The State of Qatar will celebrate tomorrow the anniversary of the National Day, which falls on December 18 of each year, under the slogan (Our unity is the source of our strength), which is an excerpt from a speech by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The slogan reflects the keenness of the Qatari people to consolidate this principle in the homeland and in future generations, as Qataris have demonstrated, generation after generation, their adherence to their national unity and confronting difficulties with determination and action, through their solidarity and rallying around their leadership, and their loyalty to their homeland.
On this glorious day in Qatar’s history, we recall the biography of the Founder who, nearly 140 years ago, took over the reins of power on Dec. 18,1878, and laid the foundations of our modern state, preserved its sovereignty and the dignity of its people, and made Qatar a united, cohesive and independent state.
He also established the values and principles on which it was based, and thanks to these values, the State proceeded on the paths of glory and honor, accomplishing achievements, patronizing rights, safeguarding covenants, providing aid to those in need, supporting the oppressed, triumphing for truth and justice, observing the right of neighborliness, adhering to values and morals, and presenting to the world a bright model for a secure and stable state capable of achieving the highest rates of development and providing decent life for its people and residents on its land.
This day is significant for Qataris, as it represents the meanings of unity and harmony among everyone who lives on the beloved land of Qatar. This occasion comes while the State of Qatar is achieving a major renaissance in all fields, including political, economic, social and athletic fields due to the wise policy and sound directives of the wise leadership, and thanks to the solidarity of the people of the country and their support for their wise leadership.
Our celebration of the National Day this year acquires a special color, taste with the flavor of the World Cup. The State of Qatar has changed the destination of sport from mere competition on the field and cheering in the stands, to sublime meanings that serve communities, peoples, and countries, to raise the value of sport in achieving peace and rapprochement between peoples.
Qatar has fulfilled the promises and silenced the critics and skeptics, after years of work and planning based on creativity and uniqueness in the various stages of preparations, and on the evening of the twentieth of last November The Amir patronized the opening of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium on the evening of the twentieth of last November in the presence of Their Majesties, Highnesses and Excellencies leaders of sisterly and friendly countries, heads of delegations and Olympic committees and federations, and Their Excellencies heads of the diplomatic missions accredited to the State, senior sports officials, and a large crowd of the fans.
H H the Amir announced the opening of the tournament saying: “From Qatar, from an Arab country, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022. We have worked hard, along with many people, to make it one of the most successful tournaments. We have exerted all efforts and invested for the good of all humanity.
H H the Amir continued by saying: “Starting from this evening, we will follow, and with us the whole world, God willing, the great football festival, in this spacious ambience for human and civilized communication. People of different races, nationalities, faiths and orientations will gather here in Qatar, and around screens on all continents to share the same exciting moments.” His Highness wished “all the participating teams a magnificent football performance, high sportsmanship, and a time full of joy, excitement and delight for you all. And let there be days that are inspiring with goodness and hope. Welcome and good luck to all.” The ceremony began with cultural performances present important aspects of the history of the State of Qatar and the Arab countries in celebrating and honoring the guests, in a symbolic sign of Qatar welcoming all fans from around the world, Artistic paragraphs were also shown that highlight the values of respect, acquaintance and learning from the difference between peoples in an invitation to converge cultures and spread love and goodness among people during the tournament.
The opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 was the culmination of a journey of success, with an Arab flavor on a global platform, as the State of Qatar is the first Arab Middle Eastern country to organize this great event, and on that eternal night in the history of Qatar and the Arab-Islamic nation, Doha wrote its success in letters of light. It fulfilled the covenant and promise and turned the dream into reality, lit the world with joy, and delighted millions of fans around the world, to follow an exceptional tournament with all sports, organizational, security and entertainment standards.
