Istanbul, April 16 (QNA) HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim affirmed that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, will continue its steadfast approach based on dialogue, mediation, and preventing escalation, which contributes to supporting regional and international security and stability. He pointed to Qatar's ongoing efforts to bridge differences and reduce tensions, stemming from its firm commitment to the principles of good neighborliness and peaceful solutions to conflicts.

Addressing the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), underway in Istanbul, Turkey, His Excellency explained that this approach was met with an Iranian attack targeting civilian facilities within the State of Qatar. This attack damaged infrastructure, endangered civilian lives, and its effects extended to several other Gulf and Arab states, constituting a grave violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. He emphasized that the gravity of this attack lies not only in its direct consequences but also in its targeting of purely civilian objects, thereby undermining the foundations of development, threatening the stability of societies, and revealing a gap between political rhetoric and actual practices. This necessitates a clear international stance that ensures accountability and prevents the recurrence of such violations.

Speaking within the framework of this session's theme, "Peace, Justice, and the Activation of Parliamentary Tools to Achieve Security," His Excellency noted that the world is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in armed conflicts and an expansion of wars, amidst a clear weakness in the international system and its inability to enforce respect for international law or activate accountability mechanisms. This has contributed to undermining confidence in the international system.

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council pointed out that the repercussions of these conflicts are not limited to the humanitarian aspect alone, but extend to the global economy, energy security, and supply chains. This necessitates strengthening the tools of collective action and deterrence mechanisms, and moving from the stage of diagnosis to action by developing the role of parliaments in supporting international peace and security and consolidating respect for international law. He noted in this context the continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian territories and the ongoing violations in the region, which contribute to deepening instability and reflect the absence of an international system capable of mitigating or containing conflicts.

On strengthening the parliamentary role, His Excellency announced that the State of Qatar, in partnership with a number of countries and with the support of geopolitical groups within the IPU, has submitted a request to include an emergency item on the Assembly's agenda, entitled: "The Urgent Need for Concerted Parliamentary Efforts to Preserve Ceasefire Agreements and Support the Establishment of Peace in the Middle East and the World." He emphasized that this item reflects a collective awareness of the gravity of the current situation and the necessity of unifying parliamentary efforts to support peaceful solutions.

His Excellency also called for support for this item and a vote in its favor, which would strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, contribute to de-escalation, protect civilians, and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, ultimately leading to a just and lasting peace.

Concluding his remarks, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim emphasized that restoring the effectiveness of the international system is no longer an option but an urgent necessity. He expressed hope that the Assembly's work would contribute to laying practical foundations for strengthening international peace and security, and that the Inter-Parliamentary Union's strategy for 2027-2032 would include clear and effective mechanisms to achieve this end. (QNA)