing the hosting of the 2022 World Cup as a core objective, “In this context, we are working with a clear training plan in building the human and technical capabilities of police and security personnel.He stressed that Qatar has great experiences in the field of securing sports events, and has achieved remarkable successes during the hosting of a number of global and regional sporting events. “Therefore the 2022 World Cup will be the safest and the most enjoyable, so everyone is welcome in Qatar,” he saidAnswering a question about the expansion of service centres of the Ministry of Interior, and the coverage of the various areas of the state, HE al-Khulaifi affirmed the ministry’s keenness on providing comprehensive services to citizens and residents to facilitate the completion of their transactions through the unified service centres, distributed in different regions of the country, which provide the services of passports, traffic and criminal evidence & investigation in addition to nationality services and travel documents.He said the ministry continuously seeks to implement its plans and programmes to expand outlets of these services as needed to enable the public to get their transactions done, whereas the coverage rate of services in the date reached 95%.He said these centres cover the needs of the public to their satisfaction, by the short time needed to finish the procedure.On the laws recently enacted such as the permanent residency, asylum and the amendment of the law of expatriates entry, exit and residency, HE al-Khulaifi said that these laws have been enacted in the framework of Qatar’s keenness on ensuring and protecting human rights.He stated that the Permanent Residence Card is an extension of fundamental constitutional concepts and a vivid embodiment of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s speeches when he joins the citizens with the residents.It targets benefiting from the competencies residing in the country, he added.He pointed out that permanent residency has great privileges so that the holders or their spouses enjoy social welfare programmes namely health, education, investment, ownership and freedom of movement inside and outside the country according to the regulations in force in the state.HE the Director General of Public Security said that all applications for permanent residency are subject to legal scrutiny to ensure compliance with all legal conditions and other conditions by legal auditors, the application then are submitted to the committee which issues its recommendation in this regard.In the case of approval, these applications are referred to the General Directorate of Passports to issue the ID.On the amendment in Article 7 of Law No (21) of 2015, regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residency, HE al-Khulaifi explained that this amendment stipulates the mechanism of exit of the expatriates for the purpose of annual leave, final departure or for any other purpose.Under this amendment, the exit permits were cancelled, and the implementation of this amendment has already started without hindrance.