It gives me pleasure to meet with you at the beginning of the new annual legislative session of your esteemed Council to evaluate the performance of the year before and review the general outline of our future programs.

Honourable Brothers,

      The economic growth that took place in our country during the last ten years is still on the rise. The level of the Gross Domestic Product in 2005 reached about 237% of its level in 2001; i.e. it has doubled in less than four years. The growth rate during last year alone reached more than 30%. This improvement applies also to most of the basic macro economic indexes, such as the balance of trade, the balance of payments and the general budget, the reserves of which hit record levels.

      However, the rate of inflation that started to rise in 2004 continued in the same direction during 2005 and the second half of 2006. This rise is due to several causes, such as the international increase in prices of imports and the high growth of Qatar economy in the last few years which led to a number of bottlenecks where the supply could not fully satisfy the increasing demand. The rise in prices in the housing sector was one of the most important elements in this inflation which was reflected on other sectors such as the foodstuffs, services and hotels.

      The government took a number of measures to curb this rise in the housing sector that were, obviously, not enough. Therefore, we will intensify the efforts to combat this phenomenon which we are fully aware of its grave impacts on Qatar economy, in general, and local and foreign investments, domestic spending, the budgets of authorities and public and private institutions as well as on the purchasing power of a large segment of citizens and residents, in particular.

      At the same time, great expansion continued in establishing large projects in the oil, gas, petrochemicals and heavy industries. During 2006, Qatar witnessed the conclusion of agreements and the laying of the foundation stone and launching of a number of various gigantic projects that included a condensates refinery, an aluminum smelter and gas- to- liquids plants, ethylene and poly-ethylene production, and the production of gas to meet the growing local needs. They also included the expansion of Ras Laffan Port, the construction of a dry dock for ship repairs and manufacture of supportive materials.

Honourable Members of the Advisory Council,

      In the other economic fields, we started to expand investing our monetary surpluses abroad in order to diversify the economy and reduce risks, and to build a sufficient reserve for future generations. We are also continuing to work on motivating the private sector and enhancing its role in development, as well as modifying the necessary economic laws to encourage investment, strengthen competition, prevent monopolistic practices and organize commercial and financial events, the last of which was the amendment of the trade and companies laws to allow non-Qatari capital to establish companies owned totally by non-Qataris in several fields.

      One of our basic goals throughout the last ten years within the framework of the sustainable development of our country was to build a solid base for a strong national economy capable of competition, that takes the international changes into account. We thank God that we have achieved good results which qualify us for a new phase of advancing towards the realization of further achievements in different fields.

      Scientific research, Brothers, was not far from our thinking as we pursue our economic progress. In fact we regard increasing investment in it as a prerequisite for raising the rates of development. That is why 2.8% of the GDP will be allotted to supporting scientific research which will enable us to maximize benefiting from our natural resources, develop technologies aimed at reducing production costs, attaining high quality and safety standards, encouraging local investments and developing our human resources. This is in addition to the expansion already done in technical and industrial education, the opening of a number of colleges and universities of international calibre and the ongoing reform of Qatar University, which included its attainment of financial and administrative autonomy, the increase of its fund allocations to scientific research and the acquirement of international accreditation for a number of its programs in accordance with international academic standards.

      The consolidation of security in areas not far from us, and reducing the rates of legal and illegal immigration to them will be affected by the democratic process in our area, because the success of the democratic project is essential for addressing the manifestations of tyranny and corruption that still devour the peoples fortunes, deprive them of their rights and push some of its citizens to extremism and alienation.

      Sports, in its turn, has received significant share of our attention since it is not mere physical activities - despite its importance - but it is also one of the means of advancing the economy and a channel for communication and deepening understanding among nations, in addition to being an important form of tourism in the world at large.

Honourable Brothers,

      As regards our foreign policy, it is ,as you know, committed to our national principles supporting the causes of our Arab and Muslim nations, enhancing the march of the Gulf Cooperation Council, rallying a united Arab stance that serves our national issues within the frame of the Arab League. We exert every possible effort to maintain security and stability in our region, which suffers severe conflicts and chronic problems. Unfortunately, brotherly Iraq is still suffering from difficult conditions due to the acts of violence which result in tens of victims of its citizens everyday. Therefore, we support and uphold all sincere efforts aiming at leading Iraq out of its plight and maintaining its security, unity and territorial integrity.

      The recent Israeli aggression on Lebanon has clearly revealed the gravity and volatility of the situation in the Middle East due to the resort to military force instead of seeking peaceful means to reach a just settlement of conflicts that meets the aspirations of the region’s peoples to a durable and comprehensive peace.

      The absence of a just solution of the Palestinian cause and the great sufferings by the brotherly people of Palestine that goes beyond all imagination, are the real causes of the aggravation and diversity of conflicts in the Middle East.

      Hence it is the obligation of the international community to give top priority to reaching a just solution of this cause in accordance with international legality, since temporary solutions or partial settlements are no longer adequate or acceptable if this area has to enjoy security and stability.

      We also hope that the international community would extend every possible support to brotherly Sudan to reach a peaceful solution of the ongoing crisis in Darfour particularly as the Sudanese government has actually taken several positive steps in this direction. We also hope that the brothers in Somalia would reach an agreed upon solution that ends their differences and restores security and stability to their country and saves it against further division and sufferings.

      As regards the nuclear program of Iran which is of high concern to our region, we reiterate necessity of settlement of this question peacefully and by continuing international dialogue with Iran.

      In adherence to our firm principles of respecting international legality, and settling disputes by peaceful means we as a member of the Security Council, and through our diplomatic relations, have been striving to exert every possible effort to contribute to the finding solutions for all these issues and contain their explosive consequences which over-burden the peoples of the region with no exception; and hamper their way to a better future.

Honourable Brothers,

      Thank you all for your sincere efforts in serving your country and I wish you continued success and well-being.

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.