Qatar Achieved Most MDGs, Surpassed Advanced Countries: Report

Doha, January 09 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals before the deadline of 2015, and even has outdone advanced countries in the Human Development Index, the 4th national report on Qatar's MDGs 2012 revealed. The report, released Wednesday by Qatar Statistics Authority and the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Institute, discussed accomplishments in the eight MDGs adopted in 2000 by the U.N., namely: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development. In a press conference held today to celebrate the launch of the report, QSA President HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani said the achievements realized on this front are the result of tremendous efforts exerted over the past few years from the different quarters to embody the visions and directives of Qatar's wise leadership. He went on to say that the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Development Strategy 2011 2016 match some of the MDGs, which enhances cooperation and integration of the different sectors, whether public, private or civil, for further achievements and to address the challenges that might hinder the appropriate accomplishment of some goals. Qatar has begun to focus on the integration of the goals of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to MDGs, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani said, pointing in this regard to the efforts of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who as a UNAOC High Level Group member, stressed the importance of building bridges between the Alliance and MDGs. "Currently, there is full coordination in how the interaction between the UNAOC goals and the MDGs should be like, and we will cooperate with the High Representative for the UNAOC HE Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser to achieve this," said the QSA president. (QNA)