Qatar Participates in Virtual Meeting of Core Group of Support Platform for Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees

Qatar Participates in Virtual Meeting of Core Group of Support Platform for Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees

Geneva / Information Office / October 08  

The State of Qatar participated in the virtual opening meeting of the Core Group of the Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR).

The State of Qatar was represented at the meeting by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri.

In his speech during the meeting, HE Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri expressed the State of Qatar's pleasure to join this group, stressing that the meeting will send an important message to the Afghan refugees and displaced persons who have suffered from war and violence over the past 40 years, that the international community will not forget them and will not abandon them.

HE Ambassador Al Mansouri reiterated the State of Qatar's desire to continue to support all efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, and its affirmation on the need to strengthen confidence among the Afghan parties, move forward in the political process, achieve consensus and national reconciliation and preserve the unity and sovereignty of Afghanistan.

His Excellency said that the State of Qatar appreciates all the efforts and facilities that host countries and communities have provided to Afghan refugees on their lands, especially Iran and Pakistan, as well as the distinguished efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and many other international organizations, especially in light of the spread of Covid-19 pandemic and the health, economic and social challenges resulting from it.

HE the Ambassador affirmed the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue strengthening its partnerships with UNHCR and providing the necessary support for its activities and efforts.

The meeting was held with the participation of high-ranking figures, most notably HE High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Acting Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation Noor Rahman Akhlaqi, HE Director-General of the Interior Ministry's Department of Foreign Nationals and Migrants in the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahdi Mahmoudi, HE Federal Minister for Ministry of States and Frontier Regions of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan, UNHCR Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Indrika Ratwatte, and UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou.