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 Council.

The Council discussed in its meeting the Decree by Law No (18) of 2018, on amending certain provisions of the Law of Tenders and Auctions No (24) of 2015, and decided to refer it to the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee for further study and to submit its report thereon to the Council.

The Council also discussed the Decree by Law No (19) of 2018 on amending certain provisions of law No (23) of 2006, on Advocacy Law and decided to refer it to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to study it and to submit its report thereon to the Council.

The Shura Council then continued its meeting and discussed a draft law on founding the Media City. According to the draft law the Media City shall have a moral personality and an independent budget. The Media City aims to manage and develop media activities, attract international media, technology companies and research and training institutions in the media sphere, in digital media and technology, and as well it aims to realize economic, vocational integration with various government enterprises, and to provide an interactive environment through licensed companies operating in media city. The Media City shall have among its powers granting licenses for television and radio broadcasting and licenses for publishing and distribution of newspapers, magazines and books for licensed companies.

After discussing the draft law, the Council decided to refer it to the Cultural and Media Affairs Committee to study and submit its report thereon to the Council.

At the end of the meeting the Speaker of the Shura Council briefed the floor on his last meeting with His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Rikan Al-Halbousi, the Iraqi Speaker of the Council of Deputies and his entourage. The meeting reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the parliamentary field in addition to a number of issues of common concern. 

His Excellency His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulla Bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud also briefed the Council on his participation at head of a delegation from the Council in the Third Meeting of the Heads of Parliaments of European and Asian States (Eurasia), which took place in Antalya, Republic of Turkey from 8^th, to 11^th, October, 2018. He informed the Council about the results of his meetings with a number of heads of parliaments of sisterly and friendly states, on the sidelines of the Antalya Meeting, whereat the existing parliamentary relations between Qatar and their countries were reviewed and ways to support and develop them were explored.

His Excellency also referred to his contacts and meetings with heads of delegations concerning the call made by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir before the Seventy-third Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, for holding an international conference on cyber security and the readiness of the State of Qatar for hosting it. H. E. explained that the efforts resulted in obtaining the approval and the welcoming of all the delegations for His Highness’s call "may Allah protect Him”. Hence, the call was included in the final communique of the Meeting.

The Speaker of the Shura Council also briefed the Council on his participation at the head of a delegation from the Shura Council in the 139^th, General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the 203^rd, Session of the Governing Council of the IPU held in Geneva from 14^th, to 18^th, October 2018, and the results of a series of intensive meetings which His Excellency held with senior officials in IPU and with the heads of participating delegations.

His Excellency spoke about the great accomplishment achieved by the State of Qatar by the resolution of IPU to hold its 140^th General Assembly in Doha in April, 2019 at the invitation of the State of Qatar. He also spoke about the contacts he made with the geopolitical groups and with several members of the Executive Committee of the IPU, which culminated in the acceptance of the invitation.

His Excellency the Speaker of the Shura Council stressed that the mega event comes as a reaffirmation of the unique international position, the trust, the appreciation and the respect the State of Qatar enjoys at both regional and international levels.