Shura Dy Speaker underscores key role of parliamentary diplomacy to enhance Qatar's global status

HE the Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr Hamda bint Hassan al-Sulaiti emphasised the Council's commitment to enhancing and utilising parliamentary diplomacy to expand Qatar's foreign relations, strengthen its international standing, and support its efforts in maintaining international peace and security.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the International Day of Parliamentarism, celebrated on June 30 every year, HE Dr al-Sulaiti highlighted that this year's theme "Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding," underscored the vital role of parliaments in promoting popular participation, good governance, and development efforts.

She noted that celebrating this day is an acknowledgment of the importance of parliamentary institutions in shaping policies and laws that serve the interests of the people, enhancing public participation in decision-making, and educating the public on various international issues and challenges. She added that the celebration also offered an opportunity to review the progress of parliamentary work in Qatar, showcasing the Shura Council's efforts in parliamentary diplomacy, building relationships, and strengthening co-operation with various parliamentary and international organisations.

The theme of this year's celebration highlights the critical role of parliamentary work in achieving peace, justice, and sustainable development. HE Dr al-Sulaiti stressed that the theme sends a message to parliaments worldwide to build consensus, enhance international co-operation, and solidarity in facing global challenges such as terrorism, extremism, armed conflicts, climate challenges, and environmental preservation. It also emphasised the importance of involving all segments of society, including women and youth, in parliamentary work to ensure comprehensive and sustainable development.

She explained that the Shura Council translates these goals through its active participation in international parliamentary events, supporting Arab and Islamic causes, and voicing the concerns and aspirations of Qatari citizens on the global stage. She highlighted the Council's efforts in promoting the roles of women and youth through dedicated meetings and providing everything necessary to strengthen their importance in society.

Regarding peace promotion, she noted that the Shura Council emphasises peace-related issues, dialogue, and understanding between people in bilateral and multilateral meetings, as well as strengthening relationships with parliaments and parliamentary unions. The Council plays an active and vital role in the activities and programmes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), regularly participating in international meetings and conferences, proposing initiatives to enhance international parliamentary work, and seeking to implement best parliamentary practices through experience exchange with other parliaments.

HE Dr al-Sulaiti recalled Qatar's hosting of the 140th IPU Assembly in 2019, which was considered one of the most successful assemblies, receiving wide attendance and significant international attention. She noted that the Shura Council's role is highly appreciated by the IPU and friendly parliaments, with IPU President Dr Tulia Ackson and IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong praising the Council's effective role and support for the union's activities.

She affirmed that the Shura Council's active presence in international parliamentary initiatives reflected Qatar's dynamic diplomacy, setting a global example. The Council supported Qatar's mediation efforts by providing parliamentary backing for government initiatives aimed at resolving disputes and building communication bridges with other parliaments to exchange experiences and best practices in mediation and peace.

She emphasised the international community's appreciation of Qatar's mediation efforts to resolve conflicts, as evident by positive remarks from national parliaments, regional and international parliamentary unions, and organisations.

HE Dr al-Sulaiti highlighted the need for parliaments to enhance international co-operation and solidarity through adopting joint policies to prevent and peacefully resolve conflicts, as well as strengthening their oversight role to ensure governments fulfil their international commitments in human rights and sustainable development.

She called on parliaments to press their governments to prevent human rights violations during wars and conflicts, comply with international norms and laws, and prioritise dialogue over war. She stressed the importance of effective communication with the UN to develop and reform the organisation to meet global aspirations. In this context, she stressed the importance of the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in confronting conflicts and wars, and called on it to develop working mechanisms to be more influential in this issue in light of the worsening challenges destabilising peace. She called for strengthening co-operation and co-ordination between member parliaments and activating the role of specialised committees in peace and security issues.

HE Dr al-Sulaiti also pointed out the importance of strengthening the technical capabilities of the IPU by providing training programmes for parliamentarians in the fields of mediation and conflict resolution, in addition to enhancing its role in monitoring the implementation of international resolutions related to conflicts and wars, and submitting periodic reports that highlight the challenges and achievements in this field.

She underscored the crucial role of parliamentary work in achieving security, peace and sustainable development. She called for continued serious efforts to strengthen the role of parliaments in addressing global challenges, ensuring justice and equality for all, and urged all parliaments to intensify their efforts in promoting dialogue and understanding between people, working collectively to achieve a better future for all humanity.