The exceptional Qatar World Cup has become a unique occasion for all the guests of Qatar who are still living a wonderful sports, tourism and cultural experience on this good land, homeland of security and safety, and the World Cup will remain ingrained in the memory of generations and history as a distinguished version, the most wonderful, beautiful, brilliant, organized and safest in history. Qatar has inaugurated a new era of sports diplomacy, and has become the capital of sports, and this distinguished version of the World Cup has become an example for all sporting events in the future.
The success of the World Cup and its wide acclaim and follow-up around the world will remain a source of pride for the State of Qatar, its people and its youth, who were behind this achievement, with their effort, thought, hard and continuous work over twelve years, in order to create an environment conducive to organizing an exceptional World Cup tournament, honors the Arab nation and affirms that the State of Qatar is the homeland of fulfilling promises and covenants, values and principles, love, peace and friendship, and glories that generations receive.
This year has been full of political activity for our country at home and abroad, at all levels, which reflects the active role of the State of Qatar and the position it enjoys among countries, peoples, international organizations and institutions, at the top of this activity were the external participations made by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the ninth of this December, H H the Amir participated in the 43rd session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) in Riyadh, the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Highness also participated in the Riyadh Gulf-China Summit for Cooperation and Development, and HH the Amir held an official talks session with HE President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.
During the current year, H H the Amir participated in the 31st Arab summit meetings in Algeria, the Jeddah Security and Development Summit, and the sixth summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Kazakhstan, and at the Twenty-sixth Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Rwanda. His Highness also participated in the opening session of the World Economic Forum, which was held in Davos, Switzerland, under the slogan “History at a Turning Point”, and the work of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77). His Highness also attended the opening ceremony of the 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games Oran 2022 in the Algerian city of Oran, and the opening ceremony of the 24th Winter Olympic Games, which took place under the slogan “Together for a Common Future” at the National Stadium “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing.
During the current year, H H the Amir made a series of visits and tours to many brotherly and friendly countries, including the United States, China, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Britain, France, Rwanda, Egypt, Algeria, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.
Doha has turned into a global capital of political, diplomatic, and economic activity, through extensive visits by a large number of leaders of Arab, Islamic and friendly countries, where H H the Amir received them, separately, at the Amiri Diwan, and discussed with them bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them, as well as Issues and topics of common interest.
A few days ago, H H the President of the United Arab Emirates visited Doha. Their Excellencies the Presidents of Algeria, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Iran, Namibia, Somalia, the Austrian Chancellor, the Presidents of Guinea-Bissau and Slovenia, the Governor General of Canada, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, the Presidents of Togo, Sierra Leone, Venezuela and Malta, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen, the President of the Transitional Military Council of the Republic of Chad, the President of Egypt and the President of Tanzania, the German Chancellor and the King of Spain, the Presidents of Liberia and Turkmenistan, visited the country this year.
Doha was also visited by the prime ministries of Morocco, Korea, Lebanon, Armenia, Greece and Pakistan, and the head of the national unity government in the State of Libya. These visits confirm the respect and appreciation of the countries of the world for Qatari politics, its political, economic, diplomatic, and developmental contributions, and its stances based on dialogue as a means to achieve international peace and security.
In terms of international activity, the State of Qatar participated in the COP27 conference hosted by the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with a delegation headed by H E the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, he also participated in the launching ceremony of the second edition of the Green Middle East Initiative Summit 2022, which was organized on the sidelines of the conference, and he also participated in the 58th edition of the Munich Security Conference in Munich.
The State of Qatar has become a beacon of international peace and stability. In another achievement of Qatari diplomacy, its benevolent mediation culminated in the sponsorship of the Chadian parties signing the Doha Peace Agreement and the participation of political-military movements in the comprehensive, sovereign national dialogue in Chad, after negotiations involving more than 50 groups from Chad, over the course of five months.
On the ninth of December, the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the ceremony of His Highness’s Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award in its sixth edition in Doha, and His Highness honored the award winners.
In continuation of its career that started about 8 years ago, the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding launched last February the eighth edition of the award and opened the door for candidacy and nomination for the 2022 session.
