Day: May 26, 2024

HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Cyprus Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla underlined that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s visit to the Republic of Cyprus gives a significant boost to the relations between the two countries, noting the great development the bilateral relations have seen recently.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency , HE the Ambassador said that HE President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides paid his first official visit to Qatar in November 2023 in light of the keenness on promoting the relations to an advanced level. The first round of political consultations was convened in Cyprus in January with the aim of bolstering friendship ties between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus, and encouraging constant cooperation between the two sides.

Key topics that will be discussed during the visit will revolve around the bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, and the cooperation in the fields of energy, economy and investment, His Excellency
indicated.

HE Ambassador Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla highlighted many cooperation agreements signed between Qatar and Cyprus in various fields, which contributed to the opening of embassies of the two countries, as well as the inauguration of the Qatari embassy’s new building in Nicosia, and naming the street where the Qatari embassy is located the “Qatar Street” and the adjacent park the “Doha Park”.

His Excellency stressed the joint aspiration of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus to develop bilateral relations at all levels to serve the common goals and interests of the two friendly countries. He noted that the sectors of energy, investment, transportation, tourism and higher education are among the most important areas of cooperation of priority to both countries. These areas would contribute to strengthening the bilateral relations at the present and in the future at the political, economic and cultural levels.

The Republic of Cyprus is a promising island characterized by its strategic
location between Asia and Europe, in addition to its membership in the European Union, making it an investment destination for capital in general, especially in the fields of tourism, services and energy, HE the Ambassador indicated.

In this context, the relations between the two countries have seen a remarkable development recently in the fields of trade, investment and tourism with regard to the volume of trade exchange which recorded a 26.67 percent increase, according to the latest statistics for the year 2022, he added.

In implementation of HH the Amir’s directives during the HE the Cypriot President’s visit to Doha last year regarding the formation of a Qatari committee consisting of various departments and institutions to explore investment opportunities in the Republic of Cyprus with the aim of strengthening economic relations in the future, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Nicosia is working with all concerned parties to achieve this goal, and to create promising investment opportunities that c
ontribute to strengthening relations between the two countries, HE the Ambassador said.

On the other hand, HE the Ambassador underlined that the governments of the two countries are making tremendous efforts to contribute to the international endeavors to end the war in Gaza. He explained that the State of Qatar, along with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, plays a mediating role between the Hamas movement and the Israeli entity to stop the war; while the government of Cyprus, through the Safe Sea Corridor Initiative to transfer humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza, contributes to alleviating the suffering of the people of Gaza Strip.

In recent years, the State of Qatar has carried out a mediating role in many regional and international files, making tireless diplomatic and political efforts at various levels to mediate between factions, entities and countries, at the request of the concerned parties and without interfering in the internal affairs of countries, aiming to bring vie
wpoints closer together, and finding sustainable solutions to conflicts and disagreements, HE the Ambassador pointed out.

Good offices, mediation, and settlement of disputes by peaceful means consistent with the provisions of international law are a strategic choice and a fundamental pillar of the foreign policy of the State of Qatar, through which it aims to contribute to the consolidation of international peace and security – one of the most important main principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as promoting the status of Qatar and preserving interests and its extended relations and deep partnerships with the United Nations and the entire international community, His Excellency added.

He noted the State of Qatar’s emphasis on the importance of the Security Council carrying out its role through initiatives, mediation and preventive diplomacy, which the international community should establish, since many conflicts and disputes can only be resolved through multilateral efforts; adding that the gov
ernment of the State of Qatar always shows readiness to assume its role in contributing to bringing the conflicting parties closer together and settling disputes through peaceful means, regionally and internationally, when asked to do so.

In conclusion, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Cyprus Ali Yousef Abdulrahman Al Mulla said that a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during HH the Amir’s visit to Cyprus, contributing to boosting and developing the bilateral cooperation across all areas and levels.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The State of Qatar participated in the two-day World Heart Summit, which concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday.

HE Minister of Public Health (MoPH) Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari led the State of Qatar’s delegation to the summit.

In a ministerial panel discussion at the summit entitled ‘Closing the gap in Universal Health Coverage and health financing for CVD’ (cardiovascular disease), Her Excellency highlighted Qatars approaches and strategies in the field, affirming Qatar’s ironclad commitment to universal health coverage, as well as prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.

Her Excellency pointed out that the average life expectancy in Qatar has increased to 80.4 years, indicating progress in healthcare services and infrastructure, however, she said, the burden of cardiovascular diseases is increasing due to unhealthy lifestyles such as obesity, low physical activity levels, and tobacco use, which collectively contribute to the occurrence and spread of cardiovascular diseases among a pop
ulation.

In recognition of the urgent need to address cardiovascular health, Qatar has implemented comprehensive national health strategies and measures. One of the most notable is the designation of a National Sports Day, an initiative established by an Amiri decision in 2011 to make physical activity a daily practice for the community, reflecting the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and his strong commitment to the health of Qatar’s population, Dr. Al Kuwari highlighted.

