Doha, September 04 (QNA) –  HE Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud on Tuesday said that issuing of  the educational vouchers law, which provides citizens with educational privileges that may be unique to Qatar, will push community partnership further towards the responsibility of proper educational selection and monitor the level of educational institutions.
“Our leadership’s absolute belief that quality education is a permanent investment in the promotion of living standard and welfare of the citizens,” , HE the Minister noted.
HE the Minister said on the occasion of the issuance of Law no. (7) for 2012 on educational vouchers, adding that achieving sustainable development through an educated generation capable of “effectively participating in the knowledge economy makes us realize how big the responsibility vested in the SEC in persevering and making sincere efforts to interpret this into practical successful reality in all ways and means that achieve this lofty vision.”
Al Mahmoud explained that implementing the new system is a fundamental foundation for the provision of outstanding educational options and alternatives for the Qatari citizen, noting that one of the most important positive results of this system is competition among schools to provide education of high quality for its students.
All independent and private schools falling within this system will be committed to certain standards that should be achieved, and SEC, HE said, will expect positive indicators annually on them.
The system applies to all Qatari students enrolled in schools chosen by SEC, and in accordance with the standards, conditions, and the admission and registration policy set by the council.
According to the resolution, the ‘educational vouchers’ system is a financial support granted by the state to students to cover their tuition fees totally or partially in schools enrolled in the system. (QNA)

Paris, September 04 (QNA) – Umm Qarn celebrated another victorious outing in the European circuit when HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani owned Sandeed (Amer-Saedah) won the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prix Cheri Bibi in France. The Alban de Mieulle trained Sandeed was ridden to victory by jockey Gerald Avranche. The three-year-old talented colt held at bay the challenge of Murzade and Merzal who took the second and third place in the 2,200 metres contest.
This was the second outing for the Amer progeny, which had earlier finished fifth to Merzal at La Teste recently.
Sandeed will next be campaigned in the Qatar Arabian Derby at Saint Cloud race course on October 5.
 Meanwhile, sporting the colours of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Kortoba emeged victorious in the Prix des Jardins, 1,300 metres race for three-year-old fillies at Chantilly.
The F.H. Grafford trained Koroba was ably ridden to victory by Rispoli.(QNA)

Doha, September 04 (QNA) –  The College of Pharmacy of the University of Qatar has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US University of Bordeaux, aims to promote exchange of activities among students on levels Bachelor  and Phd. of Pharmacy programs  at both institutions, as well as to enhance mutual cooperation between the two sides. In light of this agreement, the two sides will exchange expertise on training in the areas of clinical pharmacy and advanced Clinical Pharmacology in order to improve the practical skills of College of Pharmacy students  in both institutions, on the other hand, students will have  a unique opportunity to train on clinical Pharmacology skills in prestigious global institutions.
Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Sharif Khalifa, Acting Dean of the College of Pharmacy  said :  ” This partnership with one of  a prestigious universities such as the League Bordeaux will provide  good opportunities for the College of Pharmacy at the University of Qatar, which seeks diligently to be one of the best  colleges of pharmacy  worldwide . He pointed out that this agreement will bring significant benefits to our students and the College teaching staff, through the cooperation between the two sides.(QNA)

Bangkok, September 04 (QNA) – HE Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, who is also the President of the Climate Change Conference (COP-18), met here on Tuesday with President of the Climate Change Conference (COP17) Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on the sidelines of the Bangkok climate change meeting ahead of COP18, currently being held in the Kingdom of Thailand.
During the meeting, they discussed the most important issues of common concern in addition to means of bilateral cooperation during Qatar’s presidency of the 18th Climate Change Conference which will be held in Doha at the end of November.
The meeting was attended by HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand Jabor bin Ali Al-Dosari, HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Korea Ali bin Hamad Al-Marri and members of the delegation accompanying HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority.

Al-Attiyah Meets Participants of Bangkok Climate Change Conference

HE Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, who is also the President of the Climate Change Conference (COP-18) met here separately on Tuesday with each of the Group of 77 and China,  Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) group, the Environmental Umbrella Group, the Environmental Values Group and the Least Developed Countries group in addition to the African group, the European organizations group and non-governmental organizations group.
The meetings came on the sidelines of the Bangkok Climate Change Conference ahead of COP18, currently held in Thailand.
During the meetings, they discussed the most important issues related to the Climate Change Conference (COP18) to be held in Doha at the end of November.
The meeting was attended by HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand Jabor bin Ali Al-Dosari, HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Korea Ali bin Hamad Al-Marri and members of the delegation accompanying HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority.

