Honorable Brothers Members of the Advisory Council,
In the name of God and with His blessing, I declare opening this 30th Ordinary Session of
your esteemed Council.
Brothers,
We meet here today as we usually do every year to start a new session of
the Advisory Council for which we always have great appreciation for the role
it plays in enriching objective dialogue aimed at realizing public interest
and promoting popular participation in the field of legislative policy.
If the Advisory Council is considered to be a basic stage in development of institutions
of the State, I look forward with you as well as our people, to the stage following the
promulgation of the permanent constitution. The committee commissioned with preparing it,
is making an appreciable effort to finalize it at the set date, and include in it the
provisions we all want to see materialize into a society capable of meeting the demands
of its age and keeping pace with future achievements of human progress.
I am confident that the traditions set by the Advisory council in carrying out its
tasks throughout the past years and the varied great experiences it acquired, will lay
a solid foundation for an elected representative council that need not start from
scratch nor grope its way through provisions of the permanent constitution, but rather
find in those traditions and experiences all aid and support to avoid pitfalls, and have
the way lit to realize the expectations we attach to it.
Brothers,
From the beginning of this year, growth in world economy started to
recede, and showed signs of recession. The September 11th events, with their negative
impacts on the different economic activities, added to the risks of continuation of
receding economic growth in industrial countries. This, in turn, had a negative effect
on most countries. The prices of various commodities fell, specially those of oil, since
the slowdown in economic growth in the world led to a fallback in the demand on oil to a
large extent since the beginning of the year, and oil prices are not expected to stabilize
during the coming period.
The rise in oil prices in the previous period had its positive consequences on us;
the additional revenues resulting from the rise in prices were used for repaying
part of the debts accumulated due to repeated deficit in budgets of past years as
well as financing the large industrial projects.
Qatar, just like other regions in the world, was not spared the negative impacts of
this crisis. The fall in world demand on oil and big drop in its prices resulted
in an expected fall in the financial revenues of the State and a decline in the rates
of economic growth.
Brothers,
Our country has gone a long way in the execution of programs aimed at strengthening
the national economy. It has achieved uninterrupted growth in the Hydrocarbons industries
sector. However, we have not realized what we were hoping for in the medium and light
industries sector. These industries primarily depend on private sector activities, since
they do not require large capitals. To activate the role of the private sector in this field,
the State has taken full ownership of the Industrial Development Bank to provide a suitable
mechanism for implementing those projects in cooperation with the private sector. Besides, the
State is working on removing the administrative and bureaucratic obstacles that may impede the
private sector in this field.
We stress our intention and resolve to continue our firmly established policies that are
aimed at the execution of more industrial projects and developing the infra-structure
according to the approved plans and programs, and go on issuing the necessary laws to
encourage direct foreign investment, as well as providing several rewarding incentives
to investors, in addition to promoting the investment climate with the objective of
increasing the contribution of foreign investments in economic projects.
The establishing of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment reflects our
keenness on supporting and activating the economic development process with the aim
of diversification of the production base, along with the necessity of coping with international
developments and benefiting from available opportunities.
Being keen on having our development march encompass all state sectors, the government
is doing its utmost to raise the standard of our educational system and develop scientific
and technological qualification by seeking assistance of international centers of expertise
of recognized efficiency.
In this respect, I must express satisfaction at the good results attained by the 4th WTO
Ministerial Conference held in Doha few days ago, and extend deep thanks to all those
who contributed to making that Conference a success, specially the volunteers, for the
efforts they have exerted.
Brothers,
While emphasising our ingrained Gulf, Arabic and Islamic belonging, we in the State of
Qatar underline our foreign policy priorities on top of which is to strengthen our
relations with the sisterly GCC countries and deepen the bonds of fraternity and integration
with them. We look forward to the coming GCC Summit meeting in the sisterly Sultanate of Oman,
which we hope will be successful and fruitful and come out with positive results for our
countries and peoples. We are certain that the sponsorship of my brother Sultan Qabus Bin Saeed
of this Summit and his wisdom will contribute to its success, and to strengthen solidarity and cohesion and foster the common interests and goals of the people of this region.
All of us have followed the heinous terrorist acts against the United States of America on
September 11th, where thousands of innocent civilians were killed. We have strongly denounced
these acts, and stressed the necessity of chasing their perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
The whole world has become aware of the threat of this criminal phenomenon to the future
of the human race and its progress, prosperity and stability. There is a world consensus on the
necessity to combat this phenomenon and rid the world of its evils. The Islamic countries were
forerunners in this respect. Not only did they collectively condemn these horrendous terrorist
acts at their Emergency Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Doha last month, but also, many years
before, they had endorsed a draft international convention for combating terrorism and called
upon Islamic countries to join. Our Arab and Muslim countries find themselves in a position of
self-defence against suspicious attempts to accuse Arabs and Muslims of terrorism. Terrorism is
not confined to any particular creed, region or race. It is contrary to all heavenly religions,
on top of which is our true Islam which advocates virtue, tolerance and amity and not violence,
hatred and animosity. We hope that the Arab and Muslim states take serious steps to fend off this
unjust accusation, which we should do with all earnestness, adopting objective dialogue based on
sound arguments and presenting the true image of Islam and its role in human civilization.
Brothers,
Our Arab and Muslim countries have a fundamental position on the distinction between
terrorism as a criminal phenomenon and the right of people under the yoke of military
occupation to liberate their lands and practice their legitimate right to self-determination
which is guaranteed by all international conventions, particularly the UN Charter.
In my address to the UN General Assembly, I called for a definitive definition of terrorism
on the above-mentioned basis. We hope that what has been adopted by the Organization of Islamic
Conference in this connection will be the basis for the international effort which the United
Nations will exert in this respect, and that continuous combating of this phenomenon will be
carried out under its leadership in the framework of an international agreement binding on all
countries.
Brothers,
We call upon the international community to remove tension hotbeds all over the world and
settle the chronic problems that threaten world peace and security and provide suitable
soil for violence and extremism. We are confident that reaching a just and lasting settlement
for the Palestinian question that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people
to establish their independent state on their national soil with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its
capital, putting an end to Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights and Israel’s withdrawal
from Lebanese territories to the internationally recognized borders, are the means to restore
security, stability and tranquility to the Middle East so that all its peoples without exception
would enjoy the peace they have lost for so long.
Brothers,
The harsh circumstances and severe suffering of the brotherly Iraqi people stir in us
feelings of pain and bitterness and makes it imperative upon us to probe ways for coming
out of this crisis and finding appropriate political solutions for it that ensure maintaining
the unity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq and achieve security and stability in the region
with the hope that all efforts would join to solve the question of those missing.
Brothers,
While approaching the end of a year that was fraught with conflicting events which brought
many surprises and tragedies that are inconsistent with the spirit of good will and the call
for peace, we have to continue to secure a more prosperous and brighter future; to be armed
with knowledge and faith and the right of humanity to live in freedom and tranquility.
This entails a great deal of effort and devotion.
Let us look to the future of our country with optimism and determination.
For it is with resolve and strong will that we can build the future of our country
and our forthcoming generations.
May God bestow success on you.
May the Peace and Blessing of God be upon you.
