HH the Emir Inaugurates New Session of Advisory Council

Nov. 5, 2013

Qatar News Agency

In the name of God and with God's blessings I declare the opening of the 42nd

Session of the Advisory Council.

Honorable Brothers, Members of the Advisory Council,

At the outset of the opening of the ordinary annual session of your esteemed

Council, I greet you and wish you a fruitful work. I am fully confident that your

deliberations will be constructive and useful, as is always the case, and that the

Council will resonate with your valuable contribution to enriching the legislative

work, preparing legal frameworks necessary to regulate the various activities in

the State, and advancing the development process toward its goals.

We, brothers, could summarize the development goals, including the Qatar Vision

2030, in three words: building the homeland and the citizen, and from which the

major tasks assigned to the leadership of the State are derived.

We consider the building of institutions that are based on rational management of

resources, professional standards, and benchmarks of productivity and efficiency,

and serving the public interest on the one hand, and keenness on the welfare of

the citizen, qualifying him for useful productive work, and grooming him to find

meaning to his life in the serving his country and his society on the other hand,

two-faces of the development process that we aspire to.

As you know, the comprehensive development of our country has been, and

continues to be, a major concern for us, because we believe that an integrated

and balanced development is the key to establishing a modern State responsive

to the needs of today, and capable of achieving to Qatar the stature that we look

forward to, and to the Qatari people the decent standard of living they deserve,

without abandoning our authentic Qatari Arab belonging and our most tolerant

Islamic faith.

We thank God, the Almighty, for his grace, by which we are on the right track

which His Highness The Father Amir started to realize the major part of our goals.

In the economic domain, Qatars economy has sustained its accomplishments by

achieving the best results as per the vision and strategy worked out for this

purpose, despite global economic uncertainty and instability that prevent

complete recovery from the successive crises that afflict a number of advanced

and emerging economies alike.

The real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by lesser rate in 2012 compared

to the previous growth rates. But if we take into account the low growth rate in

the oil sector , then we could figure out that achieving this growth rate in the GDP

required a growth rate of up to 10 % in the non- oil sector, and this is not an easy

achievement.

This is what must be done to diversify the structure of the Qatari economy, with

the participation of the private sector, and encouraging private initiative that can

identify the potentials and market needs, in the context of price control and

development planning of the country.

In addition, the rate of growth achieved in the year 2012 is also considered as a

remarkable rate when compared to the growth rates for the same year with a

number of economic groups, it is twice the global growth rate, and five times the

growth rate in developed countries.

Maintaining a good annual growth rates in the coming years is considered a major

challenge in light of the expected decline in growth rates of hydrocarbons sector.

This requires doubling our efforts to increase productivity, improving economic

and technical efficiency, promoting economic diversification, encouraging

entrepreneurship, expanding research and development, and moving forward

towards the knowledge-based economy. This is exactly what we are working to

achieve in the next phase.

The real growth rate in GDP is coupled with other indicators that reflect the

strength of the Qatar's economy, namely:

That government expenditures in the public budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year

is higher than any spending in previous budgets and higher than the spending in

the 2012-2013 fiscal year by 17%.

This increase has come in a timely manner to compensate for lower growth in the

oil sector, to continue the fiscal stimulus and the need for spending on the

priorities of the National Development Strategy 2011-2016, which include health,

education and infrastructure development.

Qatar has maintained its top rank on global competitiveness and its relatively

high indicators in the field of human development. Qatar also has attained the

highest Human Development ranking among the Arab Gulf countries in the

Human Development Report for 2013 issued by the United Nations Development

Program. This  comparison is not intended for bragging, but to identify areas of

strength to preserve them and the areas of weakness to work on their

development and overcome them.

The private sector remains a key partner in the development, whether in

diversifying income sources or expanding the productive base of the State, thus

encouraging this sector, removing obstacles encountered by it, and providing it

with adequate incentives, rests with the government in the first place, and it is

the duty of the business community and the Chamber of Commerce to  cooperate

with the government by providing all  necessary proposals and solutions to enable

the private sector to play its role.

There remains a need for surmounting other difficulties facing the private sector,

such as combating monopoly, providing an atmosphere of competition,

overcoming the bureaucratic barriers, and reducing the size and number of

intermediate companies and institutions between the State sector on the one

hand, and  entrepreneurs and businessmen on the other.

Honorable Brothers,

Qatar has confirmed its advanced standing as the best competitive State in the

Middle East, and remained among the world’s best twenty economies this year.

The prominent rankings attained by the State of Qatar in many international

indices, have been an outcome of great and intensive efforts on the part of the

government and  the  private sector. We still aspire to achieve more to improve

our rankings in the remaining indices.

