Advisory Council Speaker Highlights Qatar Achievements at AIPU Conference

Kuwait, April 09 (QNA) - Qatar has taken significant steps forward in several fields such as boosting popular participation, enhancing the role of women and establishing civil society institutions that support freedom of expression and transparency, HE the Advisory (Shura) Council Speaker Mohamed bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi said on Tuesday HE Al-Khulaifi told the 19th conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU), currently underway in Kuwait, that Qatar also gives special attention to human rights in line with principles of Islamic jurisdiction and Qatari norms and traditions, noting that the state has achieved comprehensive developmental renaissance thanks to the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He said the conference is taking place amid extremely complicated circumstances, pointing to the tragedy in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Jerusalem. In this regard, HE the Advisory Council speaker underlined the Israeli policy of killing, destruction, detainment and violations, pointing to the torture and the inhuman ill treatment of Palestinian prisoners, which violates international human rights law. He pointed to the stances of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in relation to the Palestinian cause, especially his historic visit to the Gaza Strip to break the siege. HE the Advisory Council speaker also highlighted HH the Emir's initiative during the recent Arab summit in Doha to create a $1-billion fund in support for Jerusalem, where HH contributed $250 million, pointing to the call by HH the Emir to hold a mini-summit in Cairo to push forward the Palestinian reconciliation. As for the situation in Syria, HE Mohamed bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi called for the immediate ending of bloodshed and to preserve the unity of the nation, wishing the Syrian people to succeed in putting tyranny aside and gain their legitimate demands of freedom, social justice and dignity. (QNA)