The State of Qatar emphasized that it pays great attention to intellectual property issues, stressing the significance of the success of the ongoing negotiations within the long-awaited IGC, which would enhance the credibility of the international intellectual property system and its ability to play its role in protecting rights holders in a balanced and fair manner. This came in an opening speech delivered by HE Permanent Representative of State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Dr. Hind bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah as she headed the delegation of the State of Qatar participating in the Diplomatic Conference on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, currently held at the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) office in Geneva from May 13 - 24. During the conference, Qatar's delegation considered that balancing the rights and interests of users, suppliers, and knowledge holders is the only way to reach an agreement that benefits all parties by maintaining legal certainty within the patent and intellectual property system in general on the one hand, given the major role that this system plays in promoting innovation, stimulating research and development, transferring and disseminating knowledge, and achieving economic development. On the other hand, the system facilitates the sharing of benefits and protects genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with them as this matter is of great importance in achieving the legitimate economic and development aspirations of the countries and societies from which these resources and knowledge emerged. This Diplomatic Conference hosted by WIPO, is the final stage of negotiations before the adoption of an international legal instrument. The future instrument aims to enhance the efficacy, transparency, and quality of the patent system, and prevent patents from being granted erroneously for inventions that are not novel or inventive with regard to genetic resourc es and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources. Source: Qatar News Agency