Participation of HH the Amir in UNGA Attracts World Leaders' Attention

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani stressed the keenness of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to participate annually in the work of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Her Excellency said, in her interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the participation of HH the Amir and His Highness's speech in the opening session of the General Assembly has always been of great interest to world leaders, heads of delegations, and representatives of the UN and influential international organizations, as His Highness's speech delivers critical messages that reflect the reality of the challenges faced by the international community.

Her Excellency added that HH the Amir will focus in the speech on the issues related to the Arab region, led by the Palestinian issue, in addition to the developments in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. His Highnesss speech will also focus on several international issues related to developmental and humanitarian issues. There will also be a main focus on Qatars hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in November as a global event that attracts great international attention.

Her Excellency continued by saying that His Highnesss speech will also address the future of the UN and what it should do during the coming period, in addition to several other issues such as the future of multilateralism, the significant role of promoting developmental and humanitarian issues, as well as the conflict and mediation issue and its essential preventive role of wars and crises, as the international community needs to prevent wars and crises and give a chance to mediation and conflict resolution.

In response to a question concerning Qatars preparations and its efforts to secure the FIFA World Cup, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations said in her remarks to QNA that in April 2022, the State of Qatar submitted a significant resolution to the General Assembly concerning Qatars hosting of the FIFA World Cup in November 2022. The decision was supported by the members and was adopted unanimously and was one of the most significant resolutions in 2022 on the agenda of sports, peace, and development. This constitutes an important starting point that reflects the importance of sports, especially football, in implementing the development agenda and will be reflected in the speech of HH the Amir, and what will be taken into consideration in future activities until hosting the World Cup and after hosting it.

Her Excellency added that as part of the preparations to host the World Cup, the State of Qatar is set to launch Saturday a campaign under the title Scoring for the Goals, a historic campaign inspired by General Assembly resolution No. 259/76, which underscores the value of football in promoting sustainable development, peace, tolerance, inclusion, and climate action. The launch will include a film to be projected on the East Side and the Secretariat Building at the UN Headquarters, addressing the 17 sustainable development goals and identifying related topics through compelling images and narration.

The film will show that the world will gather on Nov. 20 to witness the power of football as a tool for promoting peace and development; respecting human rights; achieving gender equality; empowering women, girls, and youths; and tackling climate change. The film also declares to the international community that it is time to achieve the goals by giving all people the chance to thrive, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and promoting a healthier lifestyle, providing education for all, and empowering individuals through decent work, innovation, infrastructure, and elimination of discrimination.

HE Sheikha Alya Al-Thani pointed out that the film scheduled to be shown at the terrace of the United Nations North Delegates Lounge (NDL) will be watched by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi, and high-ranking persons representing teams of countries qualified to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Concerning the Transforming Education Summit, called on by the UN Secretary-General and set to be held one day before the opening of the General Assembly, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani stressed in her remarks to QNA that there is broad interest on the side of the wise leadership in providing education support for everyone around the world. Her excellency pointed out, in this regard, the invitation extended by the UN Secretary-General to HH the Amir to attend as an education leader, one of only five invitations sent to five countries in the world.

Her Excellency added that the Transforming Education Summit will discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, as countries around the world encountered difficulties in continuing the education process in schools, and many countries counted on technology in the education process. Her Excellency pointed out that Qatar was one of the pioneering countries in using modern technology to maintain students access to education and the continuation of the education process without disrupting the academic calendar at that time. Thus, the Transforming Education Summit will focus on several areas, including the importance of harnessing digital technologies to ensure access to education at all levels in case of future global pandemics.

Her Excellency pointed out that the summit will also focus on the issue of financing education, as the world is facing a huge economic crisis leaving a massive global education financial gap. Her Excellency stressed that Qatar will have high-level participation as it is one of the leading countries in providing education for all, using technology, and employing appropriate funding whether within Qatar or abroad, as Qatar supports education in all countries of the world and has its presence whether through bilateral cooperation or in cooperation with the UN.