In spite of the economic turmoil taking place in the world, the financial sector in

Qatar has pushed its way to progress and upgrading its services. This has

culminated in Qatar Stock markets joining the group of emerging markets. Qatar

has also maintained its high credit rating, which we seek to upgrade as well,

through promoting transparency of competitiveness procedures in the markets,

and simplifying legislations and laws.

On the other hand, Qatar continues to enjoy a strong financial position, as it  has

achieved a surplus of 10.4 % of GDP, supported by a conservative approach in

estimating crude oil prices for budgeting purposes.

The government will continue in planning a budget in the context of a medium-

term spending, that takes into account the priorities and allocations assigned to

each sector, with a focus on outputs and outcomes.

Dear Brothers,

God has blessed us with a natural resource that would not have brought us these

incomes without the vision and courage of HH The Father Amir on the long term

investment in this wealth. We are supposed to preserve it and prepare its

alternatives. Despite the high standard of living that we can provide, yet we must

deal responsibly with our resources and our economy. This is not only about the

next generation, but also the type of man we are keen on grooming at the

present. Is he productive or just a consumer? Social responsibility, and non-slip to

irresponsible extravagance are among the attributes of the human personality

that we want.

The Almighty said, "Those when they spend are not extravagant and not

niggardly but hold a just balance between..".

In this context, my brothers a study has to be made on the causes that raise the

cost of some projects in Qatar in a way that does not conform with the cost and

profit as well as supply and demand. And checking the cause of the rising cost of

real estate and storage, and mismanagement that leads to the frequent change in

the specifications of projects at the expense of the State, or in delaying them and

stalling in their implementation, then hastily implement them, with worse

conditions that would increase the cost.

Brothers Members of the Advisory Council,

If it is our right to be happy with what has been achieved in the past years, we

should not overlook some of the negative phenomena that may be associated

with it, foremost among these is the inflation problem.

The high growth rates and huge expenditure on infrastructure and development

projects and the increase in population, have led to price rise. No doubt that

inflation has negative effect on growth and society, and therefore price rise is a

problem that worries everyone and the government will seek to contain it by all

available means and tools, and I mention in particular the monetary and fiscal

policies, combating monopoly, encouraging competitiveness, setting an

appropriate timetable to invest in major projects, and coordinating between these

projects to avert being concentrated in a short period of time leading to pressure

on the available potential capacity.

A governmental committee has been set up to propose necessary solutions to

control any internal or external inflationary pressures. Individuals and civil society

organizations and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Qatar must play

their role and endeavor to avoid any unjustified price rise, because it is a joint

responsibility, and the role of those institutions is no less important than that of

the State in this area.

 Honorable Brothers,

 Human development represents one of the most fundamental pillars of the Qatar

National Vision, and the Qatari citizen remains the main focus of our attention

through catering for  the best education levels to secure advancement and

progress for him, and at the same time maintain their identity and caring for his

physical and psychological health, and at the same time preserve his identity and

his Arabic language as a key attribute of our identity and culture.

There is no contradiction between progress and originality. On the contrary all

peoples of the world achieved progress by using their own languages and at the

same time developed these languages, yet this did not prevent them from

learning and mastering foreign languages as a requirement for scientific,

economic and civilizational development in general.

Therefore, the government will spare no effort to increase funds allocated for

education and its development. Spending on education accounted for 13.4% of

the total budget for this year, i.e. 3.8% of the Gross  Domestic Product, and we

shall seek  to continue spending on research and development and expanding

school vouchers system, scholarship and training programs, and improving the

quality of the educational process, because education is the driving force to

progress.

In the health field the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget included a 13% increase to

achieve better levels of health services, also a primary health care strategy has

been adopted to become a national priority to improve the health system, and to

double the number of health centers in the next five years along expanding and

diversifying medical services, particularly the preventive services. Also the first

phase of the social health insurance system has been launched this year, and is

supposed to cover all citizens by the beginning of 2016.

But, as I have already said in my speech to my Qatari brethren when I assumed

the reins of power, all's well that ends well.

But I say at the same time, we should not deceive ourselves. This is worse than

deceiving others, because he who deceives himself blocks his own path to fix the

errors. The criterion of success in the areas of human development such as

health, education, culture and  sports, etc., is not measured solely by the scale of

investment (in which there would be no dereliction on our part, God willing), but

the lesson lies in working efficiently and faithfully and in the outputs and

outcomes.

We have achieved a lot in the past years on the road to development and

institution-building, and on the progress of the Qatari citizen. The policy of human

development cannot be implemented if we do not hold accountable those who

commit negligence, mismanagement, or corruption. Brothers, he who works could

make mistakes, and refraining from taking initiatives and work is not a solution,

but it is by no means acceptable to underestimate labor standards, or remunerate

he who underestimate these standards rather than holding him accountable.

