His Highness Speech at the Opening of the 48th Advisory Council Session

Brothers and Sisters Members of the Advisory Council,

I congratulate you on the occasion of the opening of the new session

of your esteemed Council, wishing you all success and fulfillment in

carrying out your exalted tasks.

We are appreciative of your valuable contributions to enriching

national work, not only in the legislative field, but also with enlightened

opinions in following up government performance and various

development plans.

As you know that, within the framework of completing the

constitutional requirements for the election of the Advisory Council

members and practicing of its legislative functions in accordance with the

Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar – we have issued Amiri

Decision No.(27) of 2019 extending the term of your esteemed Council for

two years starting from July 1, 2019 until June 30, 2021, and Amiri

Decision No.(47) of 2019 establishing and forming the High Committee

for the Advisory Council’s elections and defining its functions, under the

chairmanship of the Prime Minister to oversee preparations for the

Advisory Council elections, draw up the necessary draft laws, and propose

a timeline for the elections of the Council’s members. The elections’ date

shall be announced after the completion of the committee’s task.

It has been taken into account in setting the period of two years, that

the required constitutional procedures shall include the promulgation of

many important laws and legislative instruments, namely, an electoral

system act that sets the conditions and procedures for nomination and

voting, and a decree defining the electoral constituencies and zones of each

one of them, as well as other necessary administrative procedures. We will,

of course, submit to you the bills to be passed for approval in accordance

with the provisions of the Constitution.

Brothers and Sisters,

For the third consecutive year, the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar

has continued with its illegal practices, despite the crumbling down of all

the claims propounded to justify it.

By virtue of God’s support, credit for our success in containing most

of its negative impacts is attributable to maintaining our calm and decisive

approach in handling this crisis, revealing all its related facts to the whole

world, while adhering to the independence of our political decision vis-àvis attempts to impose tutelage on us, as well as strengthening our bilateral

relations with friendly and allied countries.

Since the outset of the crisis, we have expressed our readiness for

dialogue to resolve differences between the Gulf Cooperation Countries

(GCC) and within the framework of its charter on four bases: mutual

respect, common interests, avoidance of dictating a foreign policy, and

non-interference in internal affairs.

The Qatari people, with their noted magnanimity, stood up together as

one man in defense of their homeland’s sovereignty and principles,

because they realize that renunciation of the independent decision-making

is conducive to losing the homeland itself along with its wealth and

potentials.

Our national march has proceeded forward, with confident strides, to

implement the development programs as prescribed. Qatar’s Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices grew in 2018 by about 15% and

non-hydrocarbon GDP by about 9%.

The importance of that has been further boosted by the fact that the

government has sought this year to restore balance to the State budget, by

cutting public expenditure, without affecting priority projects.

Brothers and Sisters,

In my address before your esteemed Council in the aftermath of the

unjust blockade imposed on us, I stated that this blockade would strengthen

our steadfastness and push us forward to deal in a better way with the new

circumstances that ensued. And this is what actually happened.

I will focus hereinafter on the most important initiatives, projects and

policies we have adopted, and which show that we have overcome the

negative impacts of the blockade, and that we are steadily moving towards

achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.

In preparing the second national development strategy, we have

benefited from the experience of the first strategy, and we took into

consideration the new regional circumstances, and the significant change in

the energy market caused by the discovery of shale oil and shale gas.

Reports indicate a significant progress in the field of economic

diversification, encouraging the private sector, increasing the production

capacity of power generation plants and establishing an advanced

agricultural and livestock-fish production system.

The progress made is notable, but we have much still to do in the

areas of economic diversification, food and medicine security, renewable

energy, revitalization of the private sector and cutting red-tape that hinders

progress and advancement.

As for the legislative tools needed to achieve reforms, an important

law was promulgated at the beginning of this year to reorganize foreign

investments in economic activity by providing them with facilities and

incentives. The simplification of bureaucratic procedures should also be

included therein.

A decree law regulating food and strategic commodities reserve has

also been issued, in addition to a law on supporting national products

competitiveness as well as combating of commercial practices harmful to

such competitiveness. We have to protect the national product achieved by

the local industry while controlling, at the same time, its quality and

improving it.

We are also in the process of issuing other laws on public-private

partnership.

As a result of the efforts to cut expenditure and increase efficiency,

the big budget deficit in 2017 was turned into a surplus. Although the

spending was reduced, the general State budget has continued to attach

importance to and focus on priority sectors, especially education, health

and investment in infrastructure.

We have been able to restore the State reserves to levels higher than

the pre-blockade levels. The Qatari Riyal has also maintained its stability

and value despite various systematic attempts to cause it to crash.

The State of Qatar has also maintained its robust credit rating by the

international rating agencies. We have also fulfilled our commitments in

the field of combatting money laundering and terrorism funding, and a law

has been issued in this respect this year.

Last year and this year have witnessed a development in the energy

sector which will reinforce the strength of Qatar’s economy and the status

of Qatar in the international natural gas market. We are on the right track

towards achieving a qualitative and quantitative leap in liquefied gas

production and export.

Qatar Petroleum has continued to proceed on its course to become

global, as it has started to participate in explorations and production in ten

countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia of which two are Arab

countries. Energy would remain a major source of wealth in Qatar and a

resource for financing development projects. We shall remain committed

to preserving the rights of the future generations.

As to the infrastructure, the exerted efforts are clearly visible and the

achievements are evident, whether on the level of roads, bridges and

tunnels or on the level of public parks and general landscapes of our towns.

The private sector has participated in QR. 27 billion worth of major

projects over the last five years. The State is supposed to act to increase the

private sector participation in these projects in the future.

