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Qatari Businessmen Association       Gulf Studies Centre      Qatar University       Conferences Organizing Committee
 

THE FOLLOWING IS THE UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF THE SPEECH OF HIS HIGHNESS THE EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL-THANI, OF THE STATE OF QATAR AT DOHA 6TH FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND FREE TRADE.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF THE SPEECH OF HIS
HIGHNESS THE EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL-THANI, OF THE STATE OF
QATAR AT DOHA 6TH FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND FREE TRADE.



IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST COMPASSIONATE , THE MOST
MERCIFUL,

YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
HONORABLE GUESTS OF QATAR,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU IN DOHA AT THIS FORUM, WHICH
PROVIDES A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE RELATION BETWEEN FREEDOM
OF TRADE EXCHANGE, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC
PRACTICE, WHICH BECAME CLEARER AND GAINED STRONG MOMENTUM AFTER THE
END OF THE COLD WAR.
DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND FREE TRADE COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER
AND NONE COULD BE IMPLEMENTED SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER. IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES IN PARTICULAR, DEMOCRACY COULD NOT BE ATTAINED WITHOUT
EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT IN ALL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FIELDS.
POLITICAL FREEDOM IS MEANINGLESS IN A COMMUNITY IN WHICH POVERTY
PREVAILS AND IN WHICH A BIG SECTION SUFFERS FROM IGNORANCE DISEASE
AND
ACHIEVED UNLESS THE CITIZEN IS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISION
MAKING AND TO PROTECT HIS ECONOMIC INTERESTS.
THE SAME THING APPLIES TO FREE TRADE SINCE ITS DESIRED
POSITIVE RESULTS IN FAVOUR OF DEVELOPMENT ARE LINKED TO THE EXISTENCE
OF A WORLD ORDER THAT GUARANTEES EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
COUNTRIES
AND PEOPLES OF THE WORLD IN A WAY THAT HELPS NARROW THE CURRENT
ECONOMIC GAP BETWEEN THEM.
TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED BENEFITS FROM DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT, FREE
TRADE AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER THERE IS AN
URGENCY
TO CARRY OUT A COMPREHENSIVE POLITICAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REFORM IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO HELP THEM ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE
BENEFICIAL TO ALL CATEGORIES OF THE PEOPLE, SAID HH THE EMIR.

IT IS ALSO IMPERATIVE THAT ADVANCED COUNTRIES UNDERSTAND
THE
PROBLEMS OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND TRANSLATE THAT PRACTICALLY
INTO THE AGREEMENTS TO BE CONCLUDED IN THE FRAME OF THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION TO ASSIST THOSE COUNTRIES DEVELOP THEIR OWN CAPACITIES
TO
BE ABLE TO COPE WITH COMPETITION REQUIRED BY THE NEW WORLD ORDER,
SAID
HH THE EMIR .
HH THE EMIR FURTHER SAID, THOUGH OUR AREA WAS UNABLE TO
KEEP
PACE WITH TURNING TO THE MARKET SYSTEM AND DEMOCRACY, IT HAD A
LEADING
OLD EXPERIENCE IN WHICH TRADE EXCHANGE WAS COMBINED WITH CULTURAL
OPENNESS, AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE WITH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE AND STABILITY.
FOR CENTURIES THE INDIAN OCEAN, THE ARABIAN SEA, THE GULF AND
THE
MEDITERRANEAN WERE CONSIDERED LAKES OF PEACE AND COOPERATION AND OPEN
AREAS FOR TRADE AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN ISLAMIC, EUROPEAN,
CHINESE AND INDIAN CIVILIZATION, HH THE EMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA
AL THANI TOLD THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS OF THE DOHA 6TH FORUM ON
DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND FREE TRADE.
ELABORATING HH THE EMIR SAID, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA,
EXCHANGE WAS NOT MERE PROFESSION BUT AN INTEGRATED CULTURE WHICH
RECOGNIZED THE OTHER, REFLECTED SELF CONFIDENCE AND THE DESIRE OF
COEXISTENCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENCES, WHICH ARE
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN VALUES IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OUR AREA HAS BEEN WITNESSING A
CONTROVERSY OVER THE ISSUE OF DEMOCRACY AND HAS BEEN PULLED BACK AND
FORTH OVER THIS ISSUE WITH VARIANT REACTION RANGING FROM ACCEPTANCE
TO
REJECTION AND FROM ENTHUSIASM TO DISINTEREST, HH THE EMIR SAID.
THE EMIR FURTHER HINTED THAT , THIS CONTROVERSY HAS STARTED
AND IT IS NECESSARY THAT IT CONTINUES UNTIL THE REFORM MESSAGE
REACHES
ITS END, SO THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS AREA GET THEIR DUE SHARE OF
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM.
THE SUCCESS OF DEMOCRACY IN THIS AREA IS NOT ONLY IN ITS
INTEREST BUT ALSO WILL HAVE A TANGIBLE STRATEGIC IMPACT ON A WIDE
GEOGRAPHICAL CIRCLE EXTENDING TO THE EAST AND TO WEST, HH THE EMIR
TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE CONSOLIDATION OF SECURITY IN AREAS NOT FAR FROM US, AND
REDUCING THE RATES OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO THEM WILL BE
AFFECTED BY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN OUR AREA, BECAUSE THE SUCCESS
OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PROJECT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ADDRESSING THE MANIFESTATIONS
OF TYRANNY AND CORRUPTION THAT STILL DEVOUR THE PEOPLES FORTUNES,
DEPRIVE THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS AND PUSH SOME OF ITS CITIZENS TO
EXTREMISM AND ALIENATION.
OF NO LESS SIGNIFICANCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS THE ROLE OF
FREE MEDIA AND ENCOURAGING ITS ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE
TO RECTIFYING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND PRACTICE.

