(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Doha: The State of Qatar is preparing to inaugurate the UN House in Doha, on the sidelines of the fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) which will be held in Doha, during March 5-9, 2023, to culminate more than half a century of partnership and dynamic relations with the international organization, which included many joint works to build peace and development and confront global challenges.
This UN headquarters in the heart of Doha represents a vivid embodiment of the directives of the wise leadership represented by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and its vision of the importance of strengthening the pillars of multilateral collective action to confront the grave and diverse cross-border challenges, on top of which are the threats to international peace and security, environmental issues, sustainable development, and building more equal and resilient world, within the framework of the pivotal role of the UN.
The opening of the UN House coincided with the LDC5, adding new dimensions to the relationship between the two sides, foremost of which is the commitment to this partnership and cooperation to strengthen the foundations of multilateral collective action in a way that responds to the aspirations of the peoples of the world, and consolidates Doha's position at the international level, after it has become an international center for world's programs and initiatives concerned with development and peace.
The UN houses are important international organizations, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the regional cybercrime training and capacity-building center, and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in addition to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN Office of the UN Development Program, International Hub on Behavioral Insights to Counter Terrorism in Doha, the Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism and United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
Since its accession to the international organization, Qatar has been one of the largest supporters of the international organization and continues to provide financial contributions to many of its affiliated bodies and entities. The year 2018 was one of the most important stations in the process of cooperation and partnership between the two sides, as it witnessed the signing of several agreements on the sidelines Doha Forum's activities, one of its most prominent fruits was the establishment of the 'United Nations House.' The agreements included providing $500m support for United Nations organizations and the establishment of four new United Nations offices in Doha. They also included a pledge by Qatar to provide annual support to UNDP, UNICEF, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The year 2021 witnessed the signing of two agreements between Qatar and the United Nations to open two new offices in Doha, an office of the United Nations Development Program to support efforts and ways to achieve sustainable development goals globally, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which will undertake the United Nations mission of coordinating global humanitarian operations through partnerships with national and international bodies.
The same year also witnessed the inauguration of the UNOCT Program Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, which is considered the first of its kind in the world, and it aims to assist all parliaments of the countries of the world through its programs and activities aimed at supporting the efforts of the international community in preventing and combating terrorism.
On several occasions, the State of Qatar has called for the need to cooperation and partnership with the United Nations in all political, diplomatic, humanitarian and development fields, environmental issues, climate change, health, education and other vital sectors of cooperation, so that the UN House embodies this approach and strengthens this strategic partnership to serve the peoples of the region and the world for decades to come.
This strategic partnership was expressed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, in his speech during the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up for 2022, at the UN Headquarters in New York last April, during which he affirmed Qatar's keenness to work closely with partners at the international level, including United Nations bodies and entities.
In a previous interview published in the Diplomat Magazine, issued by the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani summarized this active presence of Qatar at the international level within the framework of its partnership with the United Nations. She pointed out that the UN's choosing of Doha to open offices for its agencies and organizations carries a very important and indicative message that it is an active and reliable partner of the United Nations in facing challenges and their effects in the region.
When inaugurating the United Nations House and hosting the 5th United Nations (LDC5), Qatar affirms that the global partnership is urgent, since many countries of the world, especially the least developed countries, are in a race against time to achieve the goals of sustainable development at various social, economic and environmental levels by 2030, which necessitates the creation of a new global partnership that guarantees no one is left behind.
Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shaheen Ali Al Kaabi in February, said during the meeting of the 2023 Partnership Forum meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held in New York, where he reaffirmed Qatar's keenness to strengthen its partnership with the UN to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and addressing current challenges.
Al Kaabi explained that the UN House in Doha includes several offices of United Nations agencies and their affiliated organizations to respond quickly to humanitarian crises, climate change problems, resolve conflicts, combat the threat of terrorism and violent extremism, address the flow of refugees, and to promote the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In a previous interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari said that the State of Qatar has become one of the largest donors and supporters of the United Nations, achieving a great presence unconventional effectiveness and great influence at the decision-making level, regionally and internationally.
The total financial assistance provided by Qatar to UN organizations amounted to nearly $900m, from 2013 until mid-2022, QFFD's Director said. In his message, Guterres extended thanks to the State of Qatar for its unwavering support for the UN, explaining that he looks forward to strengthening the bonds of relations between the UN and the State of Qatar two in the coming years in their quest to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights for all.
UNDP Technical Representative and Head of Office in Doha Biplove Choudhary confirmed in an exclusive statement to (QNA) the keenness to strengthen this strategic partnership for the future of development.
UNDP in Qatar works as a partner with the State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, QFFD, and Education Above All Foundation, all of whom we consider to be strategic partners, he said, adding that they rovide seamless access to technical advisory services, through the structure of the UNDP's Global Policy Network.
Biplove Choudhary explained that the main role of the UNDP office in Qatar contributes to enhancing the growing multifaceted strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and the Program on the future of development, facilitating cooperation in new horizons for innovative development solutions, building long-term capabilities, organizing policy dialogues, and establishing influential partnerships on a large scale to achieve the goals of sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels.
In turn, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mohammed Ali Ensour said in a similar statement to QNA that Doha's hosting of many UN agencies and offices reflects the best practices of the State of Qatar in its partnership with the international organization.