‘Qatar policy based on solidarity, co-operation’

Qatar has affirmed that it views international solidarity and co-operation as indispensable principles for strengthening national efforts and helping governments to carry out their duties and responsibilities to implement human rights, especially the right to development.

In this regard Qatar has adopted over the past months a foreign policy based on strengthening international cooperation to ensure an effective response to the coronavirus pandemic, Mohamed Abdullah al-Buainain, second secretary at Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva said.

He was speaking during a panel discussion on “the right to development” within the work of the 45th session of the Human Rights Council.

Taking into account the biggest challenge that the world is witnessing today, which is the Covid-19 pandemic with its great impact on all walks of life, al-Buainain said Qatar has over the past months adopted a foreign policy based on strengthening international co-operation to ensure an effective response to the pandemic.

He added that despite the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar for more than three years and the closure of land, sea and airspace by the blockading countries, Qatar has responded to the global appeal launched by the United Nations secretary-general to confront the humanitarian effects of the pandemic, and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide support for delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies.

Al-Buainain explained that the Qatari support provided was not limited to government agencies, but included many charitable and non-governmental institutions, as Qatar Charity provided aid to Unicef and the High Commissioner for Refugees.

He highlighted Qatar’s participation in the launch of many international initiatives, the most important of which were the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic, and the Group of Friends of the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, known as ‘COVAX’, and worked with the United Nations Development Programme in the innovation lab to discuss solutions to address the negative consequences of the epidemic, especially in developing countries.