National Day/ UNAOC High Representative to QNA: National Day is Occasion to Link Past to Present, Aspire to Distinct Future

Doha, December 17 (QNA) - HE President of the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir bin Abdulaziz Al Nasser, underlined that the celebration of Qatar National Day is a great occasion to introduce the history of the State of Qatar, and the march of parents and grandparents who endured difficulties to achieve the unity of their nation and celebrate their memory and pride in their history and belonging, as well as an opportunity to recall the development and progress witnessed by the country at all levels. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency said that the development and progress achieved by the State of Qatar at all levels resulted from the leadership's confidence in the importance of the role assigned to the Qatari citizen, and the citizen's confidence in the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, which adopts a bright approach founded by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; stressing that all this is reflected by Qatar being an active Gulf, Arab and international country that contributes to establishing the principles of peace and prosperity. HE the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations pointed out that the celebration of the National Day through events held every year is a confirmation of the Qatari identity and history, and is the best evidence of linking the past to the present while looking to the future, through expressing the Qatari heritage, and contributing to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the State of Qatar, especially as it is a key component in the composition of the national identity that we in turn instill in the souls of our children and future generations. His Excellency considered that the holding of these events also embodies the ideals and hopes on which the State was founded and the promotion of loyalty and togetherness, about leadership, unity and pride in the Qatari national identity. His Excellency stressed that the planning to link the celebration of the National Day with an international occasion - the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - is an indication of the political leadership's acumen to introduce the history of the State and its Gulf, Arab and Islamic as well as international position. His Excellency underscored the importance and prestige of sport in the country, saying that the State of Qatar has adopted sport as a key dimension of the strategy of building the mental image that it adopts as one of its foreign policy strategies to introduce it and strengthen its position in international forums, adding that sports diplomacy is one of the main pillars in the concept of soft power that contributes to achieving the purposes of the United Nations, to extend international peace and security, and to achieve societal prosperity for the peoples of the world in the integration of youth and future generations and their involvement in social and political life. In this context, HE the UN High Representative underlined that Qatar's investment in sports diplomacy is manifested through its sponsorship of local and international sports competitions and clubs, believing that sports investments play an important role in building a diversified economy. (QNA)