Her Excellency indicated that the UN Secretary-General had called for holding three major summits as part of the common global agenda of the member states of the UN (The Our Common Agenda) where the first summit is the Transforming Education Summit will be held before the opening of the General Assembly, the second is Summit of the Future will be held in September 2023, while The World Social Summit 2025, as the three summits come as part of the follow-up to the implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

On Qatars contributions to the UNGA in its current session, Her excellency said in her interview with QNA that the State of Qatar has several contributions, and there are directives from HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to the Permanent Mission for the need of significant initiatives and roles that will reflect Qatars work in the General Assembly and the six main committees.

Her Excellency added that in the past two years, the State of Qatar has submitted significant resolutions, such as the resolution related to the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, which was adopted as an annual occasion on Sep. 9, and submitted a significant draft resolution to designate an international day for Women Judges. This is part of the initiatives that reflect the active diplomacy of the State of Qatar and in the coming period, Qatar will present a resolution related to sports, peace, and development in preparation for Qatar's hosting of the World Cup.

On the reform of the UN system, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said in her interview with QNA that the file of the UNs reform is one of the significant issues to be discussed in the framework of the General Assembly. The UN system today needs a new look and new blood, especially in the shade of a complex international crisis. Today there is disrespect and mistrust in multilateralism and its role in solving global problems, there is also a crisis concerning the respect of international law, which emphasizes the need to reform the system whether about the role of the Security Council or strengthening the role of the General Assembly, as well as strengthening the role of the UN Economic and Social Council and strengthening the role of UN the Human Rights Council.

Her Excellency added that concerning the reform of the Security Council, the State of Qatar had played a significant role during the past two years, pointing out that Presidents of the past two General Assemblies had entrusted Qatar with the task of facilitating governmental negotiations on the reform of the Security Council. The State of Qatar had played its role in partnership with the ambassadors of Poland and Denmark, which reflects the international communitys confidence in the role played by the State of Qatar, especially on reforming the UN.

In response to a question concerning the UNs view of the State of Qatar as an honest mediator in international conflicts, Her Excellency said that the State of Qatar has emerged in the field of mediation over the years and has become known as the honest and successful mediator, pointing out that all the mediation and dispute settlement of conflicts that Qatar handled were considered challenging issues.

Her Excellency gave an example of the success of the Qatari diplomacy in mediation efforts on the Afghan issue, where Qatar hosted the Afghan Peace Talks and still plays a significant role on this issue. Her Excellency also pointed out that Qatar recently hosted the Chadian parties' peace talks, noting that this is one of the most complex issues in Africa.

Her Excellency added that Qatar is regarded for having the needed objectivity and impartiality required to ensure any successful mediation and conflict settlement framework. The UN Secretary-General praised on more than one occasion the role played by HH the Amir and the efforts exerted by the State of Qatar in this field, and the Security Council for its part had also praised - on more than one occasion - the role of the State of Qatar in mediation efforts, whether in Afghanistan or other files.

Concerning the Iranian nuclear program issue, Her Excellency said that HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani played a significant role in several meetings with his counterparts in Iran, the United States, and many European countries to raise several issues, including issues related to the Iranian nuclear agreement. Her Excellency added that there is always an effort to involve the State of Qatar because of its wisdom and ability to communicate, deliver positive messages, and eventually achieve positive results.

Concerning the current challenges, HE Sheikha Alya said in her interview with QNA that the General Assembly is the most important international body in the UN and is the main forum where all international issues on the agenda are discussed and that any international challenges that occur have their repercussions on the international agenda, the war in Ukraine has huge repercussions for the international agenda.

Her Excellency added that several issues will have an impact on the agenda of the General Assembly, such as the issue of global food security, which was greatly affected by the war in Ukraine, noting that food security will be one of the most significant issues to be discussed by the General Assembly in addition to many other issues. 

(QNA)