Geneva: Qatar has stressed the need for a global agreement on the issue of environment and climate change to be reached outside the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and underscored the importance of developing the efficiency and performance of the WTO and its activities.

This came in a speech given by the Minister of State for International Cooperation and Acting Minister of Business and Trade, H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, before the Seventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva.

The Minister said that in order to achieve this goal which is the development of efficiency and performance of the organisation efforts must be based on the WTO’s basic principles (full participation, inclusiveness and transparency). Dr Al Attiyah called on the WTO to ensure the participation of all states in the activities of the organisation, pointing out that there are many countries that their membership are still being discussed, including seven Arab countries.

He also stressed the need for the adoption of Arabic language as one of the official languages used in the World Trade Organisation. With regard to the Doha Round, he said that Qatar is renewing and reaffirming the desire and support to end the round of negotiations, named after the Qatari capital.

He said that the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had earlier called on the international community to embrace natural gas and clean technology as support of economic, social and environmental development.

Emir greets Romanian President

Doha: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings to the President of Romania on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day. The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a similar cable to the Romanian President.

Unstable weather forecast

DOHA: The Meteorology Department has forecast unstable weather conditions beginning today with chances of scattered rains in some parts of the country. The country would experience the second spell of cold waves since the beginning of this winter from Friday until Monday. This will be followed by more such periods in the weeks to come, the department said.

Al Sadd PEC getting 250 flu cases every day

DOHA: The dedicated H1N1 influenza clinic at Al Sadd Paediatric Emergency (PEC) Centre has been getting some 200 to 250 flu-like cases each day over the last 10 days. “Though the number is high, most are influenza like cases. All the H1N1 suspected cases are given Tamiflu and sent back home,” said Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Ansari, Director of PEC. The facility was opened to address the expected increase in the number of suspected H1N1 cases with the onset of winter.

the peninsula/qna