Qatari citizens have been known from time immemorial for their good morals,

generosity, modesty, speaking little and working more, and championing

oppressed people. I am afraid that we fail to pass on to our young people these

genuine values, the values of work, humility, and good manners, and treating

others with respect, and we are keen to see that young people find meaning and

purpose in their life in all this, in the light of the civilization of consumption.

Our Prophet said, "Nothing  will tip the scale heavier than good manners," and

also said, "I have been dispatched to complete morals." Is there a goal for the

upbringing and education superior to that goal?

Honorable Brothers,

Our foreign policy has always been based on the principles of peaceful

coexistence and cooperation with all countries and peoples, mutual respect,

promoting common interests, consolidating international peace and security,

keenness out of our existence in the Gulf region and our Arab and Islamic

affiliations, to participate effectively in the issues and concerns of our Arab and

Islamic nations.

We have  always acted to strengthen the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and

achieving integration among its States, and bolstering Arab solidarity and

developing the system for the joint Arab action, so that the Arabs have a high

status and a voice in this world.

During its presidency of the Arab summit, Qatar has worked to reach a common

vision on several issues on the Arab arena, and we believe that we have always

been supportive of the Arab public opinion and the Arab peoples aspirations for

justice and dignity.

The Palestinian cause remains, the focus of our Arab and foreign policy in general,

this Arab and Palestinian wound in the body of the nation is still chronic and

inflamed. Every day, Israel with its aggressive settlement policy pushes away the

prospects of a just solution to the issue. The primary responsibility for the

continuation of the Palestinian issue and the suffering of the Palestinians without

a solution, lie on the Israeli intransigence and the continuation of its unjust siege

of Gaza strip, the policy of annexation and settlement in Jerusalem and the West

Bank and the occupied Syrian Golan, and international leniency with this

intransigence, which amounts to collusion.

But we must also blame the Arab inactivity towards Arab causes, especially the

Palestine cause and division among the Palestinians, which is a key factor in

weakening the Palestinian position and making way for Israel to step up its

aggressive policy in light of the Arab and Palestinians preoccupation with their

differences.

 Honorable Brothers,

All of you know the developments of the Syrian situation, where conflict continues

between the rebels and the army of the regime, the atrocities perpetrated by the

latter which constitute crimes against humanity, have culminated in the usage of

internationally banned chemical weapons against unarmed civilians.

Although the regime has already bombed its cities with aircrafts and caused the

deaths of over a hundred thousand male and female Syrians, and despite the

displacement of millions, that massacre with its hideousness and horror has

shocked human conscience in various countries around the world, without

exception, and the whole world has expected a firm move on the part of the

international community, represented by the United Nations commensurate with

the horrors and ugliness of the tragedy.

The UN Security Council resolution  which all of you know has adopted disarming

the regime of its Chemical weapons without addressing the crux of the Syrian

problem.

The Syrian people did not carry out their revolution and bear what is beyond

human toleration to disarm the chemical weapons of the regime that governs

them, but to get rid of that regime which does not hesitate to use it against them.

The international community has failed to stand up against the regime that

committed and is still committing crimes against humanity, and also failed to take

binding resolutions to stem the bloodshed, due to use of the veto by some

countries in the Security Council, thus paralyzing  the ability of the Council to take

appropriate resolutions on the one hand, and because of the mounting double

standards in international politics on the other.

Therefore, in view of the impact of our long experience with the Council on the

Palestinian issue, and on the case of the Syrian people now, I have called in my

speech before the United Nations last September for the need to accelerate the

achievement of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations and the Security

Council system. Otherwise, the peoples will lose confidence in the international

legality and justice, which it should work to achieve them.

We will not let down the brotherly Syrian people who defend their dignity and

existence on their land not just  to achieve freedom and justice. Nobody should

try to exchange achieving justice for this people who paid the highest prices and

wrote an epic of heroism and pride, for unconditional and  non-time-bound

negotiations that would lead to nothing.

Negotiations should be held to reach a political solution on the basis of the

recognition of the fair demands of the Syrian people, and on the basis of a

timetable for achieving them.

Honorable

Brothers, Members of the Advisory Council,

We are convinced of the rightful trend based on combining principled positions

and the higher interests of our people and our nation, and dealing with the

countries of the world on the basis of mutual interests and respect. Also we trust

the capabilities of our people and their sound nature.

I wish you a productive work in your annual session. I hope that we meet next

year, God willing, when we have achieved more in serving Qatar and its dear

people.

May God guide you to success, and may Gods Peace mercy and blessings be upon

you. (QNA)