Amir’s Shura Council speech garners world media attention

International and Arab media stressed that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s speech at the opening of the second ordinary session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the 51st annual session of the Shura Council, in terms of Qatar’s approach makes it a role model in the region.
International media devoted wide news coverage of the contents of the speech in which the Amir addressed the country’s local policies and its future priorities in various sectors, in addition to Qatar’s positions on various regional and international issues.
They also covered the speech touching on the unprecedented campaign against Qatar since it won the right to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The campaigns were with unclear reasons and motives, unprecedented for a World Cup host country.
His Highness the Amir’s reference to the continuation of the Qatari economy’s growth during the current year dominated the coverage of Reuters, highlighting that the preliminary data indicate the growth of the domestic product during the first half of the year was 4.3%, supported by the growth of the non-oil sector, and by 7.3% on an annual basis compared to the same period of the previous year, and the rise in energy prices transformed the expected budget deficit at the beginning of the year into a surplus of about QR47.3bn in the first half of the year, increasing the state’s financial reserves.
Reuters noted that Qatar dealt with these campaigns in good faith at the beginning, given positive criticism helps improve many aspects in need of development.
“It soon became clear to us that the campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” it quoted the Amir as saying.
Reuters also highlighted the Amir saying that the World Cup was “a great test for a country the size of Qatar. We accepted this challenge out of our faith in our potential, we the Qataris, to tackle the mission and make it a success...Brotherly and friendly countries have put their capabilities at our disposal. These are originally part of the goals of such events that encourage cooperation, fraternity and exchange of experiences, besides converging rather than diverging, because it is a championship for all, and its success is success for all.”
Reuters also highlighted His Highness saying that the World Cup was an opportunity to “portray who we are, not only in terms of the strength of our economy and institutions, but also in terms of our civilisational identity.”
The BBC posted on its website excerpts from the Amir’s speech, in which he stressed that Qatar was subjected to an unprecedented campaigns of criticism following winning the rights to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, noting His Highness’s focus on those campaigns, which amounted to slander, was not witnessed by any host country.
Daily Mail, meanwhile, addressed how Qatar initially dealt with these campaigns in good faith, highlighting his quote that “It soon became clear to us that the campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”
The Independent in the UK released a report on the speech, highlighting the Amir’s quote saying: “This is a great test for a country the size of Qatar that impresses the whole world with what it has already achieved and is achieving. We accepted this challenge out of our faith in our potential, we the Qataris, to tackle the mission and make it a success, and due to our awareness of the importance of hosting a major event such as the World Cup in the Arab world.”
Yahoo UK shared highlights of the speech, particularly especially with regard to the unprecedented slander campaign over hosting the world’s most prominent sporting event.
Middle-East Eye also shared highlights of the speech, focusing on how His Highness stressed that Qatar accepted this challenge out of faith in the ability of Qataris in tackling the mission and succeeding, and due to our awareness of the importance of hosting a major event such as the World Cup in the Arab world.
AFP also covered the Amir’s speech, highlighting that the country witnessed a legislative renaissance under which basic laws regulating various aspects of life, dealings and transactions were completed.
In this regard, the AFP praised, in its report, the tireless efforts made by Qatar in recent years with regard to legal reforms, which were praised by international organisations.
It noted the Amir’s affirmation that the World Cup is a tournament for everyone, highlighting the quote: “Qatar is currently more like a workshop of preparation and equipping, in which Qataris and residents have engaged. Brotherly and friendly countries have put their capabilities at our disposal. These are originally part of the goals of such events that encourage cooperation, fraternity and exchange of experiences, besides converging rather than diverging, because it is a championship for all, and its success is success for all.”
It paid attention to His Highness saying that the tournament is a great test for a country the size of Qatar, which impressed the whole world with its achievement. It also highlighted His Highness saying that Qataris accepted the challenge, believing in their ability to tackle the mission and succeed.
It also touched on His Highness’s speech about the unprecedented campaign of slander, which Qatar dealt with at the beginning in good faith and was keen to benefit from some criticism in developing some aspects that need to be developed.
Germany’s DPA news agency covered the Amir’s speech in terms of the focus on Qatar’s internal and foreign policies, as well as energy and food security issues. It also focused on the growth of the Qatari economy and the legislative reforms that the state has implemented in recent years, in addition to continued strengthening of capabilities in the fields of professional media, higher education, knowledge production, investment, hosting major global events, as well as the county’s stance on various regional issues the international community and its role in mediating to resolve conflicts between countries through dialogue and diplomatic methods.
It also covered His Highness’s focus on the unprecedented campaign of slander, which Qatar dealt with at the beginning in good faith and was keen to benefit from some criticism in developing some aspects that need to be developed. But then they began to expand without a clear reason, which drove many to question the motives behind them.
DPA also highlighted that the Qatari economy managed to overcome the negative impact of the pandemic and the war, reflected in high economic growth.
Saudi News Agency highlighted the speech’s focus on economic development. “The economic issue is still the biggest concern for all the countries of the world, as, no sooner the negative economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the countries’ economies had started to recede until the Russian-Ukrainian crisis came to afflict the global economy and international trade with detriments increasing day by day,” the Amir said.
Preliminary data showed that the Qatari economy grew 4.3% y-o-y in the first half of 2022, driven by 7.3% y-o-y growth in the non-oil sector.
The news agency also highlighted the speech’s dedication to deal with inflation.  “We will also work on diversifying public revenue sources to achieve financial sustainability to shield the public budget against the risks of energy price fluctuations,” the agency quoted the Amir as saying.
Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA) highlighted the Amir saying the World Cup was an opportunity for Qatar to prove itself on various fronts, both economically and culturally. “Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has faced an unprecedented campaign that no other host nation has received. And we had handled it at first in good faith while considering some of the criticism positive and beneficial,” KUNA quoted the Amir as saying.
The Omani news agency also highlighted the preliminary data shared by the Amir that showed that the Qatari economy grew 4.3% y-o-y in the first half of 2022, driven by 7.3% y-o-y growth in the non-oil sector.
On energy, the news agency quoted the Amir saying: “QatarEnergy has expanded its operations in sixteen countries around the world in partnership with a number of major international companies.” It also said that His Highness said Qatar was also committed to dealing with inflation.
After addressing the speech’s affirmation of Qatar’s foreign policy commitment to international law and the protection of national gains, and the adoption of preventive diplomacy in defusing crises before they escalate, the agency pointed to His Highness’s stressed that the World Cup, which the country will host from Nov 20 to Dec 18, it is considered a historic event and a major humanitarian occasion, and it constitutes one of the most important national projects.
Anadolu Agency (AA) focused on unprecedented campaigns of slander, which Qatar dealt with at the beginning in good faith and was keen to benefit from some criticism in developing some aspects that need to be developed. But then they began to expand without a clear reason, which drove many to question the motives behind them.
AA focused on the growth of the Qatari economy despite the difficulties of 2020, “Despite the massive impacts caused by recent international events and developments on the economies of the entire world, the international agencies have affirmed the robust rating of Qatar’s economy and its stable future outlooks.”
It also focused on QatarEnergy expanding operations into 16 countries, in co-operation with a number of major international companies.
On the foreign policy of Qatar, Anadolu Agency was concerned with what was contained in the speech of His Highness the Amir, regarding the approach of Qatar, which has always followed in its foreign policy, which is based on adherence to international law, the protection of its national gains, the adoption of preventive diplomacy in defusing crises before they escalate, and the results it has achieved. Qatar’s role is active and responsible in the region and at the world level.