Media Center

Doha - Media & Communication Dept. - September 26

Advisor to Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said Tuesday that the State of Qatar's participation in the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York, was an opportunity to highlight its global role and affirm its belief in international multilateral action, as a foreign policy pillar.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Dr. Al Ansari said that Qatar's participation in foreign international forums was a cornerstone of its diplomatic activities, noting that its participation in the 78th UNGA meetings centered on main issues related to Qatari foreign policy, including mediation and conflict resolution, development issues, and participation in regional meetings.

In a related context, Dr. Al Ansari highlighted HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani's visit to New York, where His Excellency held 18 bilateral meetings with many officials on the sidelines of the UNGA meetings. He added that HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi held seven bilateral meetings.

HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater and HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi held several bilateral meetings, Dr. Al Ansari added.

One of the key meetings in this context was the State of Qatar's participation in the SDGs Summit, funded by the State of Qatar in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), Dr. Al Ansari added, noting that HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi and HE UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed inaugurated the State of Qatars pavilion, which focused on promoting development and peace internationally to achieve SDGs.

Qatari senior officials held over 15 meetings in the UNGA, all of which focused on education, peace and stability, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan, post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery, and support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), as well as other meetings on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), mediation and sustainable development, in addition to the Security Council session on Ukraine, Dr. Al Ansari added.

Dr. Al Ansari highlighted the many paramount side meetings held on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA, such as the participation in several seminars and conferences, including the Middle East Global Summit, and others.

Dr. Al Ansari highlighted HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani's 18 meetings with heads of government and foreign ministers of friendly countries, including meetings with HE Caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon Najib Mikati; HE Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland Leo Varadkar; HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Alexander De Croo; HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mariya Gabriel; HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also held meetings with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Hossein Amirabdollahian, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins; HE Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden Tobias Billstrom; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland, Elina Valtonen; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Yvan Gil Pinto; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyar Saidov; and HE Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Jens Plotner, Dr. Al Ansari added. 

The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held a number of meetings with: HE United States' Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, HE United States' Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, HE Special Representative of US President for Afghanistan Thomas Wes, HE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, HE Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, HE President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljari, and Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates.

Dr. Al Ansari added that HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in a number of meetings and events, most notably the opening session of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and the ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council with the United States of America. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HH President of the International Peace Institute Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad Al Hussein, and HE High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell hosted a ministerial dinner on the Middle East, he added.

The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted the participation of HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi in a number of meetings held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UNGA, including: the annual ministerial consultative meeting of the ministerial council of the Arab League, the ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with the Association of Caribbean States, the ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with the United Kingdom, the ministerial meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on the coordination mechanism for development assistance to Palestine, the Security Council session on Ukraine, the preparatory ministerial meeting for the 'Summit of the Future', the annual ministerial meeting of the least developed countries, the meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission at the ministerial level on the new Peacebuilding Agenda, and annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 (G77).

Dr. Al Ansari stated that HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs met with a number of officials on the sidelines of the UNGA meetings, including: HE Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Timothy M. Kabba, HE Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konakovic, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua Denis Moncada Colindres, and HE High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, and HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ali Sabri.

The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater took part in a number of international forums, including: the High-Level meeting on Global Development Initiative (GDI) Cooperation outcomes for the Sustainable Development Goals, High-level Ministerial Event in Support of the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region, High-level Dialogue of the United Nations General Assembly on Financing for Development, in the 22nd annual meeting of foreign ministers of landlocked developing countries, and ministerial meeting of main partners to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

He added that HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a number of officials on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UNGA, including: HE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Portuguese Republic Francisco Andre, HE Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, and HE Minister of International Development in Canada Ahmed Hussen.
Dr. Al Ansari noted the participation of HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi in a number of meetings held on the sidelines of the 78th UNGA meetings, including: in the ministerial meeting on "Peace Day Effort: An Effort for Middle East Peace, the 18th ministerial meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, under the theme of "Sustainable Post-Pandemic Recovery", the 13th ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Mediation, and the annual coordination meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

He explained that HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a number of officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, including: HE Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda Dr. Vincent Biruta, HE Lord of Wimbledon and Minister of State for the Middle East, and South Asia and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad, and HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia Abshir Omar Jama.

In addition, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Qatari air bridge completed mission in delivering aid to brothers affected by floods and torrents in eastern Libya as the seventh and eighth planes arrived at Benina Airport in Benghazi last Sunday carrying 58 tons of humanitarian and relief assistance as an urgent response to the current humanitarian situation.

He added that the assistance included shelter essentials, electricity generators, foodstuff, as well as relief and medical items provided by the Standing Committee for Rescue and Relief Works and Humanitarian Aids for Afflicted Areas in Brotherly and Friendly Countries, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Qatar Red Crescent Society, alongside Qatar Charity, bringing the total Qatari assistance to those affected to 267 tons.