Doha, 15 June 2021 – On the occasion of the PAM Official Visit to the State of Qatar, the PAM delegation, led by President Hon. Gennaro Migliore, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the Speaker of the Shura Council of Qatar. The meeting focused on several key political, security, and economic issues.
On the situation in the Middle East, there was an agreement that the international community must continue to build the political momentum for promoting the Two State solution between Israel and Palestine. Meanwhile, further support must be provided to the Palestinians for the continuation of the electoral process that was postponed earlier this year. The Speaker also highlighted Qatar’s financial support for UNRWA as critical for the easing of the humanitarian crisis in the area.
The stabilization and assistance to reconstruction of Libya was noted as a key development for the entire region, in terms of security, as well as for the prevention of tragedies associated with mass irregular migration. The parties reaffirmed the support to the Libyan political process.
PAM President congratulated the Speaker on the passing of the new national law that will pave the way for the forthcoming elections of the Shura Council in October 2021, and offered full support of PAM for any assistance that would help the success of the democratic exercise, including the possible presence of a PAM electoral observer team.
PAM President complimented Qatari efforts on counterterrorism and congratulated the Speaker on the occasion of the opening of the new UN Office of Counterterrorism dedicated to parliamentary action.
The Speaker and the President agreed that combatting corruption is a key priority that underpins all other efforts against crime and instability. The positive and extensive experiences of Qatar and Italy were highlighted, as sharing of national strategies with all countries of the region would be highly beneficial.
The parties also exchanged views on economic issues, as all of the countries of the region are undergoing a recovery from the pandemic crisis.
At the conclusion, it was agreed to further increase the Shura Council’s active participation in the activities of the Assembly. The Secretary General informed the Speaker about the opening of the new PAM Study Centre in San Marino, and invited Qatari recent graduates and young professionals to collaborate with the Study Centre for internships and research opportunities.