Envoys laud Amir, Qatari people on successful Shura polls

Doha: After successful conduct of the historic Shura Council elections, heads of diplomatic missions in Doha have praised Qatar for holding the landmark legislative process. On Saturday, thousands of Qataris voted for their representatives in the Shura Council. All 30 candidates would be the first elected members of the Council.

The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will appoint 15 members to the Shura Council.

Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar, H E Dr. Mustafa Göksu, congratulated the Qatari leadership and people on completing the first Shura Council elections in the country and the winners of the votes. He also wished them success in serving the people of their constituencies, with the beginning of the new Shura Council’s duties.

Ambassador Göksu praised the high turnout of well-aware and responsible Qataris voting and participating in this unique event. He also stressed that this reflects a national desire of the people to drive the country’s future with confident democratic steps within the framework of Qatar’s ambitious policy to develop its legislative mechanisms by expanding popular participation, reflecting the values of the Qatari Constitution and Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Ambassador added: “I followed the eagerness of the different age groups of people to participate in this historical event, and I was pleased that a large number of young people in general and women, in particular, were running for these elections, in a healthy atmosphere of constructive competition to serve their country.” 

Ambassador Göksu said, “I consider everyone who participated in these elections to have won, for their contribution to raising the prestige of Qatar, and for their participation in the success of an important event in Qatar’s history, as the country continues to achieve many diplomatic and civic successes in recent times.” The Turkish envoy noted the importance of the step taken by Qatar in November 2020, since H H the Amir announced the holding of elections for the Shura Council for the first time in 2021 and was welcomed by Turkey and the world at the time. He considered that this decision reflects the Emir’s vision and the state’s confidence in the choices of its citizens. He also hoped that the Shura Council would begin its work and functions at the earliest opportunity. 

He said: “We look forward to strengthening parliamentary relations and the existing friendship committees between the Qatari Shura Council and the Turkish National Assembly, and we will always be supportive of cooperation and the exchange of experiences. We welcome the new Council that we seek to coordinate within the various inter-parliamentary unions”.

Speaking about the Turkish-Qatari relations at the legislative level, Göksu said that the two friendly countries exchanged official visits and the work of joint committees for parliamentary work. He hoped the coming period would be an opportunity to build on the strong ties in light of the new competencies of the Qatari Shura Council, and the opening of its legislative term coincides with the approaching 50th anniversary of its founding in 1972.

He also called on the people’s representatives of the two countries to intensify the existing bonds of cooperation and to enhance the desire of the Qatari and Turkish peoples to develop relations to more advanced levels, under the leadership of H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and H E President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Besides, the Ambassador of Kuwait to Qatar, H E Hafiz Mohammed Al Ajmi, also expressed his happiness over the great success of the Shura Council elections.

The Ambassador greeted Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister, and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the ruling family, and all Qatari people on the occasion of the success of the first parliamentary legislative elections witnessed by Qatar. He noted that Qatari people have written a new historic achievement in expanding public participation in decision-making. 

“The electoral process held transparently, amid a large turnout of voters to participate in this great democratic event, from participating in the election of a new Shura Council that establishes a new stage in the history of Qatar,” Al Ajmi said. He noted that this is in response to the vision of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to consolidate the building of the rule of law and institutions. According to him, the Amir attaches importance to strengthening the traditions of the Qatari Shura and developing the legislative process with broader participation of citizens.

“We congratulate all the candidates who won in these elections, wishing them all success and working to achieve the aspirations of Qatari people. On this occasion, I would like to emphasise that the Kuwaiti-Qatari relationship has been distinguished since ancient times. It is historically rooted through social and family ties between the peoples of the two countries. These relations go beyond the diplomatic definition of bilateral relations between countries because of their great privacy and closeness,” he added.

Ambassador of UK to Qatar, H E Jon Wilks, took to his Twitter account to congratulate Qatar on its first general elections to the Majlis al Shura. “I look forward to meeting the newly elected members of the Council once the appointed representatives have been announced and the formation of the new Majlis is complete. Looking forward to the visit soon of two delegations of UK MPs to meet their Qatari counterparts,” he added.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar, H E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, has also congratulated His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government, and the entire Qatari nation on the successful conclusion of the landmark Shura Council elections. 

“The historic electoral exercise is another manifestation of the vision of the leadership of the State of Qatar towards the expansion of popular participation in the political process. The elections once again bring to the fore the exemplary commitment of the leadership of this great country towards a deep and lasting commitment for the welfare of the people with policies followed through with action and implementation.”

The Ambassador of Pakistan further said that the people of Qatar have a long and historical tradition of loyalty and allegiance built upon trust and direct connection. 

“The elections will further augment this relationship between the citizens and the leadership with greater participation and indicate the cohesiveness of Qatari society. The active participation of women in the elections also testifies to Qatar’s appreciation of the role of women as active and vibrant members in an Islamic society,” he added.

Ambassador of Nepal to Qatar, H E Dr. Narad Nath Bharadwaj, said: “On the historic holding of the first-ever Shura Council elections, we extend congratulations and felicitations to Qatar under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. We believe this process of involving citizens to choose their representatives for the legislative body will set a new avenue for the overall progress Qatar is achieving in recent times.”  He said that the election of the Shura Council is a historical event that has taken Qatar into an era of inclusive participation in the governance process. 

“This democratic exercise will also forge stronger connectivity and understanding between Qatari people and their elected leaders,” he added.

Ambassador of India to Qatar, H E Dr. Deepak Mittal, also felicitated H H the Amir and the people of Qatar at the successful conduct and participation in the first-ever elections to the Shura Council. 

“This is a historic moment for the country. The people got to choose their representatives to the Shura Council as provided by the Constitution. A new milestone has been added in efforts for greater social inclusion in decision making,” he said.

The Ambassador of India added: “We wish all the success to the new elected members of the Shura Council. India attaches high priority to historical and friendly relations with the State of Qatar. We remain committed to continuing to strengthening our multifaceted bilateral partnership based on mutual respect, trust, and friendship  between the people of the two countries.”

Ambassador of Tajikistan to Qatar, H E Khisrav Sohibzoda, said that the Shura Council election was a successful experience that reflects the comprehensive renaissance of Qatar at all levels and in various fields.

He said that the elections embody the desire of the wise leadership to move forward in the reform process at all levels, expand public participation in decision-making and draw up public policies and other tasks entrusted to the Shura Council.

“Qatar was keen to make this distinguished experiment a success and make it an example by providing the ideal atmosphere and enacting the necessary legislation and laws to reach the electoral process to the highest degree of success,” said Sohibzoda.

He valued the participation of women in this important electoral process, explaining that their effective participation would have positive results. The Tajik Ambassador praised the existing cooperation between the Shura Council in Qatar and the House of Representatives of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan, stressing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, which represents an effective mechanism for developing and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Sohibzoda said that the parliament of Tajikistan is keen to enhance bilateral cooperation with Qatar, as, in January 2019, it established the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Qatari Shura Council. He said that Tajikistan is looking forward to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Ambassador of Ghana to Qatar, H E Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Enos, said: “On behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Ghana, this Embassy wishes to congratulate His Highness, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, the entire Cabinet and the friendly people of Qatar for the successful and historic elections of new members for the Shura Council.” 

“Indeed, the significance of this iconic milestone in the history of the State of Qatar cannot be overstated, as she seeks to further consolidate the existing legislative and institutional architecture of the country. As a country that believes in democracy, the rule of law, pluralistic electoral system, and constitutional governance, Ghana looks forward to further strengthen its cooperation with Qatar in the various sectors, particularly in the legislature, for the mutual benefit of the two friendly countries,” he added.