UPU Director General Praises Qatari Efforts as Congress Hosts

Doha, September 24 (QNA) - Director General of Universal Postal Union (UPU) Edouard Dayan expressed Monday his thanks to HH the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and to the State of Qatar for working to ensure the 25th Universal Postal Congress was a success. Dayan stressed his belief during his opening remarks that the Congress, held in Qatar this year, was going to be a "memorable one." He also praised the growing role Qatar was playing in hosting different internationally-renowned gatherings and meetings, expressing the UPU's gratitude for Qatar's continuing support to the Union. He praised choosing the Sidra tree, the Symbolic tree of Qatar, saying that it was the "perfect symbol" for the Congress as well. Dayan quoted the words of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser "With its roots bound in the soil of this world, and its branches reaching upwards toward perfection, the Sidra tree is also a symbol of solidarity and determination". He called on delegates of the Congress to be inspired by the symbol and exchange ideas, knowledge and opinions in order to aid the postal sector make the progress it needs to face changes taking place across the globe. The Director General said that the world has changed drastically since the last congress in Geneva back on 2008. It changed in terms of the economic and financial crisis has affected all countries, he added. Dayan maintained also that transformations had gone beyond economic levels to security issues and migration as well as the technological advancements. He stressed that delegates in the conference would have to come up with bold ideas to help make the progress necessary for the postal sector to adapt to the new changes taking place. (QNA)