Doha: The Shura Council held Monday its regular weekly session at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the Council's premises, under the chairmanship of HE Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
At the outset of the session, the Council welcomed the outcomes of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's state visit to the Sultanate of Oman on January 28, 29, praising the talks and the executive programs and memoranda of understanding signed during the visit to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
The Council stressed the visit would contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership in a way that achieves the common interests of the two countries.
Moreover, the Council hailed HH the Amir's official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic on Thursday (January 30), the first such a trip by a head of state to the Syrian capital since the fall of the former regime.
The Council emphasized the visit reflects Qatar's steadfast commitment to support Syrian people, particularly during this pivotal moment in Syria's history, highlighting Qatar's role, under HH the Amir's leadership, in aiding the Syrian people and fulfilling their aspirations and stressing Qatars dedication to Syrias stability to assume its active regional and international roles.
Meanwhile, the Council expressed its categorical rejection of calls to transfer the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip, dismissing them as a flagrant violation of international legitimacy resolutions and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, citing in this context the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forcible transfer of protected persons from occupied territories, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies forced displacement as a war crime that requires prosecution.
The Council stated that the displacement of the Palestinian people and the deprivation of their rights threaten security and stability in the region, reiterating that the only guarantee for achieving sustainable peace in the region is to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the restoration of rights to the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Then, HE Shura Council Secretary-General Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud presented the agenda of the session, during which the minutes of the previous session were approved.
During the session, the Council approved an amended draft law regulating health research and referred it to the esteemed government, after debating the Health, General Services and Environment Committee's report.
In this regard, the Council detailed a government bill on regulating meteorological activities and services and referred it to the Health, General Services and Environment Committee for further study.
On the other hand, the Council discussed reports on the participation of some of Their Excellencies the Council Members in parliamentary events held in November 2024. These events included the 10th briefing session for parliamentarians on United Nations Operations (virtual), attended by HE Shura Council Deputy Speaker Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, the Arab Parliament Dialogue on protecting older persons from violence, abuse, and neglect (virtual), attended by HE Khalid bin Abbas Kamal Al Emadi and the Cairo-held Parliamentarians Roundtable Meeting as part of the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), attended by HE Ali bin Ahmed Al Kaabi.
Moreover, the Council was briefed on the participation of its delegation in the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings in Geneva in October 2024.
At the end of the session, HE Al Ghanim informed the members about the visit of HE President of the Malaysian Senate, Senator Dato' Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, to the state, at the invitation of the Shura Council.
His Excellency said the visit and the associated meetings and talks reflected the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries, and confirmed the Council's keenness to enhance parliamentary cooperation with friendly countries, facilitating the exchange of parliamentary expertise and supporting joint efforts for mutual interests.
The session was attended by a number of school students.