Al-Attiyah Leaves Thailand

HE Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, who is also the President of the Climate Change Conference (COP-18) and his accompanying delegation left Thailand on Tuesday after participating in Bangkok Climate Change Conference ahead of COP18 which concluded earlier today.
HE Al-Attiyah was seen off upon departure at Bangkok International Airport by HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand Jabor bin Ali Al-Dosari. (QNA)

Doha, September 04 (QNA) – HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud met here on Tuesday with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Burkina Faso Djibril Bassole and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them in all fields as well as a number of issues of common interest.
The meeting was attended by a number of officials of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. (QNA)

Bled, Slovenia, September 04 (QNA) – Bled Strategic Forum, hosted by Bled city for the 7th time and held under the title Europe and the Reshaped World Order. HE Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany, Abdulrahman Mohamed Al-Khulaifi, who is also Qatar’s non-resident Ambassador to Slovenia, attended the forum.
Earlier Monday, HE Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Karl Erjavec, on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum.
During the meeting, they reviewed the relation between the two countries and ways to develop them.
The forum was opened earlier Sunday by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Karl Erjavec, who highlighted in his key address the pressing need for solutions to the financial and economic crisis and to restore confidence in the European institutions.
Europe is currently at a difficult stage – perhaps the most complex since the early days of the European integration process, said Minister Erjavec. Geopolitical changes, combined with the global economic and financial crisis, are raising many questions, but also opening up new opportunities. The Minister stressed that, “Ending the economic, financial and debt crises is an absolute priority.”
This year’s edition brings together over 400 representatives from the world of politics, the economy, science and civil society from over 50 countries to discuss the role of crisis-ridden Europe in the new multi-polar world, the post-revolutionary Arab region, and the European perspective for the Western Balkans.(QNA)

Bangkok, September 04 (QNA) – HE Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, who is also the President of the Climate Change Conference (COP-18) participated in the meeting of the executive office of Bangkok Climate Change Conference ahead of COP18 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Thailand. At the beginning of the meeting, HE Al-Attiyah welcomed this open-ended informal consultations on the “Parties” and observers’ expectations about the 18th Climate Change Conference, saying that as a new president of the conference, he worked along with the heads and the secretariat of the conference to ensure its success.
In his speech during the meeting, HE expressed pleasure at this opportunity which will allow him to hear what the “Parties” would say.
The 18th Conference on climate change is an important moment in this process, HE Al-Attiyah said, adding that the decisions taken in Doha will pave the way for future proceedings on how the “Parties” will gather their efforts to confront and address the climate change.
He also pointed out that what is required from the conference is to make a sufficient and parallel progress through the Kyoto Protocol, Bali Action Plan and Durban platform, adding that one of the main results of the 18th Doha Conference will be the agreement on the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.
He said that important political choices must be made, calling for a flexibility and moderation.
HE Al-Attiyah reminded the participants that the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will start in January 2013, exactly 24 days after the end of the Doha Conference, so it should be taking into account the limitations of the timing of the launch of the second commitment period.
Meanwhile, HE briefed them on some major debates of the ministerial meeting of Petersburg Climate Change Conference, which was held in Berlin from 15 to 17 July this year, during which participants agreed, in addition to the adoption of the second commitment period, that the conference is looking forward to a successful close for the long-term cooperative action and increasing ambition as well as expanding climate financing and continuing implementation of the other decisions taken in Cancun.
HE the President of the Climate Change Conference (COP-18) made clear that the time has come to lay a strong foundation for the Doha Conference and wished that there will be an explicit participation to discuss how to achieve these expectations.
In conclusion, HE Al-Attiyah thanked the “Parties” and observers for their constructive opinions and said that their commitments are important to continue progress, stressing that Doha is determined to make the next conference with openness, transparency and inclusiveness among States.
The meeting was attended by HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand Jabor bin Ali Al-Dosari, HE Qatar’s Ambassador to Korea Ali bin Hamad Al-Marri and the delegation accompanying HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority. (QNA)