Arab Summit/ Speaker of Algerian Council of Nation to QNA: HH the Amir's Participation in Arab Summit Increases Motivation to Achieve Goals

Algiers, October 31 (QNA) - HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (upper house of Algerian Parliament) Salah Goudjil affirmed that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's acceptance to HE President of People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune's invitation to participate in the 31st Ordinary Arab Summit confirms His Highness's keenness on Arab integration and promotion of joint Arab action. In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation said that Algeria is honored by the personal participation of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in the Arab Summit on Nov. 1, adding that HH the Amir's attendance affirms his well-known keenness on Arab integration and gives the event a greater motivation to achieve goals and strengthen joint Arab action to face the serious challenges and the rapid transformations the world is experiencing. His Excellency added that Algeria Summit is a gathering for achieving unity and unify ranks amidst exceptional international circumstances that require more coordination and solidarity, noting that the State of Qatar is an active and influential member of the Arab House, and HH the Amir's presence contributes positively to each joint action plan aimed at serving the interest of the Arab nation. HE Goudjil pointed to the endeavor to make the Arab Summit in Algeria a new Arab breakthrough as it is held in the new Algeria whose foundations were laid by HE Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and amidst international changing circumstances. In this context, he stressed the need to search for appropriate alternatives for the Arab countries and people amid these accelerating global transformations and the sharp polarization that imposes narrow solutions. Regarding the developing Qatari-Algerian relations, HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation of Algeria emphasized that Qatar and Algeria have close ties at all levels, and this reality is not only slogans, rather demonstrated on the ground. He added that the leaderships of both countries are working harmoniously to promote these relations to higher levels. In addition, Algeria and Qatar agree on many issues of common concern and share the values ​​of peace, reconciliation, and dialogue. Algeria takes November anniversary as a guidance in establishing its relations, and it gives priority to those who supported its revolution and people in the struggle against the French colonialism, and Qatar has a great share in this regard, His Excellency said. He noted that Qatar has spared no effort in supporting Algeria to regain its freedom, and has backed Algeria's liberation struggle by all means. "The sisterly State of Qatar took many positions that express its support to the Algerian people, and continued it support after Algeria’s independence, to form a relation of cooperation, solidarity and partnership over decades," His Excellency said. HE Salah Goudjil added that all conditions, capabilities, and mechanisms are available to smoothly upgrade the bilateral relations, in addition to the presence of a sincere political will from both leaderships. This was reflected in the official visit paid by HE President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune to the State of Qatar, which aimed at giving a new momentum to the distinguished relations. He added that Qatar-Algeria relations will by embodied further through the investment partnership that flourished with the openness witnessed in the new Algeria, and the encouraging atmosphere created by the Algerian legislative system. In this regard, he referred to the Algerian Parliament's ratification of a new investment law that establishes freedom of investment, includes facilitating procedures, and lifts bureaucratic obstacles, allowing the expansion of Qatari investments in Algeria to include new sectors, and strengthening further the political relations between the two countries. In his interview with QNA, HE Speaker of the Algerian Council of the Nation said that Algeria is proud to have the State of Qatar as one of its most important investors, adding that both countries still have a lot to do together at the levels of diplomacy, politics, economy, trade, culture, and even in the sports field. Meanwhile, he noted the role of the Algerian community in the State of Qatar in promoting the human dimension and rapprochement between the two countries, especially that members of the Algerian community residing in Qatar include personalities, elites and competencies in various fields. Regarding the relations between the two countries at the parliamentary level, HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation Salah Goudjil said that the relations between Algeria and Qatar have a good reputation at the popular level, adding: "We parliamentarians, representatives of the Arab people, truly reflect the level and quality of relations between the countries. At the parliamentary level, Algeria has good relations with the parliamentarians of the State of Qatar distinguished by understanding on many issues." "We have met with our brothers from the Qatari Shura council in regional and international parliamentary forums, such as the Arab and international parliamentary unions, and there was mutual respect, cooperation, solidarity, and coordination towards our common issues," His Excellency added, noting that both parties will work through diplomatic mechanisms to deepen this communication and activate the parliamentary brotherhood and friendship groups, which formulate an action plan that enriches the existing official cooperation. HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria described the State of Qatar's first Shura Council elections in October 2021 as a qualitative leap that deserves all praise and appreciation, consolidates the democratic practice and expands the participation of Qatari citizens in the political process. "I followed closely this successful parliamentary experience, and was attracted by the citizens' desire to choose their representatives according to various promising electoral programs," His Excellency said. He noted that the two houses of the Algerian Parliament and the Qatari Shura Council are members in many regional and international parliamentary unions and associations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Arab Parliament and the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States. On the sidelines of these meetings and conferences, members of the two councils