HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim said that the Council is preparing to start a new phase in its legislative process to contribute to supporting national development efforts with the opening of the second ordinary session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the 51st ordinary session, which represents a new beginning towards a promising future.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE the Speaker addressed preparations for the opening of the Council’s ordinary session today.
HE al-Ghanim said that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will inaugurate the Council’s second ordinary session today, stressing that His Highness’ honouring the inauguration of every term of the Shura Council’s ordinary session is a source of pride for the Council, affirming His Highness’ keenness and support for this pioneering national institution.
He noted that the speech that the Amir delivers at the beginning of every term is a beacon of inspiration that guides the Council throughout its journey and paves the way towards establishing a new beginning in supporting the sustainable development goals and achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030.
This year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Shura Council, which proves the wise leadership’s keenness — since the establishment of the modern state and the building of its institutions, on the importance of this legislative institution, and the belief in its important and pivotal role in popular participation, he said.
In this context, HE al-Ghanim addressed the national unity and the people’s cohesion with the leadership over time, indicating that this well-established principle is an essential pillar of the establishment by the late founder of the State Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani.
The reason behind choosing ‘Our Unity Source of Our Strength’ as this year’s slogan for the Qatar National Day occasion has been stated in the speech of His Highness the Amir before the Shura Council in the opening of its first ordinary session, which is an affirmation of this firm principle, he added.
Regarding the achievements of the elected Council in terms of arranging its structures and various developments to carry out its mission to the fullest, HE al-Ghanim said that since the first day of its first session, the Council began working on arranging its internal situation, in line with the requirements of the phase, and in line with the status of the elected Council, as stipulated by the constitution due to its significance and impact on the legislative process.
In conjunction with arranging its internal conditions, the Council has not neglected its role in oversight and legislation, and in discussing issues that concern the society and contribute to advancing the development wheel in Qatar, he added.
Accordingly, the Shura Council formed a special committee to establish its internal regulations, in line with the requirements of the phase, HE the Speaker said, adding that with the presidency of Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri, the members of the committee worked on developing the regulation, which is now in its final stages and will see the light soon.
In regard to this side, HE al-Ghanim emphasised the importance of the regulation in framing the work of the Council according to its constitutional terms of reference, indicating that the committee made great efforts to ensure that — upon its approval, it would be an important reference that can be relied on for years, serving as a foundation for the upcoming councils to work in accordance with the nature of the elected council.
On restructuring the departments of the Shura Council, he explained that the Council has made great strides in this aspect, as the organisational structure and personnel regulations have been adopted, and departments and administrative units have been restructured, while new departments have also been established, noting that all of which aim to carry out the Council’s mission to the fullest.
On the level of the Council’s achievements in the legislative aspect, HE al-Ghanim said that during the 35th plenary session, the Council members discussed many vital issues of interest to the country and citizens, and presented appropriate proposals regarding them, noting that during its first session, the Council addressed several significant topics, whether related to legislative tools, or other important issues that touch the lives of citizens, such as the two draft laws on social insurance and military retirement.
On the economic and investment side, the Council discussed two decree-laws on amending some provisions of the law establishing QatarEnergy and law on amending some provisions of the law on anti-money laundering and terrorism financing.
He pointed out that the Council has not neglected the topics and urgent matters that affect the lives of citizens, adding that it discussed and addressed proposals related to topics such as inflation, the high cost of living, and the increased financial burdens in society, Qataris’ reluctance to teach, the manifestations associated with marriage, the issue of Qatari job seekers, in addition to the promotion of national values and identity, and other topics on which appropriate decisions were taken.
With respect to the parliamentary diplomacy and its role in consolidating the Council’s foreign relations, its presence and reaction with the similar federations and councils in different countries to serve Qatar’s relations at the international level, HE the Speaker said that the role of the legislative councils in diplomacy is vital, because of the close connection between these councils and peoples, pointing out that the councils are reflection and representative of citizens, and accordingly came the parliamentary diplomacy to undertake a vital role in strengthening the state efforts from one side and the friendship relations among the peoples from the other side.
He pointed out that Qatar had achieved a success in consolidating the concept of parliamentary diplomacy through contributing to finding the communication and outreach among the peoples through their representatives, indicating that the Council had flagged up the honourable image of Qatar to the world through this diplomacy.
He explained the crucial positions the Council occupies in the regional and international parliamentary associations, as the council has membership in the Office of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs in the IPU, and chairs the Committee on Peace and International Security, and has membership in Committee on Democracy and Human Rights of IPU.
He added that the Council represents four members in the Arab Parliament, who represent the council in its four committees, including High-level Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology of the Arab Parliament, while the General-Secretary of Shura Council chairs the Association of Secretaries-General of Arab Parliaments.
He noted that Doha hosts UN Office of Counter-Terrorism concerned with the parliamentary participation in the prevention and combating of terrorism. This underscores the advanced and prominent position held by Qatar in the efforts of combating of terrorism and drying up its resources.
With regard to local issues and files that concern the Qatari citizen, HE the Speaker said that the Council spares no effort in handling the matters that touch the life of citizens, adding that serving the country and the citizens is not merely a slogan, but a national due responsibility, unwavering consolidated commitment, an established approach that cannot be deviated from, in which the Council embodies the directives of the wise leadership, which put the interest of the country and the citizens above all considerations.
He said that the council translates in it the ambitions and aspirations of the Qatari citizens, which are ambitions and aspirations the Shura Council fully realises and works hard to achieve.
HE the Speaker hailed the vision, directives and the steadfast efforts of the wise leadership, represented by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani which led to the developmental achievements that enhanced the well-being of citizens and residents, and established economic and social stability, albeit the challenges facing the countries of the world.
Concerning the Council’s preparations for the next session to achieve the aspirations of the Qatari citizens, HE the Speaker underlined that the Council will continue its decades-old national role in its new session, through which it had contributed to the process of development, growth and modernisation witnessed by the country in multiple fields and at all levels, pointing out the process of the Shura Council is not new in the beloved country, but has credit of expertise and experiences that spanned for decades which make the experiences of the Council more mature in view of its history and gradation, as well as the increasing societal awareness of the nature and importance of the council’s work, which precipitates the work with sincerity and dedication according to a perspective that reflects this reality, accommodates all developments, and enhances the gains and developmental accomplishments that had been achieved for the country and the citizens over the past decades.
He spoke about Qatar’s hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 that marks the Council’s second session along with the Council’s vision for this exceptional global event in the region, affirming that the next session will be exceptional, because it coincides with the hosting of the World Cup, indicating that such hosting received a global commendation owing to the accomplishments that had been achieved over 12 years, including the quality of those accomplishments which every Qatari citizen is proud of.
He noted the extend of world’s admiration of the preparations made by Qatar to host the tournament during the Council’s participations in the parliamentary regional and international arenas, the last were the IPU’s meetings held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, during October, during which the delegations expressed their admiration for the Qatari experience in preparing for the tournament, stressing their confidence that this hosting would be exceptional and historic by all standards.
In his closing remarks, HE al-Ghanim thanked everyone who contributed to making these accomplishments, calling on every citizen and resident to do more and give more during the tournament to be the most beautiful and most distinguished in history.
HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim
