news

Qatari Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the 15th Doha Forum and the Enriching the Middle East's Economic Future Conference at Sheraton Doha today, attended by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Advisory Council Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, Information Minister Ramzi Jreij representing Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Iraqi Vice-President Iyad Allawi, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Former President of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki.

The opening ceremony also took place in the presence of scores of officials and Ministers in addition to heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar, including Lebanon's Ambassador to Qatar Hassan Najem.
The three-day Forum meetings shall take up crucial issues related to democracy, political reform , development, political and religious extremism, security, economy, trade and energy, impartiality in coverage of crises and human rights.

In his inaugural speech, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani said that the desired security and stability for the Middle East and also for all peoples can only be achieved when the international community, particularly the Security Council, takes just positions on important problems facing the world today, stressing the importance of fair settlement of disputes and chronic regional crises, which continue to drain energies around the world.

Sheikh Al-Thani went on to say that "peace is the optimal and strategic choice for the Middle East region and that there will be no peace and stability in the region until there is an end to Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories and giving the Palestinian people their rights, including the right to establish their own independent State, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital on the 1967 borders in accordance with the decisions of the Arab and international legitimacy”.

"The inability of the Security Council to resolve several disputes has resulted in the failure of the collective security system, which would lead to the creation of an environment conducive to violence and instability and make it impossible to achieve security and stability or promote democracy or human rights," Sheikh Al-Thani said in his inaugural speech.

The Sheikh added that the international community, especially the UN Security Council (UNSC) failed to end the Syrian crisis despite the continued suffering of the Syrian people due to the destruction, genocide and displacement, calling on the UNSC to shoulder its responsibilities and take the necessary legal measures to preserve the security of the Syrian people and realize their legitimate aspiration according to Geneva 1 conference's decisions.

Moreover, the Sheikh said that "The phenomenon of terrorism poses a real threat to international peace and security and damages the economies of target countries. Terrorism hinders sustainable development of nations," considering that realizing peoples' aspirations leads to the provision of security as well as political and social stability, thus achieving comprehensive development.

The inaugural ceremony also included words delivered respectively by Iraqi Vice-President Iyad Allawi, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, Former President of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki.
A dinner banquet was also held in the wake of the inaugural ceremony in honor of participating delegations.