meet and coordinate their positions on issues of common concern, HE said. He added that the members of the two councils supported each others in many occasions, especially within the framework of the Arab geopolitical group, which is an effective coordination mechanism in international parliamentary forums, through which members agree to raise issues of concern to Arab people, unify positions that serve Arab issues, and support candidates from Arab parliaments to assume leadership positions in various parliamentary organizations. Also, through parliamentary brotherhood and friendship groups, the two countries can effectively deepen bilateral relations and enhance partnership, and allow common issues to be raised, leading to coordination of positions and a strong presence in regional and international meetings, he added. HE Salah Goudjil noted that there is a unified Arab vision for parliamentarians that supports Arab issues and rights, evident in the parliamentary organizations that gather the Arab parliaments into a geopolitical group. For example, in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the parliamentary members in the Arab group agree to make the voice of the Arab people heard, and persistently seek to include their issues in the agenda or the emergency item of the union, especially those related to the Palestinian issue. He underlined that the unified parliamentary vision towards Arab issues exists, and that Arab parliamentarians are well aware of the extent of their responsibilities toward the rights of the people they represent, urging more coordination among Arab parliaments so that the voice of the Arabs is heard and respected. Regarding the Shura Council’s hosting of the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its accompanying meetings in 2019, HE Speaker of the council of the Nation said that the 140th edition of the IPU hosted by Doha witnessed quality participation and well-organized activities, making it one of the most successful IPU assemblies. This achievement represents a source of pride for the State of Qatar and for all Arabs. In fact, this is not new to the State of Qatar which is known for its creativity and excellence when hosting any international event, whether political, economic, parliamentary or sports. This reflects its distinguished role at the international relations level, as well as the human solidarity that has become a feature of the State of Qatar, His Excellency added. The successful IPU session in Doha reflects the successful role of the Qatari parliamentary diplomacy in embodying the Union's goals, foremost of which is working to achieve international peace and security, he added. Regarding the State of Qatar’s appreciation of Algeria’s efforts and success in gathering the Palestinian factions and reaching a reconciliation agreement, HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation Salah Goudjil said that the Palestinian reconciliation agreement reached recently in Algeria under the supervision of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is an Arab achievement, and its appreciation by Qatar was expected because the Qatari leadership has always mediated to resolve differences between the Palestinians, and Doha was always present in all Arab initiatives that seek to consolidate the Palestinian national project and unify ranks in order to direct the efforts towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, as stipulated by the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 in Beirut. His Excellency explained that Algeria's sponsorship of the Palestinian national reconciliation stems from its deep belief resulted from a long historical experience that the path to freedom and independence requires unity and conciliation and that the colonizer benefits from discord, strife, and internal conflicts that extinguish the cause, no matter how just it is. This is what the fighters understood during the Algerian revolution against the French colonizer. The Algerians abandoned their political and partisan affiliations and gathered under one banner, one leadership and one Nov. 1 declaration. Regarding the role that Arab parliaments should have in support of the Palestinian national unity and the Palestinian cause in international forums, HE Salah Goudjil noted that Arab parliaments had a major role in making the voice of the Palestinian cause heard in all parliamentary occasions. The Arab parliamentarians kept up with the events in occupied Palestine, reported on them, and called on the international community to take action to stop the grave violations committed by the Zionist entity against the residents of Gaza, exposing settlement projects, the plundering of lands, and the attempts to Judaize Jerusalem. On the efforts made by the State of Qatar to achieve reconciliation and mediate in settling disputes and crises in many regions of the world, HE Salah Goudjil said that the State of Qatar achieved a lot in this area, and its good offices are recognized at the Arab and international levels. He noted that Qatar's approach in supporting mediation efforts and resolving disputes peacefully continues in all parts of the world, including its success in sponsoring negotiations in Afghanistan and achieving peace in this long-suffering country. Qatar's successful mediation in Chad and the signing of the Doha Agreement for peace in Chad is an African and global achievement that adds to Qatar's contributions to international peace and security, and enriches its experience and achievements in mediation diplomacy, His Excellency stressed. Regarding Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, HE Speaker of the Council of the Nation of Algeria Salah Goudjil said that Qatar World Cup belongs to all Arabs, and that Qatar's organization of the World Cup represents a historic event, in every sense of the word, as the world of sport will meet in an Arab country for the first time. He reiterated that Qatar World Cup will be a new edition of creativity and excellence that characterizes the State of Qatar, its leadership and its people, wishing all the best for Qatar National Team and all Arab teams participating in this international sporting event. The confidence that Qatar gained to organize the World Cup did not come out of nowhere, and this event coincides with the convening of the Arab Summit, in a sign of a better future for the Arab nation and an Arab action at all levels, he added. HE Speaker of Council of the Nation of Algeria also congratulated the State of Qatar on winning the honor of hosting the 2030 Asian Games, affirming that Qatar has a pioneering experience in sports organization. (QNA)