Qatar's Permanent Representative to UN to QNA: Doha Has Active Diplomacy, LDC5 Reflects World's Confidence in Qatar 

 

Doha, March 08 (QNA) - HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani stressed that Qatar plays a prominent international role, and possesses active diplomacy that enabled it to occupy a distinguished position at the global level, and enjoys great confidence from the international community.

    In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Her Excellency said that the confidence that the State of Qatar has gained worldwide enabled it to establish a close partnership with the UN, which has developed over the years to reach a very advanced stage, to be embodied in the opening of the UN House in Doha earlier this week, coinciding Qatar's hosting of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).

    The opening of the UN House, which includes 12 international organizations and agencies that have a close partnership with the State of Qatar, reflects the importance of the State of Qatar, which has active diplomacy in the multilateral framework, and a prominent role in several files such as mediation and dispute resolution, Her Excellency said.

    The UN House in Doha highlights the close and strong partnership between the State of Qatar and the UN, which was confirmed during the opening ceremony with HE Secretary-General of the United Nations having said that the UN House indicates the depth of the relationship between the UN and the State of Qatar in several aspects. The UN House in the State of Qatar provides an ideal model for a number of countries to follow the State of Qatar's model in upholding the distinguished position of the UN's role in the region, because its offices do not only serve the efforts of the state, but also serve the regional and international dimensions, Her Excellency quoted His Excellency the UN Secretary General as saying.

    HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said that Qatar has carried out many humanitarian relief efforts in the field of humanitarian work, in addition to the great role it played during the crisis in Afghanistan, acting at that time as a transit point for many evacuees from Afghanistan who headed to a number of countries, noting that work is still being done to this day to enhance Qatar's humanitarian and developmental role.

    Her Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations affirmed that the State of Qatar has a lot to offer in the international framework, and the best example of this is its hosting of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which is witnessing a large and high-level international participation. The State of Qatar's hosting of LDC5 reflects its pioneering role in the multilateral forum, Her Excellency said, stressing that the conference hosted 166 countries and more than 4,500 participants from Member States, the private and academic sectors, civil society, media professionals and youth representatives, which confirms the State of Qatar's distinguished position. 

    Her Excellency pointed out that the conference recorded very important numbers, as it was attended by 36 heads of state and heads of government, five vice-presidents and 130 ministers, according to the statistics of the UN Secretariat, while the number of bilateral meetings held during this week reached 450 bilateral meetings between countries and institutions or between countries and the private sector and between countries and investment institutions, exceeding the number of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.  

    Her Excellency stated that these numbers indicate that the State of Qatar has become an essential international forum that attracts any international organization that wants to achieve success on the technical and political levels, as Qatar is a successful model for hosting huge international conferences and major sporting events, the latest of which is the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

    HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said that the LDC5 is the largest international conference to be held after the Covid-19 pandemic, in terms of size, responsibilities and international interest, adding that the conference works to enhance the capacity of the LDCs to withstand and face the economic challenges, especially after the pandemic and the crises that afflicted the world, such as wars, economic and environmental challenges, and climate change. 

     Her Excellency expressed her optimism about the success of the LDC5's activities, especially after the high-level participation it witnessed. At the beginning of the LDC5, HE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a meeting with all heads of UN agencies in Doha, for the first time outside New York, which gives the impression that there is great interest and tangible positivity achieved in the State of Qatar to support the LDCs - a group of countries most in need today to be supported to face the challenges related to food security, energy and various economic challenges.

    Her Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN also highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's opening of the LDC5 on Sunday and the election of His Highness as president of this edition as a strong impression on the keenness of the leadership at the highest level to be present and give the first basic impulse to support the LDCs.

    This was confirmed by HH the Amir in the inaugural speech where His Highness announced that Qatar would provide USD60 million in aid to LDCs - the first signal from the State of Qatar as the host country, setting a model for other developed countries to follow Qatar's financial and moral support to the LDCs, Her Excellency said, citing that the move really caused a movement manifested in talks with many Western delegations. (QNA)