In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Distinguished brothers, members of the Shura Council
In the name of God Almighty, and with His blessing and guidance, I hereby open the Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of your honorable Council.
Our celebration this year coincides with an occasion that we all cherish and value – the twenty-fifth anniversary of Qatar’s independence. A quarter of a century has elapsed since this historic national event, and the shape of life has changed completely in our country. Now, as we stand on the brink of a new era in which we look forward to the twenty first century, during which we wish to achieve an appropriate status for ourselves, it is necessary for us to build on the experience of past years to further its positive aspects, and to avoid any negative aspects that may have marred it, so that we can build a strong and proud future on firm and secure foundations.
Distinguished brothers,
In the field of organizing the State, as independence took effect, the temporary Provisional Constitution that amended governance in Qatar was issued. It comprised the fundamental policy of the State and regulated its executive, legislative and judicial powers as well as the principles governing their practice of their constitutional functions. The principles of the temporary Provisional Constitution fulfilled their requirements during the period in which they were issued, and were appropriate for the requirements of Qatari society, its customs and traditions. They were also in line with considerations of gradual change, which should be heeded.
However, we think that it is time to issue a permanent constitution that will take account of the development that the country has experienced in various fields over the past quarter of a century. By means of such constitution, we will deepen our pioneering experience of popular participation and boost the role of such participation in formulating and implementing state policies. We will also enhance the ability of the State’s executive, legislative and judicial powers to carry out their tasks with competence and capability. This would raise the standard of the government performance as a whole, and enable it to fulfill its role of providing public services, furthering the development process and serving citizens.
Pending the issuance of a permanent constitution, we have actually begun to take basic steps in this regard. In keeping with the provisions of Article 21 of the Amended Provisional Constitution, we have issued provisions on the inheritance of governance of the State in order to complete the constitutional elements regulating this matter. After consulting with the country’s top decision makers and obtaining their approval, His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has been appointed as heir apparent. We also issued Amiri decrees last month to amend some provisions of the Provisional Constitution in the Council of Ministers, following which a new cabinet headed by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani was formed. These amendments included new rules governing the cabinet’s fulfillment of its tasks to ensure the increased efficiency and speed of executive work.
In my letter of appointment to His Highness the Prime Minister, I specified the tasks and duties of the new cabinet. These comprise improving the standard of Government performance, and completing the formulation of the human and material development plans and programs that we have launched. This will be done by giving these plans a new push that will put us, as we are about to enter the twenty first century, on the right path to deal with the new century’s circumstances, to benefit from its achievements, to strengthen the State’s foreign policy accomplishments and to preserve independent national decision-making in a manner that protects the country’s higher interests. Our ultimate goal is to achieve comprehensive development, progress for our country and prosperity for our people. We must all seek to achieve these lofty goals for our people, searching for all possible means to do so. Chief of these means is changing the method and style of government performance, in order to increase its efficiency and speed and to overcome the obstacles that it faces. In the same context, we will revise existing legislation to achieve a legislative breakthrough that will liberate the government and private activity from all obstacles.
We are convinced of the importance of consultation and the distinctive role performed by the Shura Council in expressing the opinions and expectations of citizens, assisting in the formulation and ratification of the policies adopted by the state, debating the legislation put forward by the government, expressing opinions and making recommendations regarding that legislation. This adds to and enriches public work, and constitutes complete attention to the public good, which we all seek to achieve. We have therefore introduced changes to the Amended Temporary Constitution to raise the number of Shura Council members from thirty to thirty-five. This is another step towards supporting and deepening popular participation and bolstering the institutions of the state.
With regard to the judicial power, which is accessed through the courts in accordance with the Amended Temporary Constitution, we believe in the need to develop the work of the courts and to simplify the procedures of litigation to guarantee the speedy handling of cases, so that justice may be obtained by those who deserve it under simplified principles, because slow justice, as they say, is a kind of injustice. The Ministry of Justice has finished preparing the laws necessary to achieve those goals, and they will be presented to the cabinet, and then to the Shura Council in the near future. To achieve the same goals, we felt that it was necessary to establish specific and clear rules defining the competencies of the religious courts and the civil courts in order to facilitate matters for citizens and to prevent overlap and conflicts in their areas of competence in the interest of achieving justice speedily. The judiciary is a major pillar of governance, and the judicial system must be supported in the interest of citizens and to ensure the stability of their dealings.
Distinguished members of the Shura Council,
We firmly believe that allowing an opportunity for freedom of expression is not only necessary for increasing the efficient participation of citizens in the affairs of their country, but that it is also one of the most important factors in the success of national action and the correctness of decisions taken within its context. Moreover, thought and creativity only prosper in an atmosphere that guarantees freedom of expression and that does not constrain thought. Hence, our decision to cancel censorship of the press and to disband the Ministry of Information was aimed at ensuring that the media would not be controlled, that all forms of free thought would find a means of expression and that our issues would be debated in a manner that would ultimately achieve the good of the country and its citizens.
Within the same context, and as I affirmed in my speech before you last year, we issued Law Number 11 of 1996 to amend the bylaws of Qatar’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so that membership of its board of directors would be determined by election, rather than by appointment, so that this important sector of society would enjoy full freedom in choosing those who are in charge of speaking on its behalf and catering for its interests.
