Despite the unjust siege imposed on Qatar, the government’s strategies are progressing as planned with close follow-up by all the ministers and officials in different sectors in the country, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has stressed.
In an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the National Day, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said : “We can confirm that our country has overcome the siege and its effects and is now going for self-sufficiency in goods and essential products and the provision of their strategic stocks to meet the needs of the country. We can also confirm that the productive sectors of the State are now going to achieve self-sufficiency in goods and non-essential products.”
“Under the siege, we have also realised international achievements in various sectors and our economy has been growing in the light of the progress achieved by our foreign trade with various countries, along our continued contribution with international organisations to enhance Qatar’s role and mission at the regional and international levels,” he said.
On the country’s efforts to address the siege, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior said: “It became clear to everyone that the siege imposed on us is an unjust and illegal blockade aimed at influencing the sovereign decision of the State and undermining the stability of the country. Therefore, all false allegations made by the siege countries were refuted thanks to the wise policy of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.”
“Qatar has taken proactive steps in the fight against terrorism and signed memorandums of understanding in this field with the United States of America, and our country was the first to respond to the anti-terrorism summit, and by then no one accuses Qatar of such false allegations,” he added.
As for the steadfastness of Qatar in the face of the siege, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani stressed that the State managed in accordance with well-studied plans to deal with this unjust siege and meet its challenges, overcome its effects and make it a failure, through the contribution of national energies, through the continuing implementation of infrastructure, development, health and education projects, and through the consolidation of its international relations.
Regarding the economic challenges that accompanied the crisis, he stressed that Qatar, with Allah’s grace and under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has overcome any negative effects that may affect citizens and residents, as different sectors in the country strived continuously and professionally to provide us with quick and urgent solutions for any emergency that may happen.
He pointed out that the State has increasingly encouraged the private sector to develop the local products through concessions and exemptions granted to the projects implemented by this sector to support food and water security and raise local production to cover the market needs of the Qatari national product.
“We look forward to achieving self-sufficiency in some commodities and materials in the short term by diversifying our sources of production and economic resources in accordance with Vision 2030 regarding diversification of sources of economy and production,” he pointed out.
He said Qatar National Day on 18 December is a great and important occasion to commemorate the late Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani, who laid the first building blocks for the glorious State of Qatar.
It is also an incentive to inspire the sense of belonging to the homeland and the values of sacrifice and selflessness, and serves as a motive to deepen the pride and development of the State.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior offered his sincere congratulations to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. He also congratulated all the citizens and expatriates living in Qatar, on the occasion of the Qatar National Day, praying to Allah the Almighty to return this day with the country enjoying the pride and happiness, and everyone enjoying security, stability and tranquility.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior affirmed that the celebration of the National Day has great symbolic significance in the national memory and embodies the meaning of unity and true brotherhood among its people and brings lofty meanings to the hearts and minds of all citizens and expatriates living on this good land.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said that the anniversary of this day, which is marked on 18 December every year, comes when Qatar is experiencing extraordinary circumstances because of the siege imposed on it. This shows the importance of sending messages to the whole world that Qatar is following in the footsteps of the Founder in order to achieve the desired goals and objectives by promoting the process of sustainable and comprehensive development and presenting leading models in various sectors.
He stressed that the current crisis has strengthened the values of solidarity and cohesion between citizens and expatriates in the face of unjust measures by the siege countries, which are contrary to all religions and all international conventions, laws and norms.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani noted that the celebration of the National Day also reflects the citizens’ association with the leader of their progress, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who places the interest of the nation and the citizen above all considerations, by removing barriers and promoting interaction of citizens and residents with the leadership in a loving manner and with a sense of responsibility.
Celebrating the National Day is a great opportunity to affirm and strengthen national sentiment, he added.
On Qatar’s achievements, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said that the country continues to make progress in accordance with the wise leadership’s vision that has taken into consideration all dimensions and aspects, foremost of which is the development of infrastructure in all fields and the provision of accessible and advanced services in health and economy, in addition to strengthening foreign policy, building outstanding relations with the international community, paying attention to human cadres, and maintaining security and stability.
On education, he said that Qatar has moved from providing education to providing quality education, adding that this has been achieved through continuous review of curricula and admission policies and monitoring the educational process while ensuring the provision of material and human resources.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior also underlined the importance of sending outstanding Qatari students on scholarships abroad to acquire new knowledge and sciences, along with developing and providing university education locally through national institutions and foreign educational institutions that have opened branches in Qatar, contributing greatly to the development of quality education.
In the field of health, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said: “We are working to provide integrated healthcare for citizens and residents through the development of infrastructure and attention to health projects of a continuous nature and the provision of modern technologies necessary for health promotion, human resources development and required disciplines.”
He pointed out that the legislative and legal aspects have witnessed a similar development in terms of reviewing and issuing new laws that keep pace with latest developments and contribute to the building of the State of justice and law.
The whole world followed a series of laws issued recently, which have won praise from various international institutions, including the law of permanent residency, the amendment of the law on travel notification (exit permit), the law of free media zones and other pieces of legislation needed for change and to keep pace with the necessity of the comprehensive development.
In the field of security, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior stressed that security is one of the most important priorities of Qatar; therefore, the State enjoys great security and stability. The security-related crimes are very low, which contributed to the country’s advanced rankings in many international indicators on the state of security and stability in the world, he said, adding: “Many of our institutions have already met the required international security standards, such as Hamad International Airport.”
Stressing that Qatar continues to develop the path of security renaissance and strengthen its pillars, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said: “We will be the first country in the Middle East to host the 2022 World Cup, which will be a source of pride for all Arabs, not just for Qataris.”
On the foreign policy front, he stressed that the experience has proved the success of Qatar’s foreign policy that is independent and flexible to serve its national interests and protect its sovereignty. “We will continue to deepen our relations and closer co-operation with sisterly and friendly countries and exert efforts to achieve regional and international peace and stability, especially in countering terrorism and extremism and active participation in all international efforts to achieve this,” he said.
In this context, he spoke about the role of Qatar in the settlement of disputes and the consolidation of world peace, adding: “Proceeding from the State of Qatar’s belief in resolving disputes through peaceful means, we have made an active diplomatic move based on dialogue with all countries, bodies and organisations to clarify the Qatari perspective on this issue.”
He stressed that this diplomatic move has contributed to strengthening communication between Qatar and its regional and international environment, opening up to the world, developing relations with sisterly and friendly countries, and continuing to build international relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. It also contributed to refuting many misleading propagandas by some media outlets of the countries of the blockade.
In the economic field, His Excellency pointed out that efforts continue to upgrade the Qatari economy, encourage local investments, protect the national product, increase production to achieve self-sufficiency by encouraging food, water and medicine security projects, improving the business environment in Qatar and increasing tourism demand. He stressed that these economic sectors have been activated and have become more competitive, developed and attractive to domestic and foreign investments.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani
