Qatari Plane Carrying Field Hospital Arrives at Benina International Airport in Benghazi

Qatari International Search and Rescue Group

Advisor to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said that based on the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the first relief plane carrying the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group headed to the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco last Sunday, along with humanitarian aid for the brotherly Moroccan people.

Speaking during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs weekly media briefing, Dr. Al Ansari said that HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sent a cable of condolences to the Libyan people affected by the floods as a result of the hurricane, while the first plane carrying a field hospital provided by the Qatar Fund for Development will arrive tonight at Benina International Airport in Benghazi, along with medical and food supplies provided by the Qatar Red Crescent Society and the permanent committee for rescue, relief and humanitarian aid work in the afflicted areas of brotherly and friendly countries. The volume of aid amounts to about 59.3 tons, he added.

He explained that HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his condolences, during a telephone call with HE Prime Minister of the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco Aziz Akhannouch, on the victims of the earthquake that struck several Moroccan regions and cities, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. He also affirmed the State of Qatar's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco and support for its brotherly people in their painful affliction, and that Qatar is fully prepared to provide the necessary assistance to the affected areas until they recover from the effects of the earthquake.

Dr. Al Ansari reviewed the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the past week, including HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani meeting with HE Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance it in various fields, especially in the economy, investment, and energy. They also discussed several regional and international issues of common interest, particularly the developments in the Middle East region.

The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed to HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs' meeting with HE Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Gilbert Houngbo. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and ILO.

He noted the participation of the State of Qatar in the 157th session of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which the Qatari delegation was headed by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi in the presence of Their Highnesses and Excellencies GCC foreign ministers.

He added that the meeting dealt with the progress made in the GCC countries, topics related to the dialogues and strategic relations between the GCC countries and other countries and global blocs, and the latest regional and international developments. HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also participated in the GCC-Japan Joint Ministerial Council meeting, held at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The meeting aimed to enhance the strategic dialogue between the two sides on the one hand, and reinforce multiple aspects of cooperation on the other hand.

Advisor to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari highlighted Qatar's participation in the opening of the Board of Governors meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. During the opening, he delivered Qatar's statement, praising the central role of the agency in coordinating international efforts, developing safety standards, and assisting member states in their implementation across various advisory domains. This is aimed at enhancing the Agency's regulatory functions, national infrastructure, nuclear and radiation safety, transportation, and waste management, as well as readiness and response to emergencies.

Dr. Al Ansari also mentioned that Qatar, for the first time, participated in the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, presenting its first report at the meeting. This report provided an overview of Qatar's nuclear activities and their peaceful applications, the history of Qatar's relationship with the agency, and its contributions to improving radiation and nuclear safety infrastructure. It also outlined the updates made in Qatar's radiation and nuclear safety infrastructure in cooperation with the Agency, including Integrated Regulatory Review Services (IRRS), the national strategic safety policy, government responsibilities for safety, regulatory infrastructure, and emergency preparedness and response.

His Excellency urged all countries with nuclear facilities, especially those in the Middle East region, to expedite their adherence to international agreements on nuclear safety to ensure the robustness of their operational systems in owned reactors and compliance with international nuclear safety measures.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson noted the participation of HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater virtually in a side event in Geneva marking the Fourth International Day to Protect Education from Attack. Her Excellency expressed Qatar's appreciation for all those who have tirelessly worked to ensure educational opportunities for all children, especially those living in conflict or crisis situations.

He stressed that Her Excellency affirmed that conflict should not be a pretext to deprive anyone of their right to education. She emphasized that disrupting education not only jeopardizes children's current lives but also affects their entire futures and the futures of their communities. She reaffirmed Qatar's unwavering commitment to supporting quality education at both national and international levels as a top priority in its strategic vision.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson also highlighted the successful completion of the Ukrainian Education in Emergencies program by the Education Above All Foundation last month. This project aimed to integrate over 6,000 Ukrainian refugee children into Polish education and social systems.

Furthermore, Qatar, in partnership with Indonesia, will host the 2nd International Conference on Afghan Women's Education on Nov. 28-29, with the aim of garnering international support for education in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson mentioned the meeting between HE Al Khater and HE Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in South Sudan Albino Akol Atak. During the meeting, she received a written letter from HE President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The message pertained to bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them. HE the Spokesperson also highlighted Al Khater's meeting with Undersecretary for Multilateral and Bilateral Economic Negotiations at the Argentine Republic H E Ramiro Ordoqui and their discussion of bilateral cooperation in various fields, including economics, investment, technology, and culture.

Dr. Al Ansari highlighted Qatar's condemnation of the recent attacks that targeted a riverboat and a military site in the Republic of Mali, resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous civilians and military personnel. He reiterated Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence, terrorism, and criminal acts, regardless of their motives or reasons, expressing Qatar's condolences to the victims' families and the government and people of Mali, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

(QNA)