Brothers and Sisters,

We cannot achieve development and make our homeland join the

ranks of the developed countries if we do not pay great attention to the

human being, because he is the pillar of any development. Development is

not measured by buildings and facilities only, but rather by the ability of

human beings to plan, build and maintain them, and by the schools that

educate them and the universities from which they graduate, as well as the

quality of education, culture and the prevailing values and ethics.

We feel contented and happy for the capability of the State to provide

services and a decent standard of living. However, we cannot build a

human being if a feeling pattern of being entitled to privileges is stabilized

with endless expectations from the State without any deep sense of duty by

the individual citizen towards the society and the homeland. He who does

not give, does not appreciate what he obtains. Citizenship includes rights

not privileges. It doesn’t only involve rights but also responsibilities and

duties, foremost among them is to work sincerely and with precision, each

in his position, as each position is important.

Rights, brothers and sisters, are not privileges or a mere sense of

superiority engendered by identity or unwarrantable transcendence towards

others, because humility is a proof of self-confidence, and showing respect

to others is a reflection of self-respect. The responsibilities of citizenship

also require being appreciative of the those who have worked hard in

building this country, and this includes our resident brothers.

The Almighty Allah says: “And for each there are degrees (of reward

and punishment) for what they have done, and it is so that He may fully

compensate them for their deeds, and they will not be wronged.” He also

says: ” Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds. For them is a

reward uninterrupted.” Our fellow resident brothers who live with us in

Qatar are not here as a result of a favor conferred on them, but by virtue of

their work, which is indispensable to us, and by means of their appreciated

contribution to the building of this country.

Brothers and Sisters,

I have previously spoken to you about the importance we attach to the

development of the judicial systems, so as to consolidate the independence

of the judiciary and realization of a prompt justice. Significant steps have

been taken, such as updating many laws that are related to litigation

procedures to provide speedy and easy procedures for litigants. Reports

have been sent to me on the establishment of mechanisms to expedite the

enforcement of rulings, particularly those regarding alimonies, debts and

labour disputes.

All this is not enough, and efforts must be exerted to modernize the

functioning of the judiciary to make it a success. Work is under way to

increase the number of judges and members of the public prosecution and

to expand on establishing specialized courts and to open new court

premises.

Brothers and Sisters,

Our Gulf region is witnessing accelerated events and very serious and

delicate developments threatening the security and stability of the region,

which oblige our states and the international community to double their

efforts to halt the deterioration and to adopt dialogue as a means of settling

disputes. Sisterly states have started to realize the rightness of our position

that GCC countries have no interest in tensioning the situations.

Regrettably, the absence of the GCC role amid these circumstances

has been observed due to the fabricated crises, the resources they waste

and the potentials they waste.

Despite the unjust blockade imposed on our country, the right position

and responsible behavior have reinforced Qatar’s status and consolidated

its role as an active partner on the regional and international arenas.

In our foreign policy, we have chosen a strategy based on a balance

between our firm principles and our security and economic interests. All

this is within the framework of defining our civilizational, geographical

and strategic position in this world as well as knowing our potentials. We have chosen to assume a role to facilitate dialogue, just solutions and

peaceful settlement of disputes. We have participated in all international

and regional efforts that aim to achieve peaceful coexistence, protecting the

environment, fighting poverty and in all efforts amid at combating

terrorism and its causes.

The seventy-fourth session of the UN General Assembly was an

appropriate opportunity to remind the international community of the

strategic importance of our Gulf region, that necessitates the achievement

of political and security stability in it, which is a goal that would only be

achieved through peaceful means and through making the Middle East,

without exception, a weapons of mass destruction free-zone.

It was also an opportunity to remind the international community that

peace in the Middle East can’t be achieved without enabling the

Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights, foremost among them

is the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the 1967

borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as stated by the resolutions of

the international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. Accordingly, the

normalization of relations with Israel without a just solution to the problem

of Palestine is a mere illusion.

Regarding the Syrian affair, we assert our firm position on the

necessity of finding a negotiated political solution among all Syrian parties

in accordance with Geneva Communique (1) and the Security Council

Resolution (2254) to maintain the unity, sovereignty and stability of Syria,

and we reiterate our rejection of the Israeli decision to perpetuate Israel’s

sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

With regard to Yemen, we believe that the continuation of the conflict

poses a direct threat to regional and international security and peace. We

call on all parties to give priority to the higher interest of the brotherly

Yemeni people and to spare them further suffering. We call on the active

powers of the international community to act on providing the appropriate

conditions for the resumption of the political solution based on the Gulf

Initiative and the outcomes of the National Dialogue and Security Council

Resolution (2216), and to help the Yemeni people conduct an inter-Yemeni

dialogue without foreign interference to realize the aspirations of the

brotherly Yemeni people in security and stability.

Regarding the situations in Libya, we reaffirm the necessity of

achieving national concordance among all components of the Libyan

people without any external interference. We renew our support for the

recognized Government of National Reconciliation and reaching a

comprehensive political settlement that preserves Libya’s sovereignty and

territorial integrity, and fulfills the aspirations of its brotherly people for

security and stability. We affirm that the support of some countries for

those who are outside the political process and international legitimacy is

the main impediment to achieving stability in Libya.

As for the brotherly Sudan, we value the positive steps achieved in the

political process, the latest of which is the formation of the Sudanese

government, and we renew our support for it to meet the aspirations of all

Sudanese people.

Brothers and Sisters,

In conclusion, I pray to Allah to help us all in serving our country, and

to achieve further aspirations of our people for progress and prosperity.

May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you.