Baku, June 24 (QNA) – HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim affirmed that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, continues its efforts to entrench the approach of dialogue and diplomacy, believing that disputes can only be resolved through negotiation, in a manner that preserves sovereignty, good neighborliness, and the rules of international law, stressing that dialogue and negotiation remain the best means for addressing crises, settling disputes, and promoting security and stability in the region.
This came in his speech before the 20th session of the Conference of the Union of Councils of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which began its work on Wednesday in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, and concludes on Thursday.
His Excellency pointed out that these efforts resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to the launch of negotiations between the two sides through Qatari-Pakistani mediation, which paves the way for de-escalation, enhancing security and stability, and opening broader horizons for cooperation and understanding in the region.
He added that the State of Qatar, despite what it has been subjected to of aggression, has remained committed to dialogue and diplomacy, believing that stability can only be achieved through understanding and cooperation, expressing his aspiration for a new phase of stability in which the smooth flow of navigation and global trade is restored, and in which efforts are directed towards strengthening regional security and achieving the aspirations of its peoples for development and prosperity.
HE the Speaker of the Shura Council noted in his speech that this conference represents an important platform for enhancing cooperation between Islamic councils and parliaments, and embodying what the noble Islamic religion calls for in terms of cooperation, harmony, and rejection of dispute and hatred, praising in this regard the efforts exerted by the Union of Councils of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in supporting joint Islamic parliamentary work, strengthening coordination between the councils of member states, and supporting their presence in international parliamentary forums.
He stressed that cooperation, coordination, and rejection of dispute are all matters that represent the most effective path to achieving common goals, calling for not paying attention to voices that question the unity of Islamic countries or seek to sow division among their peoples.
In this context, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council referred to the success achieved through coordination within the Islamic group in introducing an emergency item to the agenda of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was held in Istanbul, Turkiye, in April last year, explaining that this achievement came through an initiative led by the State of Qatar and supported by brotherly and friendly countries, reflecting the ability of Islamic parliaments to take initiative and influence when visions are united and efforts are integrated.
He explained that the emergency item focused on mobilizing international parliamentary efforts to support ceasefire, promote peaceful paths, ensure the protection of civilians, and push towards sustainable political solutions to ongoing conflicts, in addition to emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and the opening of international waterways, in light of the escalating crises in the world and their serious humanitarian and economic repercussions, stressing that the success of introducing the aforementioned item reflects the belief of the peoples of the world in the necessity of stopping conflicts and wars, and that dialogue and negotiation remain the best means for addressing crises and settling disputes.
On the Palestinian issue, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause will remain the primary and central issue of the Islamic nation until the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among which is the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He condemned, in a related context, the continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian territories and the violations affecting Lebanon and Syria, stressing the need to unify parliamentary efforts to support just causes and enhance their presence in international forums.
In conclusion, His Excellency expressed his thanks to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the good hospitality and organization, expressing his aspiration that the conference deliberations will contribute to strengthening cooperation between member councils and parliaments, supporting common positions, and serving the causes of the Islamic nation.
In a related context, Their Excellencies Members of the Shura Council Saad bin Ahmed Al Misnad and Khalid bin Abbas Kamal Al Emadi, participated in a number of meetings accompanying the conference, including the Gulf coordination meeting, the Arab and Asian consultative meetings, as well as the 14th meeting of the Standing Committee on Palestine and the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
The conference discusses over two days a range of topics on its agenda related to enhancing parliamentary cooperation and coordination between member states, in addition to a number of political, economic, and social issues of common interest, following up on the work of the union’s standing committees, and reviewing organizational and administrative matters related to its work. (QNA)