HE the Minister of Public Health pointed out that the State of Qatar has strengthened the public transportation system, created bicycle lanes, and established air-conditioned parks to facilitate physical activity even during the hot summer months.

“In Qatar, a prominent initiative that contributes to addressing the risks of cardiovascular diseases is the introduction of indirect taxes on tobacco and unhealthy beverage products. The tax aims to reduce consumption and promote healthy lifestyle choices. These
financial measures are complemented by targeted public health campaigns and community interventions. This includes the successful launch of the Healthy City programme to all our municipalities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization,” Her Excellency said.

Dr. Al Kuwari emphasized the need to intensify efforts at both the national and global levels to address the root causes of cardiovascular diseases and related mortalities, adding that through enhanced cooperation, innovation, and evidence-based interventions, the way can be paved for a healthier future for generations to come.

Her Excellency affirmed that the State of Qatar has invested in modern healthcare infrastructure, with the current network comprising 31 primary healthcare centers under the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and four additional centers managed by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in accordance with an agreement with the MoPH, highlighting that the network meets the healthcare needs of the entire population. A
dditionally, specialized hospitals provide advanced healthcare services and conduct research on cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Al Kuwari pointed out that the Heart Hospital in Qatar provides advanced health services to cardiac patients free of charge, regardless of their nationality. The hospital’s exemplary track record in delivering record-breaking treatment outcomes underscores Qatars strong commitment to equitable access that ensures all residents receive high-quality healthcare.

The panel discussion brough together health ministers from several countries around the globe to share successful and effective strategies and programmes to expand the scope of universal health coverage to better combat cardiovascular diseases.

The ministers also discussed shared challenges, potential solutions, and funding models, in addition to exploring technological advancements and innovations in healthcare and their role in providing improved universal health coverage and care for those affected by cardiovascular disease.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The recognition of the State of Palestine is a milestone in enforcing the justice, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares affirmed during a joint press conference with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, in Brussels, on Sunday.

For his part, Palestinian Prime Minister welcomed the recognition of State of Palestine by Spain, Norway, and Ireland, affirming that every single country in Europe should follow suit.

Spain, Norway, and Ireland so far announced their official recognition of the State of Palestine in a step that will enter into force on May 28, thus joining nine EU member countries that have recognized the Palestinian statehood.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sent Sunday a cable of condolences to HE Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape on the victims of the landslides in different parts of the country, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent Sunday a cable of condolences to HE Governor-General of Papua New Guinea Sir Bob Dadae on the victims of the landslides in different parts of the country, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Qatar National Library (QNL) has partnered with the Knowledge E Foundation, an organization committed to advancing accessible education across the globe, to jointly host the third annual Forum for Open Research in MENA in Doha.

The three-day forum, which starts on 21 October at Qatar National Library, brings together policymakers, researchers, and librarians to support the advancement of open science across the Arab world.

This year’s theme is Transforming Knowledge into Action, and librarians, researchers, and policymakers working in the area of open science are encouraged to submit a presentation proposal in either English or Arabic. The deadline for proposals is 1 June 2024.

Head of Open Access and Copyright at QNL, Dr. Al Waleed Al Khaja said: “The Library’s ongoing efforts to champion open access initiatives are foundational to its mission. These efforts set the stage for the Library’s partnership with the Knowledge E Foundation, which reflects its commitment to supporting open-access publishing
and ensuring opportunities for scholars across Qatar to publish in open-access journals. We look forward to exploring opportunities with regional players to promote equitable open access to research and support open science infrastructures across the region, including a higher adoption of open repositories.” For her part, Co-Founder and Director of Operations for FORM, Dr. Emily Choynowski said: “We are honored to partner with Qatar National Library for this year’s annual forum. The Library is a beacon for open access in the region, for collaborative best practices and the perfect partner to support us in our mission to ensure equitable, accessible education for everyone in the Arab region and to support the growth of a truly regional collaborative community of open science advocates.” QNL continues to increasingly promote unrestricted online access to research across the region, offering a broad variety of services to support the global dissemination of Qatar-based research, the Library said in a statement t
oday.

QNL is a leader in open access research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, operating its Open Access Program, which includes an article processing charge (APC) fund to cover charges in open access journals. Since 2018, Qatar National Library has funded more than 5,000 articles and 2019 authors from 45 unique institutions in Qatar, the statement added.

Manara Qatar Research Repository, publicly launched last year to ensure long-term access to Qatar-based research, is part of the Open Access Program. Manara supports both Arabic and English traditional research outputs such as articles, conference proceedings, and monographs as well as non-traditional outputs in the form of datasets and software, multimedia materials, posters, and presentations. Currently, Manara contains almost 5,000 research items that have been viewed or downloaded more than 300,000 times.

Launched by the Knowledge E Foundation in 2022 as an independent non-profit initiative, the Forum for Open Research in MENA (FORM)
aims to support the region’s research communities and stakeholder groups in their journey towards a more ‘open’ world. The purpose of the annual forum is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and the development of practical policies to streamline the global transition towards more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive research and education models.

Source: Qatar News Agency