United Nations/ Qatar's Permanent Representatives to UN.... Continuous Efforts to Achieve International Goals, Face Global Challenges

Doha, September 16 (QNA) - Since joining the United Nations, the State of Qatar has worked to achieve the organization's goals and principles of maintaining international peace and security, supporting development efforts in various countries of the world, promoting and consolidating human rights, providing humanitarian relief and participating in collective efforts and initiatives to address current and future issues facing the world.
In this context, the Permanent Representatives of the State of Qatar to the United Nations are making great efforts to face the ongoing global challenges.
Qatar's accession to the UN constituted a starting point for its foreign policy in the field of multilateral relations, based on the country's vision and its history, which is full of commitment to Arab, Islamic and human values and belief in cooperation and a common destiny.
The Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations was established in New York on September 22, 1971, when the organization held a ceremony in which the flag of the State of Qatar was raised to mark its accession. Since that date, eight ambassadors headed the Qatari mission so far.
HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani occupied the position of the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations after she moved to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and joined the Permanent Delegation of Qatar to the United Nations as an advisor. She rose in positions until she became the Deputy Permanent Representative (2007-2011) and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. She was also a representative of the country during its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, and the Governing Body of the International Labor Organization (2011-2013). She was also appointed during the same period as a Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, and Consul General in the Swiss Confederation. She assumed her duties as the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar in New York as of October 17, 2013.
During her time in New York, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani chaired the work of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2013. She had contributions in presenting and running a number of draft resolutions on behalf of the State, including the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the International Year of the Family, the General Assembly resolution on the adoption of April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the establishment of September 15 as the International Day of Democracy, the resolution of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on education in crises, the General Assembly resolution on enhancing the effective use of military and civil defense assets in response to natural disaster and other important decisions.
In a previous speech, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani explained that the State of Qatar, since its accession to the United Nations, has spared no effort in fulfilling the commitments that resulted from joining international organization, adding that this was embodied in its interaction and hard work within the framework of the international community.
HE explained that the State has also ratified and acceded to the majority of international agreements, highlighting its keenness to be a factor of stability in the region and the world and a source of raising awareness of the importance of regional and international cooperation by hosting conferences, meetings and workshops under the umbrella of the United Nations.
She added that recognizing its responsibility as a partner in implementing international commitments, the Qatari leadership played an active role at the regional and international levels to strengthen international partnership in economic, social, political and cultural issues, support the dialogue of civilizations and religions, and contribute to strengthening international peace and security, while strengthening bilateral relations with countries.
HE pointed out that the State of Qatar believes in the role of the United Nations in reaching a safe and prosperous world, adding that it has played an active and positive role at the international level, through its membership in the main organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund, the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women. The State of Qatar continues its various efforts and initiatives to support the tasks undertaken by international organizations.
A number of Ambassadors headed the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, showing the State's views and implementing its policy in all areas of international cooperation and the maintenance of international peace and security. The first head of Qatar's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations was HE Ambassador Jassim bin Yousef Al Jamal, who headed the Qatari delegation from 1972-1984. He is considered the first actual head of the delegation after the Amiri decree appointing him to this position with a group of ambassadors. His period witnessed distinction and connection in the visions and positions of the Arab group, especially when it comes to the defense of the Palestinian cause. The Permanent Delegation was in complete harmony with the Arab group, and a strong supporter of its positions defending the issues and rights of the Arab nation.
During his tenure as the head of the Permanent Delegation, Qatar had many noteworthy and honorable positions, especially during the October 1973 war, which united the Arab group present in the United Nations during that period. Among the most important contributions by the State of Qatar was the introduction of the Arabic language in the United Nations, its material and moral contributions to some important projects, and its well-known and honorable positions in draft resolutions in the General Assembly and other committees of the United Nations, including a draft resolution put forward in the General Assembly condemning Zionism as a racist movement, Qatar's vote for China's admission into the United Nations, its stand against racial discrimination in South Africa, and its assistance to many 3rd world countries when it comes to self-determination, especially African countries in liberating themselves from colonialism and gain their independence. 

After that, HE Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari headed the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and for 6 years, from 1984 to 1990, during which he was appointed Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 40th session and Chair of the Fourth Committee at its 42nd Session in 1987. He was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and represented the State of Qatar in the Non-Aligned Movement.
Afterward, HE Ambassador Hassan bin Ali Al Ni'mah assumed the position of Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations during the period from 1990 to 1996, which was full of regional challenges, the most important of which was Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the establishment of the International Coalition to Liberate Kuwait. This period was full of regional and international events and movements. It witnessed divergence of positions in which HE Ambassador Hassan bin Ali Al Ni'mah represented the State of Qatar well, especially since he was a poet and diplomat, eloquent in Arabic language and literature after graduating from the American University of Beirut and getting a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
After that, HE Ambassador Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa assumed the position for two years,1996 to 1998.
In September 1998, HE Ambassador Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Nasr was appointed as a Permanent Representative to the United Nations until 2011. This is the period in which the State of Qatar succeeded in obtaining membership in the Security Council with the highest votes in 2006, which is also the year the Israeli occupation forces waged war on Lebanon. This development represented a challenge for the State of Qatar during the period of its membership in the Security Council. The State succeeded in issuing Resolution 1701 that stopped the war. The beginning of the Arab Spring also began, leading to great and successive challenges in the region. His Excellency was also chosen as President of the General Assembly in the 66th session until 2012. Al Nasr worked on highlighting the pillars of Qatari policy in resolving conflicts peacefully, preventing and responding to disasters, promoting sustainable development and many regional and international issues, as well as strengthening international peace and security, finding solutions, and dealing with political and military issues, the most important of which were in Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Lebanon, and also in both Asia and Africa.
HE Ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad bin Mohammed bin Jabr Al-Thani continued facing the challenges that the region witnessed as a result of the Arab Spring during the period from 2011 to 2013. He continued many of the positions adopted by the State of Qatar in conducting negotiations and establishing peace in many countries of the world, as well as the state's support for United Nations programs and the role of international mediation.
Since 2013, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani continues heading Qatar's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations and her efforts to highlight the Qatari role in bringing peace to Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan and various regions of the world until Qatar has gained credibility, respect and confidence among the international community, enabling it to use soft power in resolving many regional and international issues.
The positions of the Permanent Representatives of the State of Qatar to the United Nations are a reflection of the directives of the wise leadership of the State and an embodiment of the vision of the State of Qatar and the implementation of its policy in the economic, social, political and development fields. They are also a translation of the Qatari directives and initiatives to enhance international cooperation, support the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, reach peaceful solutions to regional and international conflicts, achieve sustainable development, support issues related to the family, women, children and youth, and maintain international peace and security through interaction and cooperation with United Nations agencies and with the permanent missions of member states, as well as active participation in all activities of the United Nations, especially those that are considered among the priorities of the State, in line with the objectives of the United Nations and its international agenda. (QNA)