Qatar has said it seeks to achieve sustainable development with all its economic, social and environmental dimensions.
Addressing the general debate of the Economic and Financial Committee of the UN General Assembly, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations Ahmed bin Saif al-Kuwari referred to the Permanent Constitution of Qatar and national legislations which attach great importance to issues related to economic growth, social development, preservation of the environment, and women’s empowerment as a fundamental pillar of development.
He noted that 2015 witnessed numerous milestones, particularly the adoption of the sustainable development plan for 2030, the 21st Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), and the World Humanitarian Summit.
He said that the experience of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals demonstrates that achieving those goals requires mobilisation of the necessary means and promoting an effective international co-operation and a global partnership in order to create an international environment favourable for development, taking into account the different countries’ capacities and levels of development, and the respect for national policies and priorities.
He noted that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions is one of the major challenges in achieving a sustainable and comprehensive development, which requires efforts that are commensurate with the gravity of this scourge, noting that there is still more than a billion people living in extreme poverty in the world.
Al-Kuwari said that Qatar National Vision 2030 identified the economic, social, human and environmental objectives to implement the national strategy for the overall development.
The first phase of the strategy was completed for the period 2011 to 2016. The second phase will be launched soon for the period 2017 to 2022.
He stressed the important role of trade as a key instrument to achieve the goals of sustainable development, noting that making progress in the multilateral trade negotiations, as stated in the Doha Round, is a necessary issue to revitalise the global partnership for the sustainable development.
The Third Secretary of Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the UN warned that growing conflicts and humanitarian crises in the world have led to unprecedented levels of refugees and migrants.
He said Qatar was contributing to the international efforts seeking to find solutions to this problem, and stressed the need to deal with the causes of those crises, and to find quick and sustainable solutions, including the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The official also shed light on several challenges facing the world, including the unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, land degradation, desertification, water scarcity and drought, and called for exerting more efforts and for strengthening co-operation at the national, regional and international levels, in order to increase food production, achieve agricultural development and food security, and alleviate poverty.
He praised the initiative launched by Qatar “Global Dryland Alliance” which seeks to combat desertification and drought, and preserve the environment.
Al-Kuwari said Israel is still pursuing its repressive practices and discriminatory policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, in a clear violation of the international law.
He added that the Israeli practices deprive the Palestinian people of their natural resources, affect the various economic sectors, and undermine peace, stability and sustainable development.
He called on the international community to support the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan to obtain permanent sovereignty over their natural resources.