QNA
Ankara
The State of Qatar, represented by the Shura Council, has been elected as the vice president of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly for the period of 2024-2025. This significant achievement followed elections held during the Executive Committee meetings of the Assembly, hosted by the city of Antalya, Turkey, over a two-day period.
This appointment follows the success of Council Member HE Eng. Ahmed bin Hitmi Al Hitmi, who was elected as the head of the Permanent Committee on Budget and Planning of the Assembly for the same period. It is noteworthy that the heads of the Assembly’s permanent committees automatically assume vice-presidential roles.
Azerbaijan secured the presidency of the Assembly, while Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Russia claimed the vice presidency positions due to their victories in chairing the Assembly’s permanent committees.
The win reaffirms Qatar’s significant role in parliamentary diplomacy and acknowledges Shura Council’s diligent efforts in enhancing parliamentary cooperation, contributing to fostering interconnectedness and communication among nations.
On the second day of the Executive Council meeting, the delegation of the Shura Council presented proposals and viewpoints on amending the Assembly’s charter to enhance its operations and effectiveness. The attendees decided to form a committee responsible for developing the Assembly’s foundational documents, with Qatar’s participation.
During the meeting, approval was also granted for the formation of a permanent committee dedicated to supporting the Palestinian cause, chaired by Palestine.
Engineer Ahmed bin Hitmi Al Hitmi emphasised during his intervention at the meeting the necessity of supporting people in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories amidst the egregious aggression they face.
He called on Assembly members to take practical steps towards achieving peace in Gaza by urging governments to ensure Israel’s commitment to the humanitarian ceasefire, resulting from Qatar’s efforts, to serve as a basis for ending the war and stopping the bloodshed.
He also highlighted Qatar’s efforts under the leadership of the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in supporting the resilience of Palestinians and ensuring protection against aggression while facilitating aid delivery to them.
The Shura Council’s delegation participating in the meeting include HE Yousuf bin Ahmed Al Sada and HE Nasser bin Mutrif Al Hammadi.
