Qatar has participated in the extraordinary meeting of the Permanent Council of the International Organisation of La Francophonie on the situation in Mali, which was held under the chairmanship of the Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo.

Qatar's ambassador to France and its representative to the OIF, HE Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, represented the country at the meeting via video conferencing technology.

The meeting discussed development of the situation in Mali after the military coup on August 18. The representatives of the member states and governments of the Francophonie decided, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V of "Bamako Declaration", to suspend Mali's membership in the Francophonie while preserving the co-operation measures that directly benefit the civilian population and those which contribute to the restoration of democracy.

The Francophonie group also called for the formation of a transitional government headed by a civil authority as soon as possible, as a prerequisite for reaching a sustainable and credible solution to the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to encourage the return of constitutional order and effectively contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in close cooperation with international partners.

A high-level delegation would be sent in the coming days to Bamako to assess the situation and developments on the ground, she said.

This meeting was an opportunity to affirm Qatar's full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at finding an urgent solution to the crisis in Mali in a way that meets the aspirations of the people for security and decent living and preserves the stability of the region.

It also confirms that Qatar continues its efforts to perpetuate the values of Francophonie, which are an integral part of the common legacy of Francophonie that is based on enriching and respecting multiculturalism and promoting the values of peace, tolerance, solidarity and respect for human rights.

Qatar is committed to coexistence and the Francophonie values that it has been promoting tirelessly since its accession to the International Organisation of La Francophonie in 2012. It takes advantage of its participation in the organisation's meetings and forums to praise the efforts of the Francophonie network and its keenness to prevent violent extremism that could lead to terrorism.



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