Speaker of Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, addressing guests at the reception. Pic:Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Speaker of Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, has said that preparations for hosting 140th session of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Qatar from April 6 to 10 were complete.
H E the Speaker said that the theme of 140th session of the General Assembly of the IPU will be ‘parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law’ in order to highlight the importance of education.
H E the Speaker of Shura Council yesterday met with Ambassadors and Heads of diplomatic missions as part of the ongoing preparations for holding the 140th session of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
He said that the preparations would provide all that was required to ensure a positive outcome of the joint parliamentary work. He said that the session would contribute to strengthening international cooperation, establish peace and prosperity worldwide.
“The complicated conditions that many regions around the world face today require a high-level international participation in this year’s general assembly in order to reflect the role of parliaments in representing the hopes and aspirations of people,” the Speaker said
H E the Speaker said that formal invitations to parliaments had been dispatched through a mechanism of IPU and Qatar would also sent copies of those invitations to all embassies accredited to the State of Qatar and Qatar’s embassies and diplomatic missions abroad.
The Ambassadors during a reception by Speaker of Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, on the occasion of 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Associated Meetings yesterday. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
“I look forward to hosting Their Excellencies Heads of Parliaments and participating delegations, in order to work with them on achieving the goals of the IPU and to enhance cooperation and friendship ties between all parliaments of the world,” he added.
Talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event, the Ambassadors of various countries appreciated Qatar’s hosting of IPU General Assembly session.
Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar, Fikret Ozer, said that it would be a big event which would prove important for all nations. “I am happy that Qatar is hosting IPU session which will be beneficial for all participating countries including Turkey,” he added.
Ewa Polano, Ambassador of Sweden to Qatar said that she was glad that Qatar was hosting the IPU General Assembly session which she said showed Qatar’s interest to reach out to the world.
“It will be a big event and the theme of the IPU session is also great. What Qatar already done in field of education is highly impressive,” she said, adding that a delegation of 11 to 12 parliamentarians from Sweden would participate in the session.
The Ambassador said that the Swedish parliamentarians’ delegation would also hold separate meeting with some ministers in Qatar during its stay in Qatar.
Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Qatar, said: “I am happy that Qatar is hosting the IPU General Assembly session and the theme of this year’s session is very good which highlights importance of education.”
She said that five members of parliament from The Netherlands would attend the session which she said would be a very ‘rewarding programme’.
Ambassador of Germany to Qatar, Hans-Udo Muzel, said that a strong delegation of members of the parliament of Germany would attend the IPU session. “Vice President of German Parliament will also participate in the session with 8 to 10 members of the parliament,” he added.
