HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud stressed Qatar's firm position from the Palestinian issue, and all initiatives that would see the Palestinian people gain their right to establish an independent state based on the borders of June 4 of 1967 with East Jerusalem as the capital. He was speaking at the 15th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference in Burkina Faso and called for coo-peration between Islamic countries, especially with the occupation showing greater disrespect to the international community by expanding in occupied Arab land.
HE al-Mahmoud stressed that Qatar continues its support to the Palestinian people, and noted that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani directed to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after the United States halted its financial support of the agency. The speaker also reiterated Qatar's firm rejection of violence and terrorism, considering it a threat to the peoples, and called for continued efforts to counter it. He expressed Qatar's solidarity with Burkina Faso, following the latest terrorist attacks the country suffered from. He added that Qatar's position was to reject double standards when it comes to terrorism or linking it to one religion, culture, or race. He also called on the importance of distinguishing between terrorism and the people's right to resist occupation.
HE al-Mahmoud said that Muslim countries suffered from policies that antagonised Islam and Muslims, adding that Muslim countries are always accused of being behind any violent incident. He noted that the Muslim world has one of the most important factors for unity and co-operation, which is unity of faith.
The speaker discussed corruption and said that Qatar held the conference of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, and called on non-members to join the organisation in order to better fight corruption. He warned that, lacking a united voice, Muslim minorities are suffering from discrimination and displacement. He added that Qatar calls for uniting the efforts of Muslims, and warns of the threat oppressing minorities could pose to international peace and security.
HE al-Mahmoud concluded his speech by expressing hope that the conference will play a role in uniting the Muslim world and finding a mechanism to unite Muslim minorities. He also expressed his thanks to Burkina Faso's president, government, and people for their good reception and thanked President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso Alassane Bala Sakande, who is also the head of the current conference, along with President of the House of Representatives in Morocco Habib El Malki for his efforts in the previous conference.
President of Burkina Faso meets Speaker
President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore met with HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud on the sidelines of his participation in 15th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUIC) conference hosted by Burkina Faso. At the beginning of the meeting, HE the Speaker conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the President of Burkina Faso, and His Highness the Amir's wishes to him and the people of Burkina Faso of further development and growth.
HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud with President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
For his part, the President of Burkina Faso entrusted HE the Speaker convey his greetings to His Highness the Amir, and his wishes to His Highness the Amir of health and happiness, and to the people of Qatar more development and prosperity. During the meeting, they reviewed parliamentary co-operation relations between Qatar and Burkina Faso and ways to enhance the existing co-operation between them in this field. The meeting was attended by Speaker of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso Alassane Bala Sakande, and a number of members of the Shura Council, and Acting Charge d'affaires of Qatar's embassy in Benin Hussein Ibrahim al-Bader.
Speaker of Shura Council meets Tunisian, Algerian counterpart
Speaker al-Mahmoud met with Rashid Ghannouchi, Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, on the sidelines of 15th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUIC) conference hosted by Burkina Faso. During the meeting, they reviewed parliamentary co-operation relations between Qatar and Tunisia and ways to enhance existing co-operation between the two countries in this field. The most important topics on the agenda of the conference were also discussed.
The meeting was attended by a number of members of the Shura Council and Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, in addition to Tunisian ambassador to Burkina Faso Mohamed Kahloun, and Acting Charge d'affaires of Qatar's embassy in Benin Hussein Ibrahim al-Bader.
On the sidelines of the 15th session of the conference, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council met with President of the National People's Assembly in Algeria Suleiman Shannin. In a statement to reporters after the meeting with the President of the Algerian National People's Assembly, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council said that they discussed during the meeting the parliamentary relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing and strengthening, in addition to issues of concern to the Arab world.
Speaker al-Mahmoud also said that he reviewed with his Algerian counterpart all the issues that the nation is going through at this difficult time, including the Libyan issue. He added that they touched on the important role that Algeria plays in the Arab world, stressing that Algeria is an important Arab nation. The Palestinian issue, he said, is one of the most important Arab issues and in the hearts of all Arabs, and it is a crucial issue. Therefore, if peace is not based on the Palestinians' right to establish their state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, then that peace will not be realistic, he added.
For his part, the president of the Algerian National People's Assembly said that the meeting was an opportunity to strengthen co-operation and enhance consultation between the councils of the two countries and exchange views on many issues of concern to the Arab nation. He added that the meeting emphasised the need to defend these Arab issues, such as enabling the Libyan people to live in peace and giving a role to the Libyans themselves to solve their problem by peaceful means by supporting the UN track, along with emphasising the absolute support for the Palestinian right and the Palestinian issue at this time and at this particular juncture.
The meeting was attended by a number of members of the Shura and Algerian National People's Assembly, the ambassador of Algeria to Burkina Faso Ainseur Mohamed and Acting Charge d'affaires of Qatar's embassy in Benin Hussein Ibrahim al-Bader.