HONOURABLE AUDIENCE,
THE CHALLENGES FACING THE CHANGE TOWARDS DEMOCRACY IN OUR AREA
HAVE NOT PREVENTED LATELY THE BIRTH OF A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN
PRACTICING DEMOCRACY THAT DESERVES ALL COMMENDATION AND RESPECT.
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DESPITE THEIR SUFFERINGS UNDER THE GRIP OF
OCCUPATION, INSISTED ON EXERCISING THEIR LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO CHOOSE
THEIR GOVERNMENT. THEIR NATIONAL AUTHORITY WAS ALSO KEEN ON PROVIDING
GUARANTEES FOR EXERCISING THIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT BY ITS PEOPLE, SAID
HH THE EMIR .
SO THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WERE HELD AND ALL THOSE WHO
FOLLOWED IT, INCLUDING THOSE WHO COULD NOT SO FAR TOLERATE ITS
RESULTS
OR ACCEPT THE WILL OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ITS
TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS.
HH THE EMIR WENT ON TO SAY, THE CIVILIZED WAY IN WHICH THE
PALESTINIAN POLITICAL FORCES HAVE DEALT WITH THE RESULTS OF THESE
ELECTIONS REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO WHAT IS DECIDED BY THE COLLECTIVE
WILL AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CITIZENS FREE CHOICES .
THIS CALLS UPON ADVOCATES OF DEMOCRACY ALL OVER THE WORLD TO
RESPECT THE DECISION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, SAID HH THE EMIR.
THIS IMPORTANT ARAB EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE SUPPORTED AND
ENCOURAGED RATHER THAN PUTTING PRESSURE ON IT OR INTERFERING WITH THE
RIGHT GO THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS OR THREATEN TO WITHHOLD
AID TO THEM, HH SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI TOLD THE
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
CHALLENGING THE CHOICES OF PEOPLES WILL ONLY RESULT IN
FUELLING THE FEELINGS OF DESPAIR AND GENERATE WAVES OF WRATH.
MOREOVER
OPPOSING THE POPULAR WILL CONTRADICTS THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRATIC OPTION
THAT CALLS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE MAJORITY DECIDES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ESTABLISHING THE REGIONAL SECURITY COULD NOT BE COMPLETED
UNLESS DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS, BECAUSE SECURITY IS NOT
JUST MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS AGREED UPON BY STATES. IT REQUIRES
INTERNAL
POLITICAL MEASURES WHICH ENABLE THE CITIZEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF HIS COUNTRY AND SHOULDER HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.
IN FACT, THE PARTICIPANT CITIZEN IS A SECURE CITIZEN BECAUSE HE
KNOWS HIS RIGHTS AND DUTIES. IT IS THE SECURE CITIZEN WHO BUILDS A
SECURE HOMELAND, WHICH IN TURN ESTABLISHES A REGIONAL SYSTEM ENJOYING
SECURITY AND STABILITY. THEREFORE, THE DESIRED SECURITY CANNOT BE
ATTAINED WITHOUT THE PROGRESS OF DEMOCRACY, SAID HH THE EMIR SHEIKH
HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI.
WITHIN THIS CONVICTION THE STATE OF QATAR HAS BEEN KEEN ON
SUPPORTING EFFORTS EXERTED TO HELP THE AREA IMPROVE AND REFORM IT S
AFFAIRS, AND HAS RECENTLY CONTRIBUTED TEN MILLION DOLLARS TO THE U.N.
FUND FOR DEMOCRACY. MOREOVER, QATAR OFFERED A SIMILAR SUM AND
EXPRESSED FULL WILLINGNESS TO HOST THE MAIN OFFICE OF THE FOUNDATION
FOR FUTURE WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH PROMOTION DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE AND
REFORM EFFORTS IN THE AREA AND AREA AND BEAR ALL RELEVANT
RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMITMENTS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THIS AREA IS IN A PRESSING NEED TO FINALIZE A MAJOR PROJECT
WHICH IT HAS ALREADY LAUNCHED AND HAS TO CARRY ON WITH IT FOR ITS OWN
INTEREST AND THE INTEREST OF THE WORLD AS WELL. AT THE FOREFRONT OF
THIS PROJECT IS DEMOCRACY, NOT ONLY AS A MECHANISM FOR DECISION
MAKING
BUT AS A WAY ASPIRATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT, PROGRESS AND BUILDING A
BETTER FUTURE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ATTAINED SEVERAL DECADES AGO.
HOWEVER IT EXERTS MORE EFFORTS TODAY TO ATTAIN IT, AND HAS THE
RIGHT TO GET ENOUGH INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT AND BACKING TO HELP THE
REFORM MESSAGE ACHIEVE ITS GOALS. IT IS NECESSARY TO REMEMBER,
HONOURABLE AUDIENCE, THAT OUR AREA HAS NEVER COMPLAINED OF THE TOO
MANY WHO EXTENDED HELP TO HER TO ATTAIN DEMOCRACY, BUT RATHER
COMPLAINED OF THEIR SHORTAGE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION AND WISH
YOUR FORUM ALL SUCCESS.
MAY THE PEACE, THE MERCY AND THE BLESSING OF GOD BE PON YOU.
(QNA)

 
 
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