'Qatar Committed To Support Multilateral Action To Promote Peace, Development'

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's hosting of the 298th session of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reflects its steadfast commitment to supporting multilateral action, strengthening international dialogue, and reinforcing the role of parliamentary institutions in promoting peace, development, and cooperation at both regional and global levels, said Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council H E Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti.

Addressing the opening session of the meeting yesterday, Dr. Al Sulaiti, who is also a member of the IPU Executive Committee and Vice President of the Committee representing the Arab Group within the Union, said the event comes in line with Qatar's firm approach under the leadership of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to enhance joint international efforts and to position parliaments as effective partners in addressing shared challenges facing the world.

She praised the pivotal role played by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, particularly its Executive Committee, in guiding the Union's work, developing its institutional mechanisms, and enhancing its effectiveness in a way that responds to the aspirations of national parliaments and keeps pace with the rapid political, economic, and social transformations globally.

Dr. Al Sulaiti noted that the Executive Committee plays a central role in shaping the strategic direction of the IPU and ensuring that parliamentary diplomacy continues to contribute meaningfully to the promotion of peace, stability, and sustainable development, while also defending human rights and fostering dialogue among nations.

For her part, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Chair of the Executive Committee, H E Dr. Tulia Ackson, described the committee as an advisory body that submits recommendations to the Union's governing structures and serves as a key institutional platform for in-depth discussion and analysis of issues related to the IPU's mission and activities.

She expressed her sincere appreciation to Qatar for hosting the meeting and for the warm hospitality extended to the participants, voicing her confidence that the deliberations would yield constructive outcomes that would further strengthen the Union's performance and global impact.

Dr. Ackson, who was the former Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, underlined that the members of the Executive Committee, as representatives of the world's parliaments, embody the voice and aspirations of peoples, which places upon them a collective responsibility to work towards enhancing the well-being of societies and advancing the values of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding. She called on members to contribute actively with proposals and ideas aimed at developing the IPU's work and reinforcing its role as a leading platform for parliamentary diplomacy.

Qatar's hosting of the session, she added, once again underscores its vision based on constructive engagement, dialogue, and the promotion of international cooperation, as well as its support for the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its efforts to address pressing global and regional issues.

On the sidelines of the meeting, members of the Executive Committee visited the Shura Council headquarters, where they met with several members of the Council and toured an exhibition showcasing historical documents and artefacts that trace the Council's evolution since its establishment and highlight key milestones in its legislative and institutional development.

The two-day meeting is set to review the implementation of the IPU's current strategy, discuss the broad orientations of the Union's upcoming five-year strategic plan, and consider a number of organisational and parliamentary matters aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of its structures and working mechanisms.

Participants will also continue deliberations on proposed amendments to the Union's statutes and examine the rules governing the voting mechanism on the emergency item at the General Assembly, with a view to strengthening transparency, efficiency, and institutional responsiveness.

These discussions are expected to contribute to further consolidating the IPU's role as a global parliamentary platform committed to advancing peace, human rights, and sustainable development through dialogue, cooperation, and coordinated international action.

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