Qatar: Qatar's Shura Council has actively participated in the 20th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), which took place in Budva, Montenegro. The event saw the attendance of the Qatari delegation led by HE Abdullah bin Nasser bin Turki Al Subaie, who holds the position of Vice-President of PAM and is a member of the organization's bureau, along with numerous members of the Shura Council and HE the council's secretary-general.
According to Qatar News Agency, the assembly focused on several significant regional and international topics, including migration, children in armed conflicts, and environmental sustainability. During the discussions on migration, HE Mubarak bin Mohammed Al Kuwari emphasized Qatar's perspective on migration as a multifaceted humanitarian and developmental issue, necessitating enhanced international collaboration and balanced approaches that uphold both human dignity and state sovereignty.
Al Kuwari stressed the importance of tackling the root causes of irregular migration and lending support to international initiatives in relief, development, education, and healthcare. He advocated for reinforced measures against human trafficking and the protection of vulnerable groups, especially women and children, while advocating for equitable and sustainable migration policies grounded in shared responsibility and multilateral cooperation to foster stability and safeguard human dignity.
Addressing the issue of children in conflict zones, HE Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasser called for intensified international efforts to safeguard children affected by war. He highlighted Qatar's hosting of the United Nations' Analysis and Outreach Hub on Children and Armed Conflict, as well as its support for educational and development initiatives through organizations like Education Above All and the Qatar Fund for Development. Al Nasser underscored the importance of rehabilitating children impacted by conflict, reuniting them with their families, and ensuring that the principle of the child's best interests remains central to international peace and security efforts.
On the theme of climate and sustainability, HE Mohammed bin Mahdi Al Ahbabi stated that Qatar recognizes the interconnection between environmental and sustainability challenges and human, economic, food, and water security. He pointed to Qatar's ongoing national initiatives in clean energy, water desalination, sustainable infrastructure, and low-emission technologies, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country's broader sustainable development objectives. Al Ahbabi advocated for balanced international approaches that support developing countries through climate financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building, while enhancing cooperation to safeguard marine environments, biodiversity, water security, and energy stability.
This assembly coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. Separately, HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim led Qatar's delegation at the inaugural summit of parliamentary speakers held on the sidelines of the assembly, which concentrated on parliamentary diplomacy, inter-parliamentary dialogue, and the bolstering of democratic institutions amid current global challenges.