Doha: Since joining the United Nations, the State of Qatar has been committed to strengthening its relationship with the organization and working towards the goals for which it was established, foremost among them maintaining international peace and security and supporting development efforts in various countries around the world.
The establishment of Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York on September 22, 1971, marked the beginning of an active and influential member of the international community. Since then, eight ambassadors have led Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the UN, representing the successful partnership between Qatar and the international organization over the past five decades. They have worked tirelessly to represent Qatar in the best possible light and to implement its policies in various fields to enhance international cooperation and contribute effectively to maintaining international peace and security.
HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani currently serv
es as Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations. She moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and joined the Permanent Delegation of Qatar to the United Nations as an advisor. She advanced through the ranks to become the Deputy Permanent Representative (2007-2011) and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. She was also the representative of the country during its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, and the Governing Body of the International Labor Organization (2011-2013). During this period, she was also appointed as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, and Consul General in the Swiss Confederation before assuming her duties as the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar in New York as of October 17, 2013.
During her tenure in New York, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani chaired the work of the Social Forum of the Human Rig
hts Council in Geneva in 2013. She had contributions in presenting and running a number of draft resolutions on behalf of the State, including the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the International Year of the Family, the General Assembly resolution on the adoption of April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the establishment of September 15 as the International Day of Democracy, the resolution of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on education in crises, the General Assembly resolution on enhancing the effective use of military and civil defense assets in response to natural disaster and other important decisions.
His Excellency the late Ambassador Jassim bin Yousef Al Jamal was the first Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations from 1972 to 1984, having been appointed to the position by an Amiri decree.
His period saw full c
oordination and harmony among the Arab ambassadors, especially concerning the Palestinian cause and other issues of priority to the Arab nation. The State of Qatars positions under Ambassador Al Jamals leadership during the October 1973 War were commendable, and these stances unified the Arab group at the international organization.
Among the most important contributions by the State of Qatar was the introduction of the Arabic language in the United Nations, as well as its stance against apartheid in South Africa and its support for the liberation and independence of several African countries.
After that, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari took over as Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He built upon the strong foundation laid by his predecessor, Ambassador Al Jamal.
Ambassador Al Kuwari headed the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations from 1984 to 1990, during which he was appointed Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 40th
session and Chair of the Fourth Committee at its 42nd Session. In 1987, he was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and represented the State of Qatar in the Non-Aligned Movement.
After Ambassador Al Kuwari, His Excellency Ambassador Hassan bin Ali Al Ni’mah was appointed as the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations from 1990 to 1996. This period was full of regional challenges, notably Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the establishment of the International Coalition to Liberate Kuwait. His Excellency Ambassador Hassan bin Ali Al Ni’mah represented the State of Qatar well, demonstrating advanced diplomatic skills. He was a poet and a distinguished diplomat, with a degree in Arabic language and literature after graduating from the American University of Beirut and getting a PhD from the University of Cambridge.
After that, His Excellency Ambassador Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa assumed the position for two years,1996 to 1998.
In Septe
mber 1998, His Excellency Ambassador Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Nasr was appointed as a Permanent Representative to the United Nations and served until 2011. During this period, Qatar achieved a significant milestone by securing a seat on the UN Security Council with the highest number of votes in 2006.
HE Ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad bin Mohammed bin Jabr Al-Thani continued addressing the challenges that the region witnessed as a result of the Arab Spring during the period from 2011 to 2013. He maintained many of the positions adopted by the State of Qatar in conducting negotiations and establishing peace in various countries of the world, as well as the state’s support for United Nations programs and the role of international mediation.
Since 2013 and until now, Her Excellency Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani has been leading Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, highlighting Qatars role in establishing peace across various global issues and enhancing developmental and humanitarian coope
ration. This has earned Qatar increasing trust, credibility, and respect within the international community.
In this context, Dr. Yusuf Mohammed Al Obaidan, a member of the National Human Rights Committee and former Professor of Political Science at Qatar University, said that Qatar’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations have made significant efforts to enhance Qatar’s standing within the organization and explain its foreign policy, which is based on rationality and balance. In a statement to Qatar News Agency , he added that some of Qatar’s Representatives witnessed major global events with significant impacts on the international stage, such as the Iran-Iraq War and the invasion of Kuwait, among other events, and they addressed these challenges with wisdom and contributed views, ideas, and proposals that ultimately led to the adoption of decisions and recommendations that helped resolve many regional and international issues. Dr. Al Obaidan noted that since joining the United Nations, Qatar has
worked to make a positive contribution to its partnership with the organization, aiming to maintain international peace and security and proposing numerous humanitarian initiatives in this regard. This is recognized by the international community, which acknowledges Qatar’s expanding cooperation with all UN specialized agencies, particularly in supporting various forms of development. Dr. Al Obaidan highlighted the depth of Qatar’s relationship with the UN system by citing the election of Qatar’s Permanent Representative His Excellency Ambassador Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Nasr as President of the UN General Assembly during its 66th session, a historic achievement that underscores Qatar’s esteemed position at the UN. He also pointed to the opening of the United Nations House in Doha as further evidence of the deep regional and international partnership between Qatar and the UN and its various agencies. The positions taken by Qatar’s Permanent Representatives to the UN reflect the directives of the country’s wise
leadership, embody Qatar’s vision, and implement its policies in economic, social, political, and developmental fields. These positions translate Qatar’s efforts and initiatives to enhance international cooperation, support the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, reach peaceful solutions to regional and international conflicts, achieve sustainable development, and address matters related to family, women, children, and youth, while maintaining international peace and security. Since joining the United Nations, Qatar has spared no effort in fulfilling its commitments as a member of the international organization. It has been actively and continuously engaged with the international community, enhancing multilateral cooperation through interaction and collaboration with UN agencies and the permanent missions of member states. Qatar has participated effectively in all UN activities, especially those considered priorities by the states, in full harmony with the UN’s goals and international agenda.
Source: Qa
tar News Agency
