Advisory Council Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud has reaffirmed that all preparations for Doha's hosting of the 140th session of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its other meetings in April have been completed in co-operation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
HE al-Mahmoud said in a speech, during the closing session of the two-day parliamentary hearing held at the United Nations in New York, that Qatar looks forward to the participation of the world parliaments members, non-members of the IPU as well as other stakeholders.
He added that participation in IPU General Assembly meetings shows commitment to the importance of multilateral parliamentary work and its significance in developing a system of co-operation that guarantees peace and prosperity for the people of the world at a time when conflicts have multiplied and generated unprecedented types of suffering.
Talking about the parliamentary hearing entitled "Emerging Challenges to Multilateralism: A Parliamentary Response" HE al-Mahmoud said that the valuable discussions showed that the international community and stakeholders are fully aware of the importance of multilateralism in addressing global issues and global phenomena.
He stressed that the discussions also showed that any attempts to weaken this system or question its importance will only result in more instability and mistrust, adding that multilateralism is the only treatment for the problems facing the world, stressing the importance of adhering to the multilateral agenda, and developing it.
HE al-Mahmoud reviewed some principles that must be considered in the context of this development, including the need to adhere to the principles of global leadership, shared responsibility and collective action, emphasising that the multilateral system should not involve any threat to the sovereignty or national interests of member states, and non-exploitation of multilateral system as platforms for major powers to seek influence or undermine the entire system.
He also pointed to the urgent need for stronger ties and bonds with civil society and other stakeholders to create a responsible multilateral system.
The Speaker confirmed that success in this endeavour offers great hopes for restoring confidence in the multilateral system, which has begun to erode and cause loss of confidence in the national and international political institutions, due to tension and uncertainty.
HE al-Mahmoud praised the valuable contributions made by the participants in the hearing, saying they serve as a good basis for moving forward in the way of promoting and developing multilateral action.
He noted the great work accomplished at the hearing this year, and expressed hope that its outcomes would be in the interest of multilateral action.
HE al-Mahmoud voiced thanks of the Qatari Advisory Council's members to the secretary general of the United Nations and the presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Union for organising the well-prepared hearing.
The parliamentary hearing held in the United Nations in New York concluded late Friday.
HE al-Mahmoud and his accompanying delegation participated in the meeting along with parliamentarians from around the world, to discuss the new challenges facing the international community and national governments to realise multilateralism as one global governance in tackling emerging challenges such as climate change, migrants, refugees, sustainable development and nuclear disarmament, to name a few.
The hearing focused on attracting parliamentarians' attention to issues of multilateralism in addressing global issues and global phenomena and advocating for the role of parliaments and parliamentarians in urging their governments to attach importance to multilateral collective action through the United Nations, as an effective measure, instead of individual, bilateral and regional processes and procedures.
HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, and a number of Advisory Council members attended the closing session.
