The State of Qatar participated in the 79^th UN General Assembly with a delegation led by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During the high-level week, Qatar’s top officials took part in various panels and discussions where the nation’s leaders addressed some of the most pressing global issues.

Here are the highlights from the Qatari delegation’s visit to New York.

UN General Assembly General Debate: Speech by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar

On 24^th September, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivered a speech at the General Debate of the 79^th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

His Highness’ speech focused on the ongoing war in Gaza, emphasising the continued suffering of civilians in the Strip and the failure of the international community to intervene in the aggression.

His Highness highlighted the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, achieved through Qatar’s mediation efforts in collaboration with Egypt and the United States, adding that this resulted in the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners and 109 detainees in Gaza, as well as an increased flow of humanitarian aid.

His Highness reaffirmed Qatar’s unwavering commitment to peacebuilding efforts, stating, “The State of Qatar will spare no effort to provide various forms of humanitarian assistance to the brotherly Palestinian people until this crisis is resolved.”

His Highness continued, “Despite the daunting challenges, obstruction attempts, and the aspersions we are subjected to, we will continue our effort of mediation to resolve the disputes through peaceful means, as we are cognizant that any dispute will never lack a force interested in its continuation while being sceptical of any mediation regardless of the intentions.”

In addition to his remarks on Gaza, His Highness denounced the escalation of conflict in Lebanon and called for dialogue to peacefully resolve conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Sudan and Libya. His Highness also outlined some of Qatar’s contributions to peace over the past year, including mediating a prisoner swap between the US and Venezuela, and reuniting dozens of children with their families after being separated by Russia-Ukraine war.

His Highness’ full speech can be found here.

Summit of the Future: Speech by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar

Two days earlier, on 22^nd September, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, delivered a speech during the opening session of the UN Summit of the Future.

In his speech, His Excellency underlined Qatar’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His Excellency highlighted the country’s contributions to international multilateral initiatives, including pledges to UN agencies and support for LDCs (Least Developed Countries) around the world. His Excellency also spoke of Qatar’s mediation efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, promoting the lasting peace and stability necessary for development.

Furthermore, His Excellency acknowledged Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, reiterating Qatar’s calls for a ceasefire agreement while “urging the international community to take a clear position on violations of international law and international humanitarian law regarding the repeated attacks on schools, hospitals, relief workers and displaced people in Gaza.”

His Excellency’s full speech can be found here.

Sideline Events

On the sidelines of UNGA 79, the State of Qatar participated in several events and meetings with officials from friendly nations around the world. Key activities included:

• His Excellency the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, participated in a discussion titled “What now for the Middle East?” at the 14^th Concordia Annual Summit. His Excellency emphasised the joint mediation efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
• Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, participated in a high-level event titled, ‘The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan’, organised by the permanent missions of Qatar, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Ireland, and the Swiss Confederation. Her Excellency reaffirmed Qatar’s position on the need to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls, in line with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and stated that women’s empowerment and integration into Afghanistan’s future is one of Qatar’s priorities in the country.
• In partnership with the Institute of International Education, Education Above All Foundation hosted an event to showcase efforts to provide higher education to Afghan refugees. Working alongside partners such as Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Fund For Development, Schmidt Futures, Afghan Futures Foundation, and over 40 US partner universities, the coalition has provided transformative educational opportunities for Afghan students.
• Her Excellency the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed Saif Al Thani, participated in a panel discussion titled, ‘A Call to Action for a Future Without Terrorism’. Her Excellency highlighted Qatar’s comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism, focusing on addressing the root causes by providing solutions to issues related to peace, security and human rights.