Qatar will continue to support least developed countries

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi attending the Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries, held virtually

The State of Qatar participated in the virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Qatar was represented in the meeting by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.

In his speech, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the current exceptional circumstances and the continuing repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have prevented — for the second year in a row — from attending meetings in person, adding that this requires continuous cooperation to confront the negative and dangerous repercussions of the pandemic that threatens to undermine decades of development gains.

He said that despite the enormity of these challenges and the magnitude of their effects, the State of Qatar is proud to host the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), scheduled to take place from January 23 to 27, 2022.

He noted that Qatar has spared no effort to move forward the preparatory process for this conference, in order to achieve its desired goals and work within a well-studied plan to ensure its success and the safety of all participants. He appreciated the cooperation and coordination between the State of Qatar and the presidency of the Group of LDCs, and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries in this regard.

He also expressed deep appreciation for the role of preparatory working visits to prepare for this conference, the latest of which was the interdepartmental working visit of the United Nations delegation to Doha, from May 31 to June 4, 2021, which included fruitful and constructive discussions between the delegation and the concerned authorities in the State of Qatar, looking forward for the next planning working visit to the State of Qatar.

Qatar, he said, has never hesitated to play its role at the global level, and was keen to support the efforts of the Least Developed Countries, by allocating a large part of its development assistance to developing and least developed countries.

He referred to the announcement made by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during the Climate Action Summit held in 2019, regarding the State of Qatar’s contribution of $100m to support the least developed countries and small island developing states, to deal with climate change.

He also expressed aspiration that the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha, would complete the successes achieved during previous conferences, the latest of which was the Fourth Conference hosted by the sisterly Republic of Turkey, commending, at the same time, its efforts that had distinguished contributions represented in the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA)for the Least Developed Countries.

The Minister also emphasised that the Doha Program of Action for the next decade will be the first program of action that will address the COVID-19 repercussions on the least developed countries. (QNA)