UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the release of the Qatari citizens abducted in Iraq and their safe return to the country. In a statement, the UN chief expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the safe release of the Qatari citizens.
Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a number of commendations and phone calls from a number of leaders and senior officials of Arab and Islamic countries, who expressed their sincere congratulations on the safe return of Qatari citizens.
The Emir received phone calls from Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, H M King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Prime Minister of Bahrain, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan . The Emir expressed his gratitude for the calls and for their good sentiments.
The Gulf Cooperation Council welcomed the release of the Qatari and Saudi citizens who were kidnapped in Iraq more than one year ago while on a hunting trip officially licensed by the competent agencies in Iraq.
GCC chief and Arab League welcome release of citizens
GCC Secretary-General extended congratulations to the Emir, government and people of the State of Qatar, and to the King, government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the safe return of the Qatari and Saudi citizens to their homelands.
He praised the efforts made to secure the safe release of the abductees and their safe return to their families, and expressed the satisfaction of the GCC countries for the end of this harsh crisis, which demonstrated the GCC solidarity in dilemmas and crises.
Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al Salami, welcomed the release of Qatari nationals kidnapped in Iraq, congratulating Qatar on the return of its citizens. In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of meetings of the Arab Parliament at the headquarters of the Arab League, Al Salami welcomed and appreciated this step.
He pointed out that the Arab Parliament urged in its previous meetings the release of Qatari citizens and issued a decision on this matter during the last meeting of the heads of Arab parliaments. He stressed the importance of enhancing relations between Arab countries, pointing out that this step would strengthen relations between Qatar and Iraq.
The Arab League yesterday welcomed the release of the Qatari citizens who were kidnapped in Iraq. The official spokesman for Secretary General of Arab League, Minister Plenipotentiary, Mahmoud Afifi expressed in a statement the Arab League's satisfaction over the release of Qatari nationals kidnapped in Iraq more than a year ago and the closure of this file.
On the other hand, the spokesman pointed out that terrorism is a common threat and challenge to the countries of the region, which requires concerted efforts to eradicate and uproot it.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also welcomed the release and their safe return to the country. Dr Yousef bin Ahmed Al Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation released a statement expressing his appreciation to the efforts the Iraqi government made in finding and releasing the Qatari citizens.
He added that the OIC monitored closely the developments of the humanitarian issue and released a number of decisions regarding it, the last of which was from the 43rd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Uzbekistan when they condemned the kidnapping as contradicting with all of Islamic teachings and international law. The council also said the kidnapping harmed relations between member countries and called for guaranteeing the safety and the release of the kidnapped.
Meanwhile, Dr Maryam Abdul Malek, Managing Director of Primary Healthcare expressed her pride about the Qatari leadership and the Emir on efforts taken to release the Qatari citizens who were kidnapped in Iraq.
