(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
The Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) yesterday organised the 8th Community Round-Table Discussion under the theme 'Communities Under the Siege: Solidarity and Challenges.
The event was attended by a group of intellectuals and think-tanks from citizens and expatriate communities.
The seminar was divided into two sessions. The first session was entitled, 'Challenges arising from the siege crisis and its impact on communities.
This theme dealt with four main issues: human rights violations caused by the siege on Qatar, the humanitarian dimension of the blockade from the perspective of the law, the economic challenges because of the crisis and the management of Qatari government of the siege crisis.
The second session was entitled, 'Stand of expatriate communities in the face of the siege crisis and the lessons learned from it. It included several issues, namely communities standing side-by-side with the citizens, the stand of expatriate communities and their supporting role to Qatar, the lessons learnt from this crisis, the positions of the communities in support of EmirH H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the State of Qatar.
'The siege crisis is the most important issues for citizens and expatriates in the country which is still continues today on 177 day, said Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the DICID in his inaugural speech at the event.
He said therefore, this is one of the important opportunities in which the crisis of the siege is discussed from different angles including political and economic approach from the aspects of expatriate communities in Qatar and its effects on them and the challenges they are facing in dealing with it, standing side-by-side with citizens.
Al Nuaimi quoted the speech of H H the Emir at the last General Assembly of the United Nations at its 72nd session: 'Let me express my pride of my people and expatriates in the State of Qatar, from different nationalities and cultures, for resistance against the siege and rejection of dictations with dignity and determination for independence of Qatari sovereign decision. '
Al Nuaimi stressed that the phrase refers to two basic issues pertaining to the communities. The Emir addressed Qatari citizens and expatriates in Qatar because all of them are affected by the crisis and the issue is equally important for both communities.
For his part, the Archbishop of Qatar, Father Makarios, said: 'Without iota of doubt, the people of Qatar, citizens and expatriates, have been affected by this siege imposed by the neighbouring countries since last June, but we are looking at the crisis with a positive vision.
He said that the coexistence between citizens and expatriates is a power point in dealing with the crisis.
The Christian community appreciates the Christian community's stance towards the siege, saying that the community of residents has supported the Qataris since the beginning of this siege.
Makarios pointed to the impact of the negative siege, as well as the positive, saying: 'This unfortunate situation or blockade affects both Qataris and residents alike. On the other hand, this siege has contributed to enhancing Qatar's ability and capabilities towards self-sufficiency.
During the seminar, Hussein Ahmed, former acting managing editor of The Peninsula newspaper said that media is considered the real voice in any society and lauded the coexistence between Qatari citizens and various expatriate communities in the country.
Hussein Ahmed pointed out the contribution of the Qatari media on taking the issues of expatriate communities and citizens of blockading countries.
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