Qatar: ICRC president discusses increased cooperation
22-05-2013 News Release 13/99
Geneva/Kuwait (ICRC) – Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has just completed a two-day visit to Qatar.
The ICRC president met with His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber al-Thani, the prime minister, and Dr Khaled al-Attiyah, the minister of State for foreign affairs, to discuss concrete ways of strengthening cooperation between the ICRC and the State of Qatar in the field of humanitarian assistance, to exchange views on current situations of armed conflict, and to examine ways of ensuring that victims can be reached and of enhancing respect for international humanitarian law by all parties.
"The visit was very fruitful. It made it possible to explore new avenues of cooperation with Qatar in a number of areas," said Mr Maurer. "I was also very pleased by the authorities' keen interest in seeing the ICRC establish a permanent presence in the country in order to concretely pursue and develop various projects."
A working meeting took place with Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned, chair of the Qatar Foundation, with discussions on collaborative projects linked to the protection of educational facilities in contexts of armed conflict, and to the promotion and teaching of international humanitarian law.
Mr Maurer also met with Dr Mohammed bin Ghanim al-Madheed, the chairman of the Qatar Red Crescent Society, to further develop the ongoing partnership between the ICRC and the society both at national and international level.
Mr Maurer, on his first visit to the Gulf region as ICRC president, also participated in the Doha Forum and held official talks with Qatar government authorities and other high-level interlocutors involved in humanitarian affairs and other related issues. In addition, he was the guest speaker at a round table organized by the Brookings Doha Center on current challenges to humanitarian action, in particular that of access to war victims.
For further information, please contact:
David Pierre Marquet, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 25 02 or +41 79 536 92 48
Fouad Bawaba, ICRC Kuwait, tel: + 965 77 87 94 34