The Shura Council shares His Highness the Amir’s views on all the regional and international issues and the issues of the nation at the forefront is the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to be free from the occupation and siege and to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The unjust blockade imposed on the country revealed to the Qatari people and to everyone the magnitude of the conspiracy targeting Qatar in its security, stability and sovereignty The Shura Council also commends His Highness the Amir’s vision to resolve the dispute through unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect and lifting the blockade

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud praised the speech delivered by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at the opening of the 48th ordinary session of the Shura Council on Tuesday.

In his speech at the opening of the 48th session, the Speaker said that Council welcomes His Highness the Amir, which marks the inauguration of the new ordinary session of the Council by which the Council seeks new achievements by the grace of Allah the Almighty and in the light of His Highness the Amir’s vision and wise guidance.

The Speaker said with great interest the Council listened to His Highness the Amir sublime speech which covered the country's policy and positions on all internal and external issues and developments, which focused on the homeland and citizens, stability and development at a time when the country is witnessing, despite the blockade and challenges, great achievements in all - political, economic, social and other - fields in the way of meeting the needs of the country, the aspirations of citizens and ensuring the continuation of decent living for its people generation after generation.

The Speaker added the Council shares His Highness the Amir’s views on all the regional and international issues and the issues of the nation at the forefront is the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to be free from the occupation and siege and to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said that the Council is following with concern the tensions in the Gulf region at the present time, and sees the importance of resolving any dispute through dialogue and adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law. “The Council support His Highness the Amir’s proposal in this regard to establish a regional security system that preserves the security and stability of the Middle East and the Gulf region in particular.”

HE al-Mahmoud said that the unjust blockade imposed on the country revealed to the Qatari people and to everyone the magnitude of the conspiracy targeting Qatar in its security, stability and sovereignty, adding that the crisis has renewed loyalty, cohesion, and national spirit in Qatar, and promoted positive aspects in the face of attempts by the blockade countries to hijack the independent Qatari decision and impose unjust conditions on Qatar.

The Speaker stressed that His Highness the Amir’s recent speech at the United Nations was right when HH the Amir said that, from the first days of the imposition of the blockade, he was confident of the steadfastness of the Qatari people and their brothers residing in Qatar, of surpassing the blockade’s effects, and even of taking advantage of the challenge imposed on us despite the cost we paid. And this is what has really happened, the Speaker said, adding that the Council cherishes and commends His Highness the Amir’s wise stances and policies, which he has taken to safeguard the national decision and ensure its independence.

The Speaker further said that the Council also commends His Highness the Amir’s vision to resolve the dispute through unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect and lifting the blockade, adding that self-restraint approach followed by His Highness the Amir as well as his balanced handling of the repercussions of the dispute and preventing it from affecting the relationship of the Qatari people with their brothers in the blockading countries, were and still have their human and moral dimensions.

He added the Council highly appreciates the directives of His Highness the Amir since the beginning of the crisis not to treat the people of the blockading countries as their countries treated the people of Qatar. “They found security and safety in Qatar and the people of Qatar and the people of the GCC countries are much interconnected,” he said.

The Speaker praised the wise policy of Qatar under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir. He also said that the Council appreciates the continued, sincere efforts of Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and his keenness to resolve this crisis for the good of the region and its people.

He pointed out that the peoples of the region know that Qatar has always supported the downtrodden, and know that its leaders and people are benevolent, keeping promises, defending the right and supporters of the oppressed, adding this blockade and these conspiracies against the country are not new and the history has many lessons and examples of that.

The Speaker said that he has the honour to say that the loyal people of Qatar are always reminded of the appreciation and pride of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and what he has done and sacrificed in building this country, adding that the people will continue this way.

HE al-Mahmoud stressed that His Highness the Amir's decision to establish a higher committee to prepare for the Shura Council elections is another achievement under his wise leadership towards building a modern state and consolidating the principle of Shura and the integration of state institutions. He added that the Council will remain committed to taking responsibility and achieving the principle of transparency and action in all that benefits the homeland and citizens.

He outlined the accomplishments of the Shura Council from the last session, noting that the Council was able to finalise all the draft laws and decrees received by the esteemed government on various economic, social, cultural and financial issues, some of which were approved, and others recommended to be amended and forwarded his recommendations thereon to the government.

The Council also discussed a number of suggestions received by a number of Council members on several substantive general topics, especially the issues that concern citizens, including traffic accidents, health and medical services, education, land and marine environment, and achieving the National Food Security Programme. The Council discussed these issues with the ministers concerned, exchanged views with them and responded to queries.

HE the Speaker al-Mahmoud said that the Council was aware of the extent to which citizens attach great importance to the Council's work, adding that the goal of the Council has been to increase communication with citizens, whether through the Council's official website, which applies the highest international standards for digital access and ease of access to information for people with disabilities, or through communication through other media.

He added that the Council has received a number of suggestions through the website from citizens and took the necessary action, thanking the citizens for their opinions and appreciating their constructive proposals and their interaction with the issues raised by the Council.

The Speaker added that the Council has continued its efforts in the field of parliamentary diplomacy by strengthening relations with peoples, defending the issues of the country, explaining its policies and positions and confronting conspiracies against them. It also signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MoU) with regional and international parliamentary organisations and parliaments of a number of friendly countries on parliamentary co-operation.

He mentioned that the Qatari parliamentary friendship groups, established with parliaments of brotherly and friendly countries, worked during the session and met with their counterparts in other parliamentary assemblies.

He added that the Council hosted the meetings of the Governing Council and the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other accompanying meetings in Doha in April 2019, which represented an opportunity for the IPU and its members to renew their confidence in the leadership of the His Highness the Amir, in the state's position and in the international community and their position in rejecting the blockade.

He highlighted that the conference was one of the most successful conferences held in the history of the IPU conferences in number and level of attendance, which was hailed by the community for its success, most recently the meeting of Presidents of European and Asian Parliaments in Kazakhstan.

The Speaker added that Qatar will host the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption on December 9-10, which once again reflects the respect of the international community for Qatar and its confidence in the wise leadership and policy of His Highness the Amir on fighting corruption.

He said that the outcome of the work in the Council is an incentive to give better to serve the country and its people, and thanked each member for their hard work in plenary meetings and in the various committees and activities.

The Speaker underlined that the achievements of the Council wouldn't be possible without the wise leadership, guidance and support of His Highness the Amir and the esteemed government's response to the Council's recommendations and decisions, as well as reiterating the Council's thanks and appreciation to HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and the ministers for their spirit of cooperation.

At the end of his speech, HE the Speaker al-Mahmoud renewed the allegiance and loyalty to His Highness the Amir, confirming to His Highness their determination to redouble the efforts for development of the country. (QNA)