The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council held its regular weekly meeting today under the chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, the Speaker of the Shura Council.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council expressed its categorical rejection and condemnation of the US Administration's declaration of recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The Council stressed that the declaration completely contravenes with international law, with the United Nations Charter and with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and it won't change the fact that the Golan Heights are Arab Syrian occupied territories.

The Council warned of serious consequences that could ensue due to the US illegal step, especially on the stalled peace process, the security and stability of the region. The Council stressed that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace will only be achieved with Israel's withdrawal from all Arab territories occupied in 1967 and with the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. 

Thereafter, the Council continued its deliberations and discussed the report submitted by its Internal and External Affairs Committee on the General Debate submitted by a number of members on traffic accidents in Qatar.

The committee had recommended in its report to work with the concerned departments to set up a national strategy, which shall be adopted by Traffic and Patrols Department to increase awareness and commitment to traffic rules, road etiquettes, to intensify the patrols to deter traffic offenders and emphasized on implementation of maximum penalties for reckless driving which endangers the lives of people and destroys the property, in addition to crossing the traffic lights.

The Committee also recommended strict measures on prohibiting the use of the mobile phone while driving as being responsible for much accidents and the need to use seat belts. It suggested that the cost of the fine of the speed should be gradually increased in tandem with the increase in exceeding the speed limits.

Also the recommendations included the need to enhance electronic surveillance through cameras to monitor traffic violations and to provide pedestrian corridors.

The Committee appreciated the efforts of the National Council for Tourism to develop a five – year plan to develop the area of Sealine beach, which will after completion of the plan be a tourist attraction, whereat the security and the safety conditions will be maintained for both vehicles and its users.

After the extensive discussions of the report the Committee of the Council approved the report and decided to forward the recommendations to the esteemed Government.
 
At the close of the meeting His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud briefed the Members of the Council on his participation in the work of the Twelfth Regular Meeting of Their Excellencies the Heads of Shura Councils, the Representatives, the National Councils and the Uma Council of the GCC Member States, held in the city of Jeddah in the KSA last Thursday.

His Excellency also briefed the Members of the Council on  the memorandum of understanding between the Shura Council and the Pan-African Parliamentary Union on cooperation which he signed yesterday with H. E. Al-Hassan Palla Sakandi, Chairman of  Pan-African Parliamentary Union and the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Burkina Faso, under which the parties agreed on a work program of cooperation to strengthen the bonds of friendship, the exchange of experiences, taking joint initiatives on issues of common interest and to strengthen the presence and the role of the parties in the international parliamentary forums.