We also prepared a draft law for the Central Municipal Council, which has been presented to the cabinet, and we will take the necessary steps to issue it soon. The draft law states that membership of this council is determined by election, not by appointment. This is to ensure the full participation of citizens in choosing members of the council, and their oversight of its work, which is closely linked to issues that affect the everyday life of citizens.
Our steps will continue along this path, God willing, to develop the political, economic, administrative and social institutions of the state as we establish strong foundations for a big leap in all fields.
Distinguished brothers,
As you know, the basic problem confronting us is the need to provide the necessary financial resources to cover public expenditures and the large production projects that the state is undertaking, particularly in the oil, gas and infrastructure sectors, under the difficult current economic and financial circumstances resulting from the fall in oil prices, as you all know. Despite the recent improvement in oil prices, the main dimensions of the problem remain unchanged, particularly since the improvement in prices is not steady and continuous. Rather, such an improvement is usually followed by a fall in prices, which fluctuate continuously. Given this situation, it is impossible to make firm plans that can be relied upon for a long period.
Last year, we succeeded, with God’s help, in dealing with these prevalent circumstances by resorting to several means, including the rationalization and limiting of public spending and a reduction in the burdens shouldered by the government apparatus.
Despite these difficult economic circumstances, our commitment to implementing our development plan has not been affected. Last year, with God’s help, we scored several significant achievements, particularly in the natural gas and oil sectors. The construction of Ras Laffan Port was completed, God be praised. It is considered as one of the largest terminals in the world for exporting liquefied natural gas, and we will begin exporting next January, God willing. Moreover, our oil production capacity has increased, reversing the previous decline in our national oil output. In addition, we are studying several important development projects, particularly in the industrial sector, with the aim of developing existing industries, boosting their production capacity, or establishing new industries. We will prepare the schedules necessary for implementing those projects successively in the coming years with a view to supporting and enhancing our national economy and increasing our national income and diversifying its sources. The establishment of firm foundations for a strong national economy that will achieve the high living standards that we want for our citizens in the present and future is at the top of our priorities. You may notice, for example, a certain slowing of the pace in some non-essential aspects. However, in the context of the priorities to which I have referred, we are of course avoiding conspicuous spending without affecting the necessary requirements of public facilities.
Distinguished brothers,
Believing in the vital role of the private sector in achieving economic development, we have worked to provide it with all the means necessary to develop and enhance its participation in the country’s gross national production. In this regard, we issued the Law on Industrial Regulation, which aims to encourage the role of the private sector in the manufacturing process. We are also working to take the necessary steps to establish the Industrial Development Bank, and to implement the Law on the Establishment of the Doha Stock Market, because these two establishments will play a crucial role in developing and activating the private sector’s role in this field.
In the context of developing basic laws relating to transactions and rendering them more suitable for the requirements of this era, we have formed two committees to prepare two new laws, one for civil transactions, and the other for commercial transactions. Both committees have almost completed their work, and we will shortly undertake the necessary measures to submit the two draft laws to the cabinet and the Shura Council to be debated and issued.
Development undoubtedly requires one of the most important elements, namely human development, which is at the top of our priorities. You are all aware of our interest in developing education in our country, and our focus on providing all the necessary resources to do so, because we believe that the progress and advancement that we seek for our country is conditioned by our ability to improve and develop our educational institutions. The supreme committee formed to monitor educational policy has completed its report and proposals in the light of society’s needs and future aspirations. We have actually begun to establish and adopt the necessary policies in this regard in the light of these proposals.
Distinguished members of the Shura Council,
Regarding our foreign policy, the State of Qatar has continued to adopt the tenets and principles that it formulated for itself within the context of its Gulf, Arab and Islamic commitments. Foremost of these is enhancing our sense of belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and ensuring that it achieves the goals for which it was established: integration, cooperation and coordination amongst our states in a manner that meets our peoples’ legitimate aspirations and expectations of development and prosperity. I would like to seize this opportunity to express our pleasure to welcome in Doha the Seventeenth Summit of GCC’s Supreme Council to be held next December. I hope that the Summit produces a practical strategy for the future that will enable us to achieve the goals and aims towards which our peoples aspire, and that strengthens the foundations of development in member States, enhancing their security and stability.
We have always affirmed the need to resolve disagreements between countries peacefully to guarantee the security of our Gulf region and preserve the historic relations amongst its members. I therefore call for resolving the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the three islands through peaceful means. This includes resorting to international arbitration if negotiations and other means fail to achieve an acceptable resolution.
With regard to the Middle East peace process and the negative developments that have affected it, we have clearly affirmed the need for Israel to respect the agreements that it has concluded with the Palestinian Authority; to refrain from any measures to alter the geographic and demographic characteristics of Arab Jerusalem as defined by its boundaries prior to the 4th of June 1967; to freeze colonialist settlement activity in the occupied territories and for the achievement of progress in the Syrian and Lebanese negotiating tracks so that the peace process can achieve the desired result of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, the reference framework of Madrid, and the principle of land in exchange for peace. There is no doubt that full responsibility before the international community for the lack of commitment to these principles and the hindering of peace efforts lies with the Israeli government.
Distinguished members of the Shura Council,
To conclude my speech, I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for your much-appreciated and valued efforts to help the government to perform its tasks, and for the sincere opinions and enlightened thought that you have contributed regarding all issues presented to your honorable council. I wish you success in the fulfillment of your mission in the service of your country and its citizens.
May peace and God’s mercy and blessing be upon you.